Do you think if the leafs hadn't made t he Kessel trade than they would have been better?
- JR1417

might have... I dunno

might have
- HipHopisDead

Sure, might have worked out better, but how much better of a team would have the leafs been without Kessel during that time period? They wouldn't have been better!

It is hard to argue the Kessel trade. As it stands now, Boston is and probably will win that trade. I don't think the trade itself was a bad one at the time though. Nobody including Burke anticipated that the Leafs would crap the bed so badly that year. It wasn't the trade that was bad. It was what Burke did after that trade was his biggest mistake. When the Leafs started to falter he should have made moves at the deadline to turn the ship around to solidify a higher rank in the standings. This would have ensured a much lower pick going to Boston. This is where I believe Brian lost the trade. Kessel is worth what he was traded for, from a draft pick standpoint.
Burke had the opportunity to salvage or save this trade and he didn't. That is where he did wrong. He did nothing to ensure Boston would not get the high picks they did.

might
- HipHopisDead

thoughts on :

5.* The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on June 24, 2011 that sent Anaheim's first-round pick in 2011 (22nd overall) to Toronto in exchange for Boston's first-round pick in 2011 (30th overall) and this pick.[19]


Ana. drafted John Gibson

All this to get Biggs

might have... I dunno
- HipHopisDead

I am sorry, but that thinking is a bit backward...not trying to be a Richard, but it is backward

I wonder what history would be if the first trade Burke made was the Phaneuf deal or the Lupul deal as opposed to the Kessell; it happened so long ago and is still the prevailing talking point all across this site. Over-payment for a good player.

Sure, might have worked out better, but how much better of a team would have the leafs been without Kessel during that time period? They wouldn't have been better!
- JR1417

You can predict what would have happened in the past if things were different? That must suck man... you must think about past life experiences and say "what if" a lot.

It is hard to argue the Kessel trade. As it stands now, Boston is and probably will win that trade. I don't think the trade itself was a bad one at the time though. Nobody including Burke anticipated that the Leafs would crap the bed so badly that year. It wasn't the trade that was bad. It was what Burke did after that trade was his biggest mistake. When the Leafs started to falter he should have made moves at the deadline to turn the ship around to solidify a higher rank in the standings. This would have ensured a much lower pick going to Boston. This is where I believe Brian lost the trade. Kessel is worth what he was traded for, from a draft pick standpoint.
Burke had the opportunity to salvage or save this trade and he didn't. That is where he did wrong. He did nothing to ensure Boston would not get the high picks they did.
- TheFan78

Are you for real????

You can predict what would have happened in the past if things were different? That must suck man... you must think about past life experiences and said "what if" a lot.
- HipHopisDead

Your a tool if that's what you think I am saying here...The leafs would not have been better without Kessel. If you think they would have been what does that say about how you value kessel?

thoughts on :

5.* The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on June 24, 2011 that sent Anaheim's first-round pick in 2011 (22nd overall) to Toronto in exchange for Boston's first-round pick in 2011 (30th overall) and this pick.
- Feeling_Glucky[19]


Ana. drafted John Gibson

All this to get Biggs

Burke and goalies eh...
Toskala, Giggy, Gusto... and Reimer's 20 good games and he's the starter.

It is hard to argue the Kessel trade. As it stands now, Boston is and probably will win that trade. I don't think the trade itself was a bad one at the time though. Nobody including Burke anticipated that the Leafs would crap the bed so badly that year. It wasn't the trade that was bad. It was what Burke did after that trade was his biggest mistake. When the Leafs started to falter he should have made moves at the deadline to turn the ship around to solidify a higher rank in the standings. This would have ensured a much lower pick going to Boston. This is where I believe Brian lost the trade. Kessel is worth what he was traded for, from a draft pick standpoint.
Burke had the opportunity to salvage or save this trade and he didn't. That is where he did wrong. He did nothing to ensure Boston would not get the high picks they did.
- TheFan78

yes. The point ek is making is that to look better he would have gotten fleeced at that deadline but had the sack in those situations to not do anything even though it hurt his rep but was better for the team going forward.

