It is true, but no one though Komi would poop the bed as well as all the other guys that played well everywhere else. Ron Wiulson played a bogus system, this is the fault of BB keeping him around, it has nothing to do with KEssel. This is why the whole Kesesel vs Sequin thing is a little muddy. Komisarek goes from a top line d man on the habs and cant do jack under the wilson system.
- aminnes

Granted...but Komisarek was coming off a huge injury and yet Burke still gave him a ridiculous contract

my bad
- Popcorn Kid

Like when you said the season would be cancelled?

An analogy? What is this? The SATs??!

Sequin is great, I'm just saying for the calibre of player - top ten scorer in the league - a team must pay what was paid for him. Any name that is in that catergpory will garner at least this.

once again - If Kessel got 6th in league scoring, and revitalized Lupol's career by playing with Kessel, isn't he the best player. When was the last time a leaf was in the top ten - aqnd no Sundin wasn't there ever. I just don't understand, any other guy gets at least 2 first rounders if he's at that level, I'm not saying I wouldn't want Sequin cause I would, but this calibre of player from any other team would garner that type of return. If Sundin - who never cracked the top ten as a leaf - was traded for anything less than 2 first rounders people would freak in Toronto. Kessel will likely score at least 400 goals in his careers maybe more if he stays healthy and go down as one of the best American born shooters in history, but he isn't worth 2 first rounders? I'm a little baffled, plus, agian, look at how he lifted Lupol. Just saying.
- aminnes

As a Habs fan, I hate both Toronto and Boston, but looking from the outside, Boston got the way better deal. Even though I think both players are real good, I think Seguin is better.

Montreal this year was picking 3rd and will likely pick about the same next year, however, I would not have traded those first round picks for a player who doesn't guarantee me a playoff team.

Top 10 scorers are great and all, but having 1 top player on your team doesn't win championships nor guarantee to make the playoffs.

For those 2 first rounders given away, he could of gotten a top goalie, a pair of good scorers. Then he might have made the playoffs and those 2 first rounders would be irrelevant.

Well this Cope guy sounds like a real limp wrist. Didn't like Burke swearing in the conference room. Jeseus Christ what a gong show this new ownership is.
I'm sure there is now a swear jar in the Leafs dressing room to help cover the Luxury tax the Leafs play the league...I'm sure the live mic's on the ice for television will now be turned off because sometimes a F Bomb is uttered. What a wussy this new guy is.
- tmlfan17

yes he is only 47 too. Lot of those types in corporate culture. Everyone is so (frank)ing politically correct these days it's not even funny.

Granted...but Komisarek was coming off a huge injury and yet Burke still gave him a ridiculous contract
- JR1417

Exactly, the point is Kessel has nothing to do with the fact that all these guys played like crap under wilson and BB. I didn't think the leafs were very good, but i expected they would fight for a playoff spot as did all the toronto media, so again the kessel vs sequin arguement is fun and all, but in reality, it should never have even been an issue.

Brian Burke is going to go down as the General Manager who traded Luke Schenn for nobody.
- Winning

Paul Holmgren is going to go down as teh General Manager who traded James Van Riemsdyk for nobody.

See, I can do it.

your balming kessel for that? Are you also saying boston won because of sequin?
- aminnes

No, I'm saying Boston won because they didn't have a retarded GM like the Leafs did....

Luongo, Edler and Raymond

for

Couturier, Grossman and Simmonds

Exactly, the point is Kessel has nothing to do with the fact that all these guys played like crap under wilson and BB. I didn't think the leafs were very good, but i expected they would fight for a playoff spot as did all the toronto media, so again the kessel vs sequin arguement is fun and all, but in reality, it should never have even been an issue.
- aminnes

Did you really think that Komisarek was going to make Kessel a better player? Even when he was healthy in the Habs uni he was a stay at home d man...not going to make Kessel a better player

Luongo, Raymond + Ballard for Couturier, Briere + 1st.
- Scooby_Doo

I hope your kidding.. coutourier=slightly< value than luongo - good contract vs terrible. young vs old. raymond vs briere = briere hands down better player, no better clutch player in the playoffs than briere. raymond?? choke.
and ballard vs a 1st rd pick? for the guy that has been a healthy scratch over 50% of the time he's been in van city and injured for 25% of the rest.... ya... you drank the kool aid again didnt cha....

Like when you said the season would be cancelled?
- Symba007

Im still holding out that the players don't vote to ratify.. League hasn't started yet. haha

No, I'm saying Boston won because they didn't have a retarded GM like the Leafs did....
- l3ig_l2ecl

To be fair, the biggest reason they won the cup was they had the best goaltending performance statistically in nhl history, thomas a nut, but knows how to stop picks.

There's something I think the Kessel supporters are missing.

Had the Leafs NOT got Kessel, it's safe to say they would have still been in 2nd last to get Seguin.

But not only that, the year after, they probably would have finished even lower than they did. So it may not have been Dougie Hamilton. It could have been RNH, Larsson, or Landeskog.

