Sam Pollock Trades Backstrom, Drafts Lafleur (1971)
Sam Pollock was a shrewd general manager who helped build a dynasty in Montreal. Trading Ralph Backstrom to the L.A. Kings on January 26, 1971 didn’t seem like a significant move at the time. However, it wasn’t so much what the Canadiens got in return, but rather what Backstrom did with the Kings.
Montreal already had the California Golden Seals’ 1st round draft pick, acquired in the Ernie Hicke trade the year before. The Seals were 14-30-3, but the Kings were also near the bottom of the standings at 14-23-8. After Backstrom joined the team, he scored 14 goals and 27 points in 33 games, helping the Kings go 11-17-5 the rest of the way, thus avoiding last place in the standings and solidifying the Seals’ position at the bottom. It was obviously in Pollock’s best interest to have the Seals finish in last place to ensure that the Habs would get the 1st overall pick in the 1971 NHL draft.
On June 10, 1971, the Canadiens selected Guy Lafleur as the No. 1 pick in the draft.
10 comments
Big big moment in hockey history
Sam Pollock was a hell of a GM, able to get the first pick that year after winning the Stanley Cup.
Amazing how they – management and players – spoke and conducted themselves properly back then vs today……
Let's all thank Ralph Backstrom for wanting to move to a warmer climate and for the LA Kings for getting rid of their first pick on a 33 year old player.
They had a crazy number of first round draft picks in the early 1970s.
Who the hell trades the 1st overall pick (Lafleur) for an overaged washed up player? Pollock was good but man why would another GM gift the Habs the 1st overall pick??
Backstrom was not traded for the pick that was used for Lafleur. Backstrom was traded for a couple of players who never suited up for the Canadians and a 2nd round pick. Backstrom played well enough for the Kings to keep them from getting the number 1 pick. That pick went to the Seals who had previously swapped number 1 picks with Montreal.
The Kings pick belonged to Boston so he was also screwing the Bruins. That's how smart he was.
I'd say Montreal was adequately compensated.
Both Lafleur and Backstrom are now in the big hockey arena in the sky.