Just to throw a wrench in your approach, which is logical in nature, is that there is no guarantee the Leafs would have drafted those players if they picked at that spot or even more complicated is they may have traded the picks for more value including trading down and acquiring more young talent. Or maybe trading up to get the first overall.

In other words, at the time of the trade it wasn't assumed the value of the 1st rounder would be the second overall pick. If they had held onto the pick on draft day they may have been able to use that pick in a trade to acquire someone other than Kessel (or Kessel as well and probably not an additional first and second rounder).

Maybe if they didn't want to draft Seguin they could have leveraged themselves into a position to acquire a young, legitimate star franchise centre. Not straight up, obviously, but it would have been a huge bonus.

So while you could argue that the Leafs "won" the trade you could also argue that they may have been able to obtain more value for the pick considering where it ended up (which is obviously hindsight).

My main beef with the trade was that the pick wasn't top 5 protected or something. Then we'd have Kessel and Seguin and we would have hands down destroyed Boston on that deal. Not sure if it was a deal breaker for Boston or if it was Burke's arrogance thinking they were punching a ticket to the playoffs anyway but I think it's something we should have pushed for.
- deerow84

Great post!

I do not find him funny..and actually cant stand to listen to him.
I tried to like him, I listen to Howard Stern and he always had him on, and talks about him...but his screaming and rants just dont do it for me
- senstroll

Yeah I could see where he would not appeal to some people at all.

I hope it's Vinny Lecavalier, his size, creativity and 2 way game are exactly what we need. paves the way for a grabo buyout as well.
- ky678468

Wouldn't that be awesome if we signed Vinny as an FA... costs us nothing! We can have Kadri at the 2 spot McClement at the 3 hole and Colborne as the 4th...

Then we can either trade grabbo, Kommy and Liles to teams that can use these players to help them reach the cap floor and or give them depth and gain some assests for the future or bottom 6 forwards! If not decide to buy out 2 of these players.

So many options... but we have to sign Vinny at 32 he is perfect to help bring Kadri along!

word from above
- Aetherial

hold ur ground wussy

rather have Dion eh?
- HipHopisDead

YES! Unless we trade Dion to the Pens for Letang.. provided he signs long term with us!

hold ur ground wussy
- big_dion

I had to inform him to change it, had no choice.

Wouldn't that be awesome if we signed Vinny as an FA... costs us nothing! We can have Kadri at the 2 spot McClement at the 3 hole and Colborne as the 4th...

Then we can either trade grabbo, Kommy and Liles to teams that can use these players to help them reach the cap floor and or give them depth and gain some assests for the future or bottom 6 forwards! If not decide to buy out 2 of these players.

So many options... but we have to sign Vinny at 32 he is perfect to help bring Kadri along!
- thehockeygod

Vinny would be perfect right now. Don't have to give up anything to get him. Prototypical first line center even if he is on the downside of his career. Perfect for us for the next 2-4 years.

Would love to see Kessel/vinny/jvr or lupul

rather have Dion eh?
- HipHopisDead

Letang in Toronto doesn't make sense to me with the offense D-men we have coming up, and Dion is fine he just needs less responsibilities. I'd rather us try to upgrade Gunnarsson as his D partner.

I had to inform him to change it, had no choice.
- LeafMan

i was just playing lou lol - i dont even know what his last avatar was!

Wouldn't that be awesome if we signed Vinny as an FA... costs us nothing! We can have Kadri at the 2 spot McClement at the 3 hole and Colborne as the 4th...

Then we can either trade grabbo, Kommy and Liles to teams that can use these players to help them reach the cap floor and or give them depth and gain some assests for the future or bottom 6 forwards! If not decide to buy out 2 of these players.

So many options... but we have to sign Vinny at 32 he is perfect to help bring Kadri along!
- thehockeygod

Agree 100%/ ... which is why it feels like it wont happen

I would be fine giving Vinny 3-4 years at whatever the going rate is for a 33 year old bought out 60-65 point #1 center is worth.

