5 sneaky good trade deadline deals

The NHL's trade deadline is mere days away, and all 30 teams are looking to better their rosters in the present or down the road as general managers pick up their phones attempting to get the best bang for their buck.

Here are five trades that have proven to be sneaky good over the years.

1980 - Butch Goring to the Islanders

Butch Goring's arrival on Long Island led to four straight Stanley Cup victories, and, as a result, is viewed as something of a model for all future trade deadline deals.

The New York Islanders traded forward Billy Harris and defenseman Dave Lewis to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Goring, who was initially upset about leaving California.

Brought in to center the team's second line, Goring provided a healthy dose of secondary scoring during the first two runs to the Cup, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1981 after recording 10 goals and 10 assists in 18 games.

"I'm not saying that trade was the reason we won four (Cups), but the fact of the matter is that they made a trade and they ended up winning four," Goring told NHL.com. "That's why it's been such a much talked-about trade, and I'm happy to enjoy the moment every year."

1997 - Larry Murphy to the Red Wings

In search of a missing blue line piece, the Detroit Red Wings were more than happy to take Larry Murphy off the Toronto Maple Leafs' hands.

Murphy, who had fallen out of favor in Toronto, was acquired for future considerations, and went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in Detroit. 

Paired with a then-young Nicklas Lidstrom, he led all Detroit defensemen with 11 points and the entire NHL with a plus-16 during the 1997 playoff run. He recorded 52 points the following season as the Red Wings successfully defended their championship.

It doesn't get much better than trading for a future Hall of Fame player at the deadline for virtually nothing.

2013 - Filip Forsberg for Martin Erat

Desperate for some measure of secondary scoring, the Washington Capitals pulled off a deal right at the buzzer, sending prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville, with Martin Erat and prospect Michael Latta going the other way.

While it's not uncommon for prospects to be flipped for more proven talent at the deadline, what makes this trade so sneaky good is it took less than two years for it to become apparent the Predators made out like absolute bandits.

Erat appeared in only 62 regular season games for the Capitals, recording a grand total of two goals. He was also held without a point in four playoff appearances.

Forsberg, on the other hand, is coming into his own as a pro after marinating in the AHL. A front runner for the 2015 Calder Trophy, Forsberg has recorded his first 20-goal, 50-point season and is a key piece on a roster challenging for the President's Trophy.

1999 - Sabres trade for pick, draft Ryan Miller

The Buffalo Sabres flipped defenseman Michael Wilson for Rhett Warrener prior to the 1999 deadline, in the process setting themselves up to add a franchise goalie.

Also coming Buffalo's way was a fifth-round pick, used to select Ryan Miller from Michigan State University with the 138th overall pick.

In 540 games with the club, Miller set franchise records for wins (284) and total saves (14,847), making him one of the most impactful trade deadline acquisitions in league history, albeit indirectly.

2009 - Mark Recchi to the Bruins

In need of a veteran presence, the Boston Bruins shipped defenseman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Marc Recchi.

For a player late in his career, Recchi had a productive tenure with the Bruins, with two 40-plus point regular seasons.

However, the deal really paid off in 2011  as Recchi - largely filling a bottom-six role - recorded five goals and nine assists in 25 playoff games en route to his third and final Stanley Cup.

Recchi ended his career in fine fashion, announcing his retirement days after the Game 7 victory.