New York Rangers: The ten worst trades in franchise history

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MONTREAL – CIRCA 1980: Mike Keane #12 of the Montreal Canadiens shoots the puck past goaltender Jon Casey #30 and defenseman Mark Tinordi #24 of the Minnesota North Stars in a game at the Montreal Forum circa 1980 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images) /

# 9- Mark Tinordi, Paul Jerrard, Bret Barnett, Mike Sullivan & a 3rd round pick to the Minnesota North Stars for Brian Lawton, Igor Liba and Eric Bennett.

October 11, 1988

As Rangers general manager, it seemed like Phil Esposito made a trade every day.

In less than three years, Espo made 43 trades, three of which made this list, oddly enough. Needless to say, he was a much better player than general manager.

The first of those three brutal deals was a multi-player deal with the then-Minnesota North Stars. The Rangers got former #1 overall draft pick Brian Lawton, Czech forward Igor Liba and the rights to prospect Eric Bennett.

Liba played one season in New York and scored five goals. Lawton played half a season in New York before being flipped to Hartford in another Esposito deal.

Jerrard and Barnett never amounted to much, but Mike Sullivan went on to play 12 seasons in the NHL before becoming a coach. The one that got away was Mark Tinordi. He was a big defenseman (6’4″, 213 lbs) who played 11 seasons as a stay-at-home, physical defenseman for Minnesota, Washington and Dallas.

In other words, precisely the kind of defenseman that the Rangers have always needed.

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