Buffalo Sabres: Looking back on the Dominik Hasek trade

On August 7th, 1992, the Buffalo Sabres pulled off what was arguably the best trade in franchise history: The Dominik Hasek Trade

It has officially been 30 years since the Buffalo Sabres traded a fourth round pick in 1993 and Stephane Beauregard for the then-27-year-old Dominik Hasek. The spindly goaltender had just 25 games of NHL experience and an 0.897 save percentage. But a 13-4-2 record coupled with a 2.58 GAA and All-Rookie honors told the Sabres that Hasek had potential. Turns out, they were right.

Hasek recalls that on the night of August 7th 1992, he was gearing up to go to the movies when his agent, Ritch Winter, called and informed him of the trade. It’s safe to say Hasek paid little attention to the ensuing flick. But who would pay much attention when your team just shipped you elsewhere for a fourth-round pick and a little-known goaltender?

The Dominik Hasek trade between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Buffalo Sabres was no blockbuster…when it first occurred, anyway.

When you look at this trade, it was barely a blip in the headlines. Two goaltenders with little NHL experience and a mid-round draft pick. These kinds of trades happen all the time, and rarely, does one of its subjects go on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career as arguably the best player at his position.

Want more fun? Did you know Hasek was the 199th overall pick (what is with 199th overall picks having Hall of Fame careers in pro sports?) in the 1983 NHL Draft?

Yeah, but even more amazingly, the Sabres and Blackhawks were being rather covert about the entire trade. NHL.com revealed the Sabres and Blackhawks spent months trying to hammer out a deal for Hasek, unbeknownst to the future Hall of Fame goaltender.

Hasek knew little English at the time, so reading newspapers, listening to the radio, and watching sports-related networks weren’t always on his radar. Neither Hasek nor anyone really knows what spurned the Sabres interest in the goaltender, but many point to Game 4 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, in which the Blackhawks lost 6-5.

As you can see, the trade was a definite blindside for Hasek. He had zero idea it was coming, and neither Hasek nor anyone could have predicted just what was about to ensue during the next nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. He never won a Cup with the team, but he may just be the best there ever was to man the net.

Article Source: Hasek looks back at trade to Sabres that changed NHL career, life by Dave Stubbs

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)