This Day in Hockey History – July 22, 2003 – Silly Three-Team Trade

Jul 22, 2019

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The ultimate journeyman, Mike Sillinger tied a record by being traded nine times throughout his NHL career. Ultimately, he skated for a record 12 teams during his 17 NHL seasons. The only time he was ever traded in the offseason, Sillinger actually switched teams twice in the same day, July 22, 2003.

Sillinger’s NHL career started with the Detroit Red Wings, who selected him 11th overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. During his time in the AHL, he led the scoring as the Adirondack Red Wings won the Calder Cup championships. It was not until 1992-93 that he began playing for Detroit regularly. On April 4, 1995, they traded him to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, who at the next trade deadline (March 15, 1996) sent him on to the Vancouver Canucks. Sillinger was at least able to play a full season in Vancouver before, on February 5, 1998, they traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers. However, that December 12, Philadelphia shuffled him off to the Tampa Bay Lightning. As of March 14, 2000, Sillinger had to move further south to play for the Florida Panthers. Almost exactly one year later, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators for future considerations. In his briefest tenure, he only played 13 games for Ottawa.

Finally, Sillinger became a free agent and chose to sign a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 7, 2001. This was to be only the third time he was able to complete a full season with one team, and he played more games (155) with the Blue Jackets than any other team. By this time, he had gained a reputation as a two-way center great at faceoffs and penalty kills. However, as Sillinger was about to enter the final year of his contract, Columbus found itself deep in the center but in need of a defenseman.

Then the Phoenix Coyotes came calling. Sillinger explained, “I’ve played 12 years in this league, it’s a lot to be proud of, and I’m still playing. It’s good to know that other team wants you. Mike Barnett (the Coyotes GM) called me and said they’ve been trying to get me for a half a year but Columbus wouldn’t give me up. It’s just a matter of a deal being put in place and nowadays it’s about fitting into teams’ budgets as well. That’s why there’s a lot of player movement.” Barnett said of Sillinger, “We felt we had the makings of a solid energy line capable of making both mayhem and offence … The absence of a similar player in the middle was a hole we needed to fill, and he’s a player who fits it.”

Meanwhile, the Coyotes had an expensive defenseman (and team captain) they could no longer afford in Teppo Numminen, a 15-year veteran of the club. He had a no-trade clause that he would only waive for the Dallas Stars (or Detroit), so Barnett reached out to make a deal. Numminen said, “We sat down with Mike and talked about the future and everything. I just felt it was time for a change. It was very classy for Mike to do what he did, and give us the chance to look around. I’m happy about the future and I’m fine with the past. The organization was great to me, and I have great relationships there.” As it turned out, Dallas needed to replace their captain, Derian Hatcher (who had signed with the Red Wings). The Coyotes asked the Stars to work out a deal with the Blue Jackets.

Thus, a three-team deal was conducted. Columbus traded Sillinger and a 2004 second-round draft pick (Johan Fransson) to Dallas in return for all-star defenseman Darryl Sydor. Dallas turned around and traded Sillinger and a conditional draft pick to Phoenix in return for Numminen. Barnett remarked, “I’m excited for Teppo because I know he is, and I’m excited we have a player like Sillinger coming back to us.” The man traded twice in one day commented, “Everywhere I’ve gone I seem to have done well and this is another opportunity. Now I have to look at it as an opportunity to get another contract.”

Despite their high interest in Sillinger, the Coyotes only kept him for 60 games. At the trade deadline (March 4, 2004), Sillinger had to move on to the St. Louis Blues. After the lockout, Sillinger had a great season, even after the Blues traded him to the Nashville Predators on January 30, 2006. He finished out the season, but then (on July 2) he signed with the New York Islanders. Sillinger finished his playing career there when hip injuries caused him to officially retire on August 26, 2009.

Throughout all the moving around, Sillinger still managed to play 1,049 NHL regular-season games (240G, 308A, 548P) and 43 playoff games (11G, 7A, 18P). His many trades and two signings meant that he played in every single NHL division. In describing what it was like moving so often, Sillinger said, “Any team I went to, I knew there were 22 guys there to welcome you with open arms and be part of the team.” He continued, “The biggest reason for my longevity was I never took a day for granted. I always thought it was an honor and a privilege to play in the National Hockey League. The reason being is I approached every day that it was going to be my last.”

From the time he retired until 2014, Sillinger was the Director of Player Development for the Edmonton Oilers. He then scouted and recruited for his former junior team, the Regina Pats.