Oops, Lou did it again.
The New Jersey Devils and then-general manager Lou Lamoriello took the NHL’s breath away after Jersey’s team acquired forward Ilya Kovalchuk from the defunct Atlanta Thrashers in February 2010.
The blockbuster deal not only triggered a signal that the Devils were all-in on contending for a fourth Stanley Cup championship, but completely shocked the hockey community. While the Russian superstar broke fans’ hearts just three seasons later, let’s revisit the Devils’ massive trade for Kovalchuk.
Prior to the trade, New Jersey was on pace to earn its ninth division title and was bidding for another franchise record for wins in a season (51, 2008-09).