50 years since one of the best and most underrated trades in NY Islanders history

There are good trades, and then there are great trades.

50 years ago, on Sep. 10, 1974, New York Islanders GM Bill Torrey made a trade that was even better than that, acquiring Bob Bourne from the Kansas City Scouts for Bart Crashley and Larry Hornung. It was a trade that came out of fortunate circumstances and smart scouting.

"Kansas City had drafted Bob in the third round," said former top scout Jim Devellano as told to Stan Fischer in a Maven's Memories. "At the time, Kansas City was in bad shape financially almost from Day One. They had signed their first-round pick, Wilf Paiement to a record-setting contract at that time and that's why they couldn't sign Bourne.

The Scouts tight budget benefited the Islanders, who had identified Bourne's talent and recognized what a boon he could be to their young roster. "It was a major steal. Bourne was a big guy and what made him valuable was that he could help the team on any of our three lines."

Torrey knew Bourne was fast, and his impact was felt quickly as well. Debuting in 1974-75, Bourne scored 16 goals and had 23 assists in 77 games as a rookie as the Isles made the post-season for the first time in NHL history. He was limited to just 14 games the following season but soon established himself as a top-six forward on the talented Isles' roster. He scored 30 goals in back-to-back seasons and a career-high 35 during the 1980-81 campaign.

Overall, he played parts of 12 seasons on Long Island, winning four consecutive Stanley Cups on one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. His end-to-end rush against the New York Rangers in the 1983 Stanley Cup Playoffs is remembered as one of the best goals in franchise history. In 2006, he became the ninth member of the Islanders Hall of Fame.