On June 6, 1986, a trade occurred that would significantly alter the trajectories of both the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. The Canucks traded Cam Neely and their first-round pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft to the Bruins in exchange for Barry Pederson. At the time, Pederson was a promising young center, but injuries had begun to impact his performance. Neely, on the other hand, was a young winger who had yet to reach his full potential.
Cam Neely, born in Comox, British Columbia, was drafted ninth overall by his hometown Canucks in 1983. Although he showed promise, Canucks coach Tom Watt reportedly wasn't impressed with Neely's defensive game and Neely found himself low in the depth chart. Limited ice time hindered his development, and he struggled to find consistency. In his second season, he scored 21 goals and 39 points in 76 games.
Meanwhile, Barry Pederson had emerged as a star in Boston. However, after a couple of 100-point seasons, his production declined due to injuries. The Bruins, concerned about his long-term potential, decided to trade him for Neely and a first-round pick. Bruins General Manager Harry Sinden orchestrated what would become one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history.
The trade proved to be a turning point in Neely's career. In Boston, he was given more ice time and quickly developed into a dominant power forward. In his first season with the Bruins, Neely scored 36 goals and 72 points. He became a star in Boston, known for his scoring ability and physical play. Neely played ten seasons with the Bruins, becoming one of the franchise's most beloved players. His career was cut short by injuries, but he still had a lasting impact on the team and the city. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. Since 2010, Neely has served as the President of the Boston Bruins, even lifting the Stanley Cup in 2011 after Boston defeated Vancouver in Game 7 at Rogers Arena.
The first-round pick that Boston acquired in the trade also proved valuable. The Canucks struggled in the 1986-87 season, giving the Bruins the third overall pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, which they used to select Glen Wesley. Wesley went on to have a long and successful NHL career, playing 20 seasons and winning a Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. Wesley was eventually traded to the Hartford Whalers for three draft picks, one of which led to Sergei Samsonov, who was later traded for a pick that became Milan Lucic. Lucic was then traded for a pick that resulted in Jakub Zboril, and another pick that turned into Sean Kuraly.
Barry Pederson's time in Vancouver was less impactful. While he initially showed promise, he never regained his previous form. He was eventually traded back to the Bruins, where he finished his NHL career in 1992.
The Cam Neely trade is remembered as one of the most lopsided deals in NHL history. Neely became a Hall of Famer and a Bruins legend, while Pederson's career declined after the trade. The Bruins also benefited from the first-round pick they received, which led to the selection of Glen Wesley and a series of subsequent trades that continued to benefit the team for years.
