Many fans still look back at that era and feel the team was robbed of success by poor management.
Anytime you think about the worst trades in league history, the Los Angeles Kings trading hall-of-fame defenseman Larry Murphy to the Washington Capitals on this day in 1983 has to be near the top of any list.
In his 242 games prior to the trade, Murphy recorded 207 points for the Kings and finished as a Calder Trophy and Norris Trophy Finalists.
Despite his incredible performances, a contract dispute led to his eventual departure.
Murphy described the situation in an episode of AllTheKingsMen this summer:
"How it played out is, George Maguire threw out a number, my agent threw out a number, we had a discussion, and the arbitrator awarded me, actually less than what George Maguire said in the hearing. He (the arbitrator) was league-appointed, the league didn't want to see that number."
A situation Kings color commentator and Murphy's teammate Jim Fox called "criminal" in the same podcast.
It's hard to disagree with Fox's claim, and after that situation, a trade was all but inevitable.
After leaving the Kings Murphy registered another 1,009 points in 1,373 games and added four Stanley Cups en route to a Hall-of-Fame career.
Many fans still look back at that era and feel the team was robbed of success by poor management.
When you look at a roster that featured Marcel Dionne, Larry Murphy, Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, Jim Fox and Bernie Nichols, it's hard to say they are wrong.