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Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Hockey History As Told By Cardboard - Andy Moog

On March 8, 1988, Edmonton Oilers netminder Andy Moog was traded to the Boston Bruins.  Unhappy with his situation, Moog held out and instead joined the Canadian Olympic program where he could be the starter.  Despite the Stanley Cup victories, he was tired of not getting a shot in net as his time in Edmonton was mostly spent backing up HOFer Grant Fuhr.  

Moog said, "My leaving was all about opportunity. I felt that I could be a starter elsewhere, and after three championships in Edmonton, I believed that the time was right for me to become the player and leader I knew I could be."  He wasn't going to get that opportunity in Edmonton so leaving for the Olympic team made him the best available free-agent goaltender that technically wasn't in the NHL.

Rumors floated around quite a bit prior to the trade and most folks were sure he would soon be a Pittsburgh Penguins. However, his new digs would ultimately be in the same colors but a different city.  Oilers GM Glen Sather made Boston's GM Harry Sinden an offer he couldn't pass up and Pittsburgh was priced out of the Andy Moog sweepstakes.  In a package that included Boston's Bill Ranford, Geoff Courtnall, and a draft pick, Moog was sent the Bruins.  The Oilers would win another Cup with Ranford backing up Fuhr in both 1988 and 1990. The team they beat??  Andy Moog and the Boston Bruins, both times.

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