Yes. It was. Burke even said as much. He said he was going to fast track the rebuild and do it in 3 years. Properly rebuilding and doing it the way Tallon did it is sucking and drafting good prospects. Burke did the opposite. Burke could have had Seguin and Hamilton. Now he just has Kessel. You're gonna try tell me you'd rather have Kessel than Seguin and Hamilton?!
- woopstash

Absafrankinglutely Wooptash. We have Hamilton,Holzer. I thought Schenn was slow and flat footed. THen i saw Hamilton play.

Yes. It was. Burke even said as much. He said he was going to fast track the rebuild and do it in 3 years. Properly rebuilding and doing it the way Tallon did it is sucking and drafting good prospects. Burke did the opposite. Burke could have had Seguin and Hamilton. Now he just has Kessel. You're gonna try tell me you'd rather have Kessel than Seguin and Hamilton?!
- woopstash

Absafrankinglutely Wooptash. We have Hamilton,Holzer. I thought Schenn was slow and flat footed. THen i saw Hamilton play.

oh, got me there. Either way, would leaf fans have accepted anything less than 2 firsts for him? no. not a chance.
- aminnes

Not sure you can compare to pre-cap era when first round picks weren't as crazy valuable. Why trad a bona fide all-star for unknown pieces who may be developed into quality players when you can simply buy free agents at whatever cost (see Mogilny, Reichel, Renberg).

thoughts on :

5.* The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on June 24, 2011 that sent Anaheim's first-round pick in 2011 (22nd overall) to Toronto in exchange for Boston's first-round pick in 2011 (30th overall) and this pick.
- Feeling_Glucky[19]


Ana. drafted John Gibson

All this to get Biggs

wouldnt worry, Gibson hasnt impressed many people this year.......

Your a tool if that's what you think I am saying here...The leafs would not have been better without Kessel. If you think they would have been what does that say about how you value kessel?
- JR1417

It's not always the case that one players makes that substantial of a difference. Also, if Burke didnt' make the Kessel deal, he may have made another deal which could or could not have changed things.

Hey Tool Bag - I have said if the deal was for Seguin and Hamilton I wouldn't have done it... but that WAS NOT THE DEAL!

Um actually it is true...
- Iggysbff

the rangers not having cap space next year? untrue.

It's not always the case that one players makes that substantial of a difference. Also, if Burke didnt' make the Kessel deal, he may have made another deal which could or could not have changed things.

Hey Tool Bag - I have said if the deal was for Seguin and Hamilton I wouldn't have done it... but that WAS NOT THE DEAL!
- HipHopisDead

The deal equated to Seguin, Hamilton and Knight! Granted it was draft picks, but it still amounted to some good players...

the rangers not having cap space next year? untrue.
- tomburton99

Redden and who else being amnestied?

Redden and who else being amnestied?
- Feeling_Glucky

that's it. I'm sure the likes of Halpern and Eminger wont be resigned. Sauer will be placed on LTIR this season and might have to retire due to PCS.

that's it. I'm sure the likes of Halpern and Eminger wont be resigned. Sauer will be placed on LTIR this season and might have to retire due to PCS.
- tomburton99

so if redden gets injured in the AHL this season and is out long term, what are you going to do? there goes the cap space...

so if redden gets injured in the AHL this season and is out long term, what are you going to do? there goes the cap space...
- sensnucksnocups

he won't be playing in AHL - they are wrapping him in bubble wrap.

the rangers not having cap space next year? untrue.
- tomburton99

They still have to deal with the Redden situation. And resign MDZ, McDonagh and Stepan, Hagelin and Sauer. All with the cap being reduced 5+ million.

he won't be playing in AHL - they are wrapping him in bubble wrap.
- Feeling_Glucky

i see you've read the same article...lol

Oilers could give NY something it does need. "Talent on Entry Level Contracts..."

Weird comment Ek, since NY has Kreider, Stepan, Hagelin, and Mcdonagh on EL contract. More EL talent than most.

edit: I suppose he means beyond this year, since a good chunk of money will have to be spent on 3 of those guys next summer