If Burke would have built properly , the Leafs would have been at or near the bottom for both those years, and probably would have ended up with TWO stars.

And kessel is a UFA after next season so he could walk (or they could trade him for much less than two stars) without even making the playoffs once!
- Charliebox

Much better chance at keeping Kessel around with Burke there...btw

Ek,

You are a master at getting page views! Your views are so backwards compared to the rest of the hockey media.

Burke did a terrible job in Toronto. He over valued his players and didn't sell them when he could have for a more than fair price. Just think back to last year's trade deadline when instead of getting 4 1st round picks (Burke's words) he decided to hang onto his players and they continued to tank. Think about what the Leafs could have done at the draft table with their 1st pick plue 4 others (assuming they were all for the 2012 draft). He could have wheeled and dealed but he stood firm and lost.

Kessel is a great player, but I think Seguin will be a better overall player at the end of their careers. Also, if Kessel walks then what did the Leafs gain? Segin is signed long term in Boston and was part of their cup winning team. The comparisons are tough because they play different positions but it's pretty clear Boston won that trade huge, what people also don't realize is that after that trade Boston gained something almost as valuable as Kessel himself, cap space! They had almost none going into that season and didn't have a lot of room even if they decided they wanted to keep Kessel.
- riceroni

Well it's not his fault if Kaberle didnt want to go to Philly for Jeff Carter because of a NTC . Trade wise Burke did a good job....it's FA signings

They might expect, but even with 15 the bruins would be an awesome team. Bergeron isn't mister media either but boston wanted to build a team around him not so long ago.
- aminnes

where do you get that? he's one of the most approachable, likeable people on the team. the media seeks him out because of this.

is he an over the top personality? no. he's laid back.

kessel on the other looks like he's going to be sick when there is a mic in his face.

Luongo, Edler and Raymond

for

Couturier, Grossman and Simmonds
- Boinker

Everybody loves Raymond

Ek,

You are a master at getting page views! Your views are so backwards compared to the rest of the hockey media.

Burke did a terrible job in Toronto. He over valued his players and didn't sell them when he could have for a more than fair price. Just think back to last year's trade deadline when instead of getting 4 1st round picks (Burke's words) he decided to hang onto his players and they continued to tank. Think about what the Leafs could have done at the draft table with their 1st pick plue 4 others (assuming they were all for the 2012 draft). He could have wheeled and dealed but he stood firm and lost.

Kessel is a great player, but I think Seguin will be a better overall player at the end of their careers. Also, if Kessel walks then what did the Leafs gain? Segin is signed long term in Boston and was part of their cup winning team. The comparisons are tough because they play different positions but it's pretty clear Boston won that trade huge, what people also don't realize is that after that trade Boston gained something almost as valuable as Kessel himself, cap space! They had almost none going into that season and didn't have a lot of room even if they decided they wanted to keep Kessel.
- riceroni

EK clearly has no clue when it comes to the Leafs based off of this blog post...stating that they will be contenders for 7-10 years because of Burke is ridiculous

Did you really think that Komisarek was going to make Kessel a better player? Even when he was healthy in the Habs uni he was a stay at home d man...not going to make Kessel a better player
- JR1417

missing the point, the leafs never should have finished as low as they did based on what they had on paper. The point is that had they played like they should no one would even be talking about kessel vs sequin. so for me the issue was poor coaching, not kessel. Good god people, only on the leafs can a guy score 30 goals every year and be blamed for the mess.

I live in Boston and no one is talking hockey this year let alone Seguin scoring 30..
- Popcorn Kid

i know you do. and your wrong.

you hate the bruins. fine. but your agenda is not well hidden.

read a (frank)ing paper.

An analogy? What is this? The SATs??!
- Giroux_Is_God

Wondered how many pages of comments before someone around here had taken the SAT's? The answer: almost 7

As of today....the present....yes I do because Kessel is still the better player.

Until Seguin/Hamilton surpass Kessel in production, I won't be sold.
- Pen15

i'm confused.

EK clearly has no clue when it comes to the Leafs based off of this blog post...stating that they will be contenders for 7-10 years because of Burke is ridiculous
- JR1417

Clearly.

missing the point, the leafs never should have finished as low as they did based on what they had on paper. The point is that had they played like they should no one would even be talking about kessel vs sequin. so for me the issue was poor coaching, not kessel. Good god people, only on the leafs can a guy score 30 goals every year and be blamed for the mess.
- aminnes

I like Kessel, I am a fan, but the trade is clearly brutal...but when you say on paper they should've been better, what did they have on paper that should have pushed them over the top? Komisarek, Beauch? Goalie? Forwards?

where do you get that? he's one of the most approachable, likeable people on the team. the media seeks him out because of this.

is he an over the top personality? no. he's laid back.

kessel on the other looks like he's going to be sick when there is a mic in his face.
- Fountain-San

We're all aware that Phaneuf is the captain right? It is Phaneuf who they decided to build around not kessel. And kessel's fine with the media, to say he looks sick what are we even discussing at this point?