Now here's realism for you. In a way you are right though. Every Leaf sucks because as a team they suck. Kessel rocks, JVR rocks. Or were Burke and Poile both wrong about them when they were selected to Team USA or were the coaches wrong for pairing them together on the top lines?

No you're right though, every Leaf sucks.
- VaderMaul666

Yup, everyone inside the game is wrong. Kessel/JvR/Bernier/Phaneuf = suck

Wow. From Carolina's perspective you're giving up the chance to draft one of Hannifin, Marner, or Strome. For Kessel to skate with both Staals which is good, a very good young second line center in Kadri(to replace Jordan Staal on the second line), and a high 3rd round pick (very good value for Semin, since the other two are clearly for the 5th overall). When I type it doesn't seem all that bad for Carolina. For Toronto you're giving up your best "NHL" center (Nylander will be better), your top scorer, and a 3rd rd pick. To get the right to draft another of the three expected to be picked 3-5 and an enigma in Semin that will make say wow 10% of the time and why does he make so much the other 90%. I actually like it as a Canes fan despite really looking forward to drafting one of the three.

Kessel Kadri and a 3rd for Semin and the 5th?

Who exactly is doing the talking for the Leafs? Whomever it should be fired if this deal went through.

Yup, everyone inside the game is wrong. Kessel/JvR/Bernier/Phaneuf = suck
- PatC80

Again you're right Kessel/JvR/Bernier/Phaneuf = suck...because they were together on the same team. Put Kessel with Crosby or Malkin or Thornton or Tavares or Backstrom or Getzlaf or Towes. Does he still suck?

Again you're right Kessel/JvR/Bernier/Phaneuf = suck...because they were together on the same team. Put Kessel with Crosby or Malkin or Thornton or Tavares or Backstrom or Getzlaf or Towes. Does he still suck?
- VaderMaul666

Only while a member of the Maple Leafs do players suck..

Kessel Kadri and a 3rd for Semin and the 5th?

Who exactly is doing the talking for the Leafs? Whomever it should be fired if this deal went through.
- Jeropotato

Shanahan. That's why he's not the GM. If this is what he has worked out without a GM around, I am afraid for this organization.

Only while a member of the Maple Leafs do players suck..
- PatC80

That I can deal with cause the team sucks right now, but for a change, like a breath of fresh air, Toronto isn't using their pocketbook to think with. Winds of change are coming.

Again you're right Kessel/JvR/Bernier/Phaneuf = suck...because they were together on the same team. Put Kessel with Crosby or Malkin or Thornton or Tavares or Backstrom or Getzlaf or Towes. Does he still suck?
- VaderMaul666

Kessel was a top 10 scorer 3 years running until he "slumped" this year to 61 points. He's elite...period. If Leaf fans would just stop trying to devalue their own players other fans wouldn't pile on.

Shanahan. That's why he's not the GM. If this is what he has worked out without a GM around, I am afraid for this organization.
- VaderMaul666

You can stop insulting Shanahan...this will never happen.

You can stop insulting Shanahan...this will never happen.
- djamon

I agree the scenario as it stands would never happen. But the theory is sound, once realistic pieces are worked into the trade, namely anything else outside of Kessel and the 5th overall pick.

Not trying to insult Shanny, big fan, honest. Simply saying he has no business making this deal even if it works out to be a landslide for Toronto, he's not the GM and is too much of a pro to act like one without making it official. He's quirky that way.

Kessel was a top 10 scorer 3 years running until he "slumped" this year to 61 points. He's elite...period. If Leaf fans would just stop trying to devalue their own players other fans wouldn't pile on.
- djamon

Finally someone who sees the light of day. Generalizations about a players abilities because of the outhouse of a team he play's on does not speak to how special a player Phil the Thrill is. He didn't get that nickname from the length of his stick if you catch my drift.

this is baloney... take out kadri and the 3rd and then maybe

Kessel Kadri and a 3rd for Semin and the 5th?

Who exactly is doing the talking for the Leafs? Whomever it should be fired if this deal went through.
- Jeropotato

Seems more like carolina's asking price.

I think kessel goes for a package of 3-4 good/ok assets. Can't see an asset like the 5th being involved.

I agree the scenario as it stands would never happen. But the theory is sound, once realistic pieces are worked into the trade, namely anything else outside of Kessel and the 5th overall pick.

Not trying to insult Shanny, big fan, honest. Simply saying he has no business making this deal even if it works out to be a landslide for Toronto, he's not the GM and is too much of a pro to act like one without making it official. He's quirky that way.
- VaderMaul666

Oh, my bad. I thought you were piling on based on an Ek rumour.