I cant see how we could keep Grab. if that happened, to much money.

Vinny, Clarkson and a Dman to play with Dion and we would be looking good going into the season

Letang in Toronto doesn't make sense to me with the offense D-men we have coming up, and Dion is fine he just needs less responsibilities. I'd rather us try to upgrade Gunnarsson as his D partner.
- ky678468

I sometimes get carreid away hating on Dion as well. But i'm not delusional enough to think this team has the defensive responsibility in other players that we can afford to lose Dion.

Letang doesn't help this team too much in the defense department, and offensively we don't need improvement on the blue line.

I already mentioned this..but Kessel did not have 152 point in his first 3 seasons
- senstroll

Are you talking about Kessel's 1st 3 seasons in the league or 1st 3 seasons with the Leafs?

Are you talking about Kessel's 1st 3 seasons in the league or 1st 3 seasons with the Leafs?
- TML60

League.

He has over 200 pts in first 3 seasons with leafs

i was just playing lou lol - i dont even know what his last avatar was!
- big_dion

Ass-crack I think.

Letang in Toronto doesn't make sense to me with the offense D-men we have coming up, and Dion is fine he just needs less responsibilities. I'd rather us try to upgrade Gunnarsson as his D partner.
- ky678468

Letang wont be coming to TO.

The Leafs main target should be Vinny.
Concentrate on no one else....just get VINNY!!!
Once he is signed...than move on to others.

Letang in Toronto doesn't make sense to me with the offense D-men we have coming up, and Dion is fine he just needs less responsibilities. I'd rather us try to upgrade Gunnarsson as his D partner.
- ky678468

we'll have to re-sign Dion next year at almost the same cost of Letang.

Letang is the better player and younger you take the better player regardless of what's in the system.

i was just playing lou lol - i dont even know what his last avatar was!
- big_dion

It was hot and def mouth watering doable

Letang wont be coming to TO.

The Leafs main target should be Vinny.
Concentrate on no one else....just get VINNY!!!


- Fakepartofme

I've never seen you so completely intent on someone the Leafs should go after

FWIW, I completely agree

we'll have to re-sign Dion next year at almost the same cost of Letang.

Letang is the better player and yonger you take the better player regardless of what's in the system.
- HipHopisDead

Pa- neuf will not be making more than he is now.

Letang wont be coming to TO.

The Leafs main target should be Vinny.
Concentrate on no one else....just get VINNY!!!
Once he is signed...than move on to others.


- Fakepartofme

no doubt about it... this is the answer we've all been drooling over to find that number 1 center (albeit not in his prime, but definitely good for right now)

Everyone is always saying they don't come along because no one wants to give them up. This buy out and his horrible contract make this a very rare opportunity to grab a very sought after commodity without having to give up any assets.

rather have Dion eh?
- HipHopisDead

You would pay Letang over 8mil+? That would be a nice new contract for everyone to complain about.

I've never seen you so completely intent on someone the Leafs should go after

FWIW, I completely agree
- lumlums

He is exactly what we need.
A little slow...but it doesn't matter....IMO he would be perfect!
The leafs cant miss out on him.
Althought I believe he will sign with Montreal

Letang wont be coming to TO.

The Leafs main target should be Vinny.
Concentrate on no one else....just get VINNY!!!
Once he is signed...than move on to others.


- Fakepartofme

Building up the middle, fakepartofme, you and I are fast becoming allies here......after all our run-ins regarding schenn, this is completely beautiful to see. Lets hold hands!

League.

He has over 200 pts in first 3 seasons with leafs
- dragus84

I think the best comparison is his 1st 3 seasons as a Leaf. What he did before that is irrelevant to analyzing the trade. The Leafs got much more production out of Kessel than the Leafs got from Seguin. If the trade hadn't been made and the Leafs had drafted Seguin I doubt that Seguin would have been as productive as he was with the Bruins and would not have given the Leafs the value that Kessel has. Just my opinion.

I've got a new favourite NBA team after last night....the Brampton Cavaliers!