The worst trade in Los Angeles Kings history is also one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history, especially when looking at trade deadline deals. The move was back in 1980 when the Kings would trade Butch Goring to the New York Islanders for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis.
Goring was a fifth round draft pick by the LA Kings in the 1969 NHL Draft, and played 11 seasons with the team. He was a consistent goal scorer for the Kings and had at least 25 goals in eight seasons leading up to the 1979-80 season.
However, the Kings felt like they needed a change and would move Goring at the deadline for two veterans in Harris and Lewis. Both players would play four seasons with the Kings and were decent depth players but really nothing past that.
Meanwhile, Goring would be the key piece missing for the Islanders and start a dynasty for them as they would win the Stanley Cup in four straight seasons. While he didn't produce at the same rate, he was still very productive and had 195 points in 332 regular season games with the Islanders while adding 62 points in the four playoff runs that ended with Stanley Cups.
Butch Goring was upset that the LA Kings traded him but happy with the end result
According to John Kreiser with The Hockey Writers, Goring talked about his feelings at the time of the trade and said:
"“I had signed a six-year deal with the Kings — I think I was in the second year — so I really wasn’t expecting to go anywhere. At least I was hoping not to go anywhere,” he said. “My initial reaction was one of anger and disappointment.”"
The fact that he would win the Stanley Cup four times certainly helped ease some of the bad feelings he had about being traded. However, the Kings would regret this trade as they didn't have much success after the move with only three playoff appearances over the next five seasons and advancing past the opening round once.