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New York Islanders Top 10 Best Trades in Team History

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates out to play against the Nashville Predators at the Barclays Center on October 06, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Predators defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates out to play against the Nashville Predators at the Barclays Center on October 06, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Predators defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – OCTOBER 29: (R-L) Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas return to the ice as the New York Islanders celebrate their 1992-1993 team prior to the game against the San Jose Sharks Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 29, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – OCTOBER 29: (R-L) Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas return to the ice as the New York Islanders celebrate their 1992-1993 team prior to the game against the San Jose Sharks Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 29, 2011 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Brent Sutter for Steve Thomas

By 1991 Brent Sutter was still a good and productive player, but his better days were clearly behind him. Curiously, GM Bill Torrey sent Sutter to Chicago for Steve Thomas, who was just a year younger than Sutter.

Bill Torrey clearly saw something he liked in Steve Thomas. The English born player was two years removed from a career high 70 point season. A career high he would eventually surpass with the Islanders.

Thomas didn’t stay long with the Islanders. By the 1995-96 season, he was already playing with the New Jersey Devils. But in his time with the Islanders Thomas was a special player.

In his 275 games through four seasons Thomas scored 258 points. Sutter was well under that mark with a total of 219 points in 413 games for the Blackhawks. To be fair Sutter, outside of that 102 point season 1984-85 Sutter didn’t stray much from the 60-70 point range.

Interesting note: The Turgeon on Thomas trades were made on the same day; October 25th, 1991.

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