Dion is very over rated and expensive. He is no more a leader than Kessel is. I understand your loyalty ,but sometimes you have to look at stats for the truth . You first line and your top D are not getting the job done.
- VANTEL

Sorry dude... Kesler min/game>>>> Backes. And you don't think Backes was in the same boat (re first years??)

Dion is very over rated and expensive. He is no more a leader than Kessel is. I understand your loyalty ,but sometimes you have to look at stats for the truth . You first line and your top D are not getting the job done.
- VANTEL

Are yo saying that the Leafs missed the playoffs because of Kessel and Phaneuf?? that's absurd. Utterly morinic. We missed because of the GAA.

When has Backes scored 40 goals . His stats are similar to Kes and Kes was injured.
- VANTEL

Backes career> Kesler and BAckes has 2 times > 26 goals. Kesler has 1.

Kesler started out on the 4th line, and then was in a checking role for several years, so he took a while to breakout offensively. He's still a better offensive player.
- Fosco

You dont think Backes started out with limited time on lines 3 and 4 as well?

Personally, I would say Kesler is a slightly better player than Backes. But Backes beats Kesler in the intangibles. Kesler is one of a handful of players that I would NEVER take on my team regardless.

I'd take the Selke winner, who is better offensively, defensively, and is still a very physical player, albeit less so than Backes.

Kesler's numbers and accolades speak for themselves—he is a better player than Backes. He's not better by much, but he is better, and usually a team would have to add something else in a deal to get a better player than they are giving up.

I didn't say STL would have to add Terasenko, or anything of huge value, but they would have to add something.

Kesler's injury status is a question mark. Obviously they wouldn't get full value for him right now, but comparing the two players, Kesler is better.

The year Daniel won the Ross/Pearson awards, some analysts (Mackenzie and Ferraro, just off the top of my head) said Kesler deserved the MVP—he can take over a game when he's healthy.
- Fosco

Kesler is one of the best two way players in the game . If he would learn to keep his mouth shut and stop the diving and whinning he would be sought after by every team. He is one of the best players and one of the biggest diickheads . When he learns to shut up and play then Canucks will have a great leader.

As a Penguins fan a trade that has always wrinkled my brain was Naslund for Stoijanov.

It's not like the Penguins had to trade Naslund due to finances coughjagrcough. They could have kept him and developed him and found toughness with any other bottom of the barrel fighter that seems to lay around the FA scrapyard. But instead they shipped a struggling but promising player out of town for a guy who vanished within a couple months of the trade.
- Ben37

He (Stoijanov) did have that awesome goal where Lemiuex basically banked it of his stick in front though...

Backes career> Kesler and BAckes has 2 times > 26 goals. Kesler has 1.
- burn

CMON

Kesler had 25 Backes had 31 really? Six goals?

You forget that Kesler is one of the best shut down forwards in the league.

Lets get real there is not much difference between the two.

Kesler is one of the best two way players in the game . If he would learn to keep his mouth shut and stop the diving and whinning he would be sought after by every team. He is one of the best players and one of the biggest diickheads . When he learns to shut up and play then Canucks will have a great leader.
- VANTEL

If he was capable of learning it...he would have by now. What you get is what you see...

Backes career> Kesler and BAckes has 2 times > 26 goals. Kesler has 1.
- burn

Splitting hairs a bit there no? Kesler did record 25 goals / 50 assists the year before his 41 goal season. Drawing the line at 26 is a bit redonkulous.

EDIT - plus, duh, 26 goals the year before that...

Backes career> Kesler and BAckes has 2 times > 26 goals. Kesler has 1.
- burn

Are you trolling?

I'd take the Selke winner, who is better offensively, defensively, and is still a very physical player, albeit less so than Backes.

Kesler's numbers and accolades speak for themselves—he is a better player than Backes. He's not better by much, but he is better, and usually a team would have to add something else in a deal to get a better player than they are giving up.

I didn't say STL would have to add Terasenko, or anything of huge value, but they would have to add something.

Kesler's injury status is a question mark. Obviously they wouldn't get full value for him right now, but comparing the two players, Kesler is better.

