At the time, the impetus for the deal was to get Amonte out of Gotham. Bourque brought All-Star and playoff experience to Colorado for the playoff drive. At the time, it was Amonte's departure that made the headlines. On the face of them, trade-deadline deals are always risky. There is the issue of chemistry, of risking the devil you know for the devil you don't know, of whether the new talent will blend in with the old talent.
History is full of examples.
Roy's sensational performance in the playoffs was the reason that club went on to win the Stanley Cup. When the Detroit Red Wings went looking for defensive help in the spring of 1997, they made a deal for Larry Murphy, who at the time had just turned 36 years old. But there are times when it doesn't achieve the desired objective. Last spring, in an effort to go for the three-peat, the Red Wings tried adding defensive help again, this time in the form of veterans Chris Chelios and Ulf Samuelsson. They also dealt for goalie Bill Ranford and forward Wendel Clark.