from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Bosotn Globe,

Butch Goring, let go as the Islanders’ coach late in the 2000-01 season, met with then-owner Charles Wang in an exit interview. “He asked me for an appraisal of his team,” recalled Goring. “And I told him, point blank, ‘I know you are thinking of trading [Zdeno] Chara. Do not do that. It will be the biggest mistake you make in your life. Do not trade this guy.’ ” And with a hearty chuckle, Goring added, “He didn’t listen to me.” Then-GM Mike Milbury wheeled Chara to the Senators in a deal that also sent Bill Muckalt and a first-round pick to Ottawa for Alexei Yashin. Ottawa used the pick, No. 2 ovearll, to claim Jason Spezza in the 2001 draft.

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