On this day in 2003, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded Mike Sillinger to the Dallas Stars in a three-team deal that also involved the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Blue Jackets sent Sillinger and a 2004 second-round pick to Dallas in exchange for Darryl Sydor. The Stars then flipped Sillinger to the Coyotes for Teppo Numminen.
At the time of the trade, Sillinger was already 11 years into his NHL career and on his eighth team. He’d go on to play 17 seasons in total, suiting up for 12 different NHL clubs and recording 548 points in 1,049 games. Until someone breaks it, he’ll always be a go-to trivia answer: the NHL player who played for the most teams (12), and the co-leader for most times traded (9), tied with Brent Ashton.
Sillinger appeared in 155 games with Columbus over two seasons, putting up 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points.
As for Sydor, he spent just one season with the Blue Jackets. In 49 games, he chipped in two goals and 13 assists for 15 points. He wrapped up his NHL career with 1,291 games played and 507 points.
