I never said build the team around him. I just said he makes players around him better when it was said he doesn't.

Look at Lupul's stats before his injury. I don't care what wing he plays on. That makes him one dimensional anyways. Kessel scored before Lupul came and he'll keep scoring long after Lupul leaves.

Kessel is 24 years old. He sneezes 30 goal seasons. Won't be 25 until the beginning of next season.

Many other roster spots available for bringing in a leader type that the team can be built around.
- leafs93

Yup. No need to trade him, he provides a valuable source of off the rush scoring. It's more pieces that are needed. The superstar type you can pretty much only acquire with lottery picks.

In terms of scoring only, sure. Look at the rest of that list - how many would you not trade Kessel for?
- 1979AD

Players Kessel has outscored since 09-10

Ryan, Semin, Hossa, Nash, Toews, Vanek, Spezza, Heatley, St. Louis, and Kane...

Stop it people. Kessel is an elite player. I don't get the hate for him.

Leaf fans always overrate their prospects and borderline players, but always undervalue their stars.

Sundin used to get this kind of crap talked about him as well.

He just said "great" for (frank)'s sake.
- Jayden

I'm surprised you actually still give a (frank) what this dumbass says...

Now compare those players +/-
- Leafsfan9329

+/- is not an individual stat. Unless you firmly believe that if Patrice bergeron was playing on the leafs, he would still be a +31.

..yeah....cept, what are the chances he wants to join up for a voyage on the titanic?
- Barx

Give him all da money?

Now compare those players +/-
- Leafsfan9329

Are Nash and Tavares elite? Their +/-'s are also awful..

How about Perry, Getzlaf, and Ryan this year?

Bottom feeding teams, have bad +/-, that does not mean that they cannot have an elite player.

So you're talking about Yakupov and Grigorenko, right? Galchenyuk's an Amurrikan.
- 1979AD

Yea he sounds really American when he speaks...He is still more Russian than American but whatever you know what I mean.

I give Kessel more credit as well simply because he does play for the Leafs.

Teams only have to shut him down to stop all offense this year, yet he's still producing.

..yeah....cept, what are the chances he wants to join up for a voyage on the titanic?
- Barx

Ok so I know nothing about this guy, why does everyone sant him on the Leaves? If he is really good why has Anaheim not signed him?

I just read the title of the blog.

Players Kessel has outscored since 09-10

Ryan, Semin, Hossa, Nash, Toews, Vanek, Spezza, Heatley, St. Louis, and Kane...

Stop it people. Kessel is an elite player. I don't get the hate for him.

Leaf fans always overrate their prospects and borderline players, but always undervalue their stars.

Sundin used to get this kind of crap talked about him as well.
- leafs_wingp

The answer to this is simple:

Leafs Winning = Kessel Elite (and every other player)

Leafs Losing = Kessel Grabage (and every other player)

First compare their goalie situations, then throw +/- out the window.
- leafs93

Yeah because a forwards +/- comes down to how well there goaltender can stop a puck, Players just let everyone go in to the zone on break aways.

Ok so I know nothing about this guy, why does everyone sant him on the Leaves? If he is really good why has Anaheim not signed him?
- wolfos412

Him and jake gardiner used to play together as a defensive pairing. Apparently anahiem felt gardiner was expendable because they have shultz. Getting the both of them together would be adding solid depth on the blue line. In a nut shell i guess.

Players Kessel has outscored since 09-10

Ryan, Semin, Hossa, Nash, Toews, Vanek, Spezza, Heatley, St. Louis, and Kane...

Stop it people. Kessel is an elite player. I don't get the hate for him.

Leaf fans always overrate their prospects and borderline players, but always undervalue their stars.

Sundin used to get this kind of crap talked about him as well.
- leafs_wingp

You ignored my initial question. How many of those other players from your original list of top scorers would you NOT trade Kessel for straight up, right now?

I just read the title of the blog.
- weirdoh

Isle 5 was pretty damn clever.