The year Daniel won the Ross/Pearson awards, some analysts (Mackenzie and Ferraro, just off the top of my head) said Kesler deserved the MVP—he can take over a game when he's healthy.
- Fosco

Wrong.

ST. Louis is giving up a player that is at the very least equal to... not a chance they give up anything more. If anything VAN has to add. Backes was #2 in Selke voting this year.

My god.

I'd rather Backes.

Are yo saying that the Leafs missed the playoffs because of Kessel and Phaneuf?? that's absurd. Utterly morinic. We missed because of the GAA.
- burn

GAA is cause by poor goaltending and no support from your D and Forwards. Seeing those two had the most TOI for forwards and D it may contribute.

We seem to have more goals scored onthe Sedins because of their lack of back checking than our 3 rd line.

A good two way game from the forwards is very important. Look at St.L .They were going to miss the playoffs until Hitch came in and got them plying a two way game.

If he was capable of learning it...he would have by now. What you get is what you see...
- Iggysbff

See if he does it this year.

CMON

Kesler had 25 Backes had 31 really? Six goals?

You forget that Kesler is one of the best shut down forwards in the league.

Lets get real there is not much difference between the two.
- VANTEL

So is Backes.

I agree.. there isn't which is why it's absurd to say that the Blues have to add. personally I'd rather Backes.

Splitting hairs a bit there no? Kesler did record 25 goals / 50 assists the year before his 41 goal season. Drawing the line at 26 is a bit redonkulous.

EDIT - plus, duh, 26 goals the year before that...
- 1970vintage

Who's goals/game is better? But yeah The OTHER guy is better offensively.

Are you trolling?
- Scooby_Doo

Nope, just talking hockey. You?

Kesler started out on the 4th line, and then was in a checking role for several years, so he took a while to breakout offensively. He's still a better offensive player.
- Fosco

Disagree...StL was a worse team for many of the past 6 years...lets look at this...past 6 years, the length of time Backes was in the league.

Kesler: 451 games, 141g(31%), 309p(68%)(playing vs lesser defensive pairings)
Backes:446 games 126g (28%) 272p (61%)( on a worse team)

Backes is solid defensively as his +/- and give/take shows...he is also MUCH more physical.

Wrong.

ST. Louis is giving up a player that is at the very least equal to... not a chance they give up anything more. If anything VAN has to add. Backes was #2 in Selke voting this year.

My god.

I'd rather Backes.
- burn

That is fine but TO has never been accused of being good judge of talent .

Let the flame begin . Yes I was trolling . I mean joking

GAA is cause by poor goaltending and no support from your D and Forwards. Seeing those two had the most TOI for forwards and D it may contribute.

We seem to have more goals scored onthe Sedins because of their lack of back checking than our 3 rd line.

A good two way game from the forwards is very important. Look at St.L .They were going to miss the playoffs until Hitch came in and got them plying a two way game.
- VANTEL

Agreed. We missed because of lackluster goaltending at times, poor dzone coverage (thanks RW).

Blaming Kessel for missing the playoffs is absurd. He did his job. He's here to score. IMO a better system should help.

So is Backes.

I agree.. there isn't which is why it's absurd to say that the Blues have to add. personally I'd rather Backes.
- burn

With Keslers injury I would take Backes too. With a healthy silenced Kesler , I would take #17

Kesler is one of the best two way players in the game . If he would learn to keep his mouth shut and stop the diving and whinning he would be sought after by every team. He is one of the best players and one of the biggest diickheads . When he learns to shut up and play then Canucks will have a great leader.
- VANTEL

Bolded all the important parts about Kesler...

With Keslers injury I would take Backes too. With a healthy silenced Kesler , I would take #17
- VANTEL

I'd take Backes either way.

Agreed. We missed because of lackluster goaltending at times, poor dzone coverage (thanks RW).

Blaming Kessel for missing the playoffs is absurd. He did his job. He's here to score. IMO a better system should help.
- burn

He scored goals .I give him that.

I don't recall him being a defensive dynamo in his own zone .

Nope, just talking hockey. You?
- burn

Just reading some funny posts. Some things don't change.

Question for you, is Kessel better than Kesler?

Bolded all the important parts about Kesler...
- OilHorse

Everyone knows .Including him .I am sure he was spoken to this offseason.