On this day: Remembering the craziest hour in NHL history

Ten years ago, on June 29, 2016, the NHL offseason had one of, if not the craziest hours in the history of the NHL. Adam Larsson and Taylor Hall were traded one for one. P.K. Subban and Shea Weber were swapped in a blockbuster trade. And to top it all off, Steven Stamkos signed an eight-year, $68 million extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Let’s take a look at how all of it went down.

3:34 p.m.

At 3:34 p.m., the news broke that the Edmonton Oilers had traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson. It was a move that truly shocked the hockey world, as rumors were circulating for weeks about Hall’s future. Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli wanted to focus more on building around rookie Connor McDavid. However, this meant the team had to move on the past that Hall represented.

What makes the trade so historic is how it was one for one. No blockbuster, no picks or prospects, just a straight up player for player trade. Larsson was 23 at the time, a five-year veteran. He only had 69 points so far in his career at that point. He was clearly no superstar, and definitely no enough for a one for one trade.

Looking back after 10 years, the pain eased out for Oilers fans over time. Hall would win his first and only MVP during the 2017-18. However, Hall would become a journeyman, playing for five teams over nine years after leaving New Jersey before finally winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes this season. For Larsson, he lasted just fine. Despite never receiving a Norris vote, he held down the Oilers defense before joining the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.

3:54

As hockey fans sat in awe over the Hall and Larsson trade, it only lasted 20 minutes. Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban had a no-trade clause starting on July 1, and rumors began to swirl. However, Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was insistent that he was moving on from Subban. He even admitted this three days earlier, on June 26.

So when it was announced that Subban was shipped off to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber, it left an even bigger impact that than Hall and Larsson. Subban was younger, cheaper and a numbers guy, while Weber was a proven veteran and winner. Fans from both sides of the aisle chimed in, claiming how one team scammed the other.

As for this trade, it started and ended pretty even. Subban lasted in Nashville for three years, before being traded to New Jersey as a salary dump. He did lead the Predators to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance as a Norris finalist in the 2017-18 season. On the other hand, Weber never finished higher than sixth in Norris voting but did lead the Canadiens to a magical 2021 Stanley Cup Finals appearance in what turned out to be his final season.

3:57

This was the only blockbuster move that wasn’t a trade. Steven Stamkos was a free agent and was arguably the biggest name on the market. The Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Canadiens were all in the mix. Toronto was so desperate for Stamkos that when he visited them, they brought the mayor.

At the time, Stamkos was 26 and had spent all eight years with the Lightning. He had two Rocket Richards and had surpassed 300 goals in his career. He had established himself as a stud, and any team was looking to bring him in.

Yet, the excitement came with some disappointment. Stamkos had decided to stay in Tampa, signing an eight-year $68 million contract. With two blockbuster trades happening just under 30 minutes earlier, the Stamkos signing was just the cherry on top.

The Stamkos signing was significant for the Lightning. Stamkos helped the Lightning appear in back-to-back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, winning two of them. He had three 40-goal seasons during that eight-year span, as well as two seasons of 95-plus points. However, at the end of his contract in 2024, the two sides went in separate directions. On July 1, 2021, Stamkos signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Predators.

Despite all of the offseason madness over the years, it will be hard to beat June 29, 2016. It will be hard to replicate what happened, especially because of how much sports media has changed since then, for better and for worse. But regardless, it still stands as a significant moment in NHL history.

About the Author Published Jun 29, 2026

CAMERON JOYCE

Cameron Joyce is an NCAAF, NFL, NHL, and MLB beat writer for Ball Exclusives. Cameron also previously worked at The University of Alabama's newspaper, "The Crimson White," covering volleyball and baseball.