Verdict's still out on Reimer in my opinion. That doesn't mean a proven #1 shouldn't be a top priority for next year. I would start Reimer in the AHL next year to see if he can get his head straight before giving him another shot at the dance.

You're the one claiming he's the real deal based on 20 starts and chastising people for saying he's a pretender based on 20 starts.
- 1979AD

Where exactly did I say this?

I said he's our number 1 goaltender. Does that mean he's the next Dryden or Roy? No. I said we need to give more time. I never ever ever said he's the real deal so please don't put words into my mouth.

+/- is not an individual stat. Unless you firmly believe that if Patrice bergeron was playing on the leafs, he would still be a +31.
- Timeforsoup

Okay then put up a video of bergeon back checking and then put up a video of Kessel skating around the Leafs zone in figure 8's (aka his version of playing defense)

Ok so I know nothing about this guy, why does everyone sant him on the Leaves? If he is really good why has Anaheim not signed him?
- wolfos412

i'm just going on the scouting reports and of course bob mackenzie but they all say he is the real deal - better than gardiner.......he can become a ufa OR sign an entry level deal, which would you take?

All anyone meant was that #1 on your team does not mean he's an actual #1 goaltender.

(frank) sakes..
- GuyLaDouche

This is exactly what I said from the start.

You ignored my initial question. How many of those other players from your original list of top scorers would you NOT trade Kessel for straight up, right now?
- 1979AD

Semin, Hossa, Vanek, Heatley, St. Louis,

The answer to this is simple:

Leafs Winning = Kessel Elite (and every other player)

Leafs Losing = Kessel Grabage (and every other player)
- mfreedman

People think that Kessel straight up for Nash would be a bad deal for the Blue Jackets...

A lot of people think this. Media, "Hockey Insiders," and fans.

The fact remains that it would be a terrible deal for the Leafs, not the Blue Jackets.

Their age and contract alone. Then you look at their offensive numbers. It's not even close. Kessel is way better.

He put up 30 goals having Stajan, Mitchell and Rickard "freakin" Wallin as his centres, and no summer training, or training camp.

If Kessel is a complimentary player, then so is Nash, Ryan, and Kane.

Where exactly did I say this?

I said he's our number 1 goaltender. Does that mean he's the next Dryden or Roy? No. I said we need to give more time. I never ever ever said he's the real deal so please don't put words into my mouth.
- thomas81

You said he played awesome at the end of last year and this year before the concussion (basically 20 games). Then you said people who say he sucks are basing that on a 20 game sample. If you still can't figure out how you contradicted yourself now, I'm done with you.

I don't understand all the Kessel talk either. He is one of the very few things this team has going for them yet the media wants to constantly pick on him. They should talk more about the dead weight on this team like Komisarek, Connolly, Lambo, Armstrong, Kulemin (this year anyways)etc.. Even the Leafs 4th and 3rd lines aren't at a respectable level and those guys should be easily attainable to the Leafs through free agency.

Dude stop, WE don't agree with your opinion plain and simple. You can say what ever you want It definetly won't change my mind that the Leafs need a goaltender. Yeah Reimer was injured and perhaps that affected his play this year.

However Burke is in no position to go forward into next year on What ifs or the fact Reimer had a concussion, His job is on the line whether he realizes it or not because if he doesn't change this roster for the better people will want him gone.
- Leafsfan9329

I agree in a way, Reimer is a ? IMO. So with that you are right that we have to address the Goaltender situation. However, can you list me the goalies that are better than Reimer that are available?

Burke is in a tough spot, but the new coach and system could address our goaltender problems for them. It's all very uncertain. What if we get another Raycroft/Toskala (Schnieder, Bernier, Lindback) great up and coming unproven goalies in a far superior system, or sign someone mediocre like Harding? Vokoun looks pretty awesome outside of Florida's system eh? Theodore is having an amazing year, let's trade for him!

All I'm saying is Reimer may or may not be the guy but he's closer than anything available plus he doesn't cost us anything if he returns to form.

Semin, Hossa, Vanek, Heatley, St. Louis,
- mfreedman

The original list he posted, not that one. And if you wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa, you're crazy.