Finally someone who sees the light of day. Generalizations about a players abilities because of the outhouse of a team he play's on does not speak to how special a player Phil the Thrill is. He didn't get that nickname from the length of his stick if you catch my drift.
- VaderMaul666

This is true...just remember that next time you say that Hall or Nuge are busts.

Seems more like carolina's asking price.

I think kessel goes for a package of 3-4 good/ok assets. Can't see an asset like the 5th being involved.
- Tumbleweed

Stranger things have happened. Look at the Sedins when they got drafted. One of Burke's best days as a GM.

Oh, my bad. I thought you were piling on based on an Ek rumour.
- djamon

Definitely not. I like to stoke a fire every now and again, but this rumor is beyond ridiculous.

This is true...just remember that next time you say that Hall or Nuge are busts.
- Jeropotato

Not at all. The players as individuals are great. The team concept among players is what makes a winner.

Edmonton's problem from my perspective is that they have a plethora of great individual players, but very few team players. Once Edmonton figures that out, I will be very interested to see if the dynasty can be recreated.

They have the players, they just need to have a team.

Not at all. The players as individuals are great. The team concept among players is what makes a winner.

Edmonton's problem from my perspective is that they have a plethora of great individual players, but very few team players. Once Edmonton figures that out, I will be very interested to see if the dynasty can be recreated.

They have the players, they just need to have a team.
- VaderMaul666

Edmonton is the kind of team that could use, or rather needs one of those 'glue guys'.
Callahan
Dubinsky
D Brown
J Ward
...the list goes on, but they are too expensive for the role we need them for...the most (frank)ed up thing is the Oilers were full of those in the late 90's up until the cup run...and now we are pretty much devoid of them outside our 4th line.

From a Canes perspective:

--#5 pick. Forget it. Francis might trade down 2-4 spots if he really likes someone like Rantanen, Provorov, etc. who are likely to be available later. But I will be shocked if he trades the #5 pick outright for players or some much later pick.

==> Canes need to cut salary a bit and build out a better team without spending more. So anything like Kessel for the #5 pick is going completely the wrong direction.

--Dion Phaneuf. He is the player that makes most sense for the Canes. With the departure of Sekera, the Canes are short at least 1 and really more like 2 top 4 defensemen. Again, it's not for the #5 pick, so that is a complicated deal to put together. In an ideal world from the Canes side, they send Semin the other way to net the $ and then have to actually make the trade worthwhile for Toronto in terms of players by including some combination of young players and picks.

==> Phaneuf fills a big need for the Canes, but I don't see Francis trading away the high-end of his futures which makes this deal real challenging to do.

If I had to take a wild guess for a Leafs/Canes deal, I would peg Phaneuf and Skinner as the principal pieces with more players and picks needed to make it work.

This is true...just remember that next time you say that Hall or Nuge are busts.
- Jeropotato

Bro, ur saying there not....

Bro, ur saying there not....




- Ur Not Me

*blows loudest, longest wettest fart

Wow. From Carolina's perspective you're giving up the chance to draft one of Hannifin, Marner, or Strome. For Kessel to skate with both Staals which is good, a very good young second line center in Kadri(to replace Jordan Staal on the second line), and a high 3rd round pick (very good value for Semin, since the other two are clearly for the 5th overall). When I type it doesn't seem all that bad for Carolina. For Toronto you're giving up your best "NHL" center (Nylander will be better), your top scorer, and a 3rd rd pick. To get the right to draft another of the three expected to be picked 3-5 and an enigma in Semin that will make say wow 10% of the time and why does he make so much the other 90%. I actually like it as a Canes fan despite really looking forward to drafting one of the three.
- Wolfpack5

It is obvious why you would like this deal from Carolina's point of view. You get a guaranteed elite scorer, a great young 2nd line center with some potential and dump a toxic contract for the leftovers (not an insult) of Hanifin/Strome/Marner who could possibly bust or not develop into a top line player (like Kessel already is).

This deal is bad from Toronto's point of view. Semin is nothing to us, likely to be flipped (50% retained) for a mid round pick in 2016 and while drafting 4th & 5th is a dream at this point it is a massive overpayment. I don't believe anyone of Strome/Marner/Hanifin will be a bust but they can easily not develop into a 1st line elite player.

This offer (if real) is Carolina's wet dream of an offer. It isn't going to happen. Take Kadri out of the deal and it is much closer. I personally wouldn't do that either but at least it is realistic.

*blows loudest, longest wettest fart
- Jeropotato

U did that?? Wow u have talent, now please change ur undies...

U did that?? Wow u have talent, now please change ur undies...


- Ur Not Me

Nope. I'm gonna wear me all day in tribute to your post