On July 27, 1995, the Hartford Whalers traded Chris Pronger to the St. Louis Blues for Brendan Shanahan. At the time, Whalers fans were upset because Shanahan was a fan favorite. The trade, however, had a ripple effect that continues to be felt today. The trade can be seen as a microcosm of the contrasting trajectories of the two franchises involved. The Blues ultimately won the Stanley Cup in 2019 with pieces acquired via the Pronger trade tree, while the Whalers' relocation to become the Carolina Hurricanes and subsequent Stanley Cup victory in 2006 can also be traced back to this pivotal move.
Pronger, drafted second overall by the Whalers in 1993, was a promising but raw talent in his early years. Teammate Kelly Chase noted Pronger's talent but also pointed out his lack of direction and the pressure he faced on a struggling Whalers team. After a couple of seasons in Hartford, the Whalers decided to trade him. Shanahan, on the other hand, was an established star forward. The Whalers believed Shanahan would drastically improve their team. However, the Blues were setting themselves up for the long haul by acquiring Pronger. Some reports indicate that Shanahan was creating issues in the locker room, which factored into the decision to trade him.
Initially, Blues fans weren't thrilled with the acquisition of Pronger. Any mistake he made was met with boos. However, Pronger eventually won over the fans. In his first season, while his offensive numbers weren't eye-popping, he added a needed physical edge to the Blues' defense. Over time, Pronger blossomed into a dominant defenseman in St. Louis, becoming the team's captain and winning the Hart Trophy in 2000 as the league's most valuable player. He played for the Blues until he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Blues traded Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers for Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch, and Jeff Woywitka. Pronger's stay in Edmonton was short, as he was later traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he finally won the Stanley Cup in 2007. He then played for the Philadelphia Flyers.
From the Blues' perspective, the return for Pronger eventually contributed to their Stanley Cup-winning team in 2019. Woywitka played four seasons for the Blues, while Lynch never played for the team. Brewer played six seasons in St. Louis before being traded for Brock Beukeboom and a draft pick.
The trade tree highlights how a single transaction can have a lasting impact on multiple franchises. For the Whalers, trading Pronger marked a turning point that ultimately led to the team's relocation and rebirth as the Carolina Hurricanes. In Carolina, the pieces acquired from trading Pronger helped build a Stanley Cup contender. The Hurricanes might not be in Raleigh today without Rod Brind'Amour, and they wouldn't have that Stanley Cup banner. The Chris Pronger trade to St. Louis helped build the Carolina Hurricanes and their hockey program.
