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

Right now, not for Crosby or Spezza.


There are other things to consider though in this day and age. Kessel and Giroux's cap hit combined are almost that of Malkin's.

So would you trade Kessel/Giroux for Malkin?

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

Of course none of them.
That question makes no sense.

How many players below Kessel on the list if you look at it would you trade Kessel for?

I'm betting the same amount. (Young 2nd year players aside)

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?
- Barx

Ah ok cool, well let's get him then lol but would it happen? Is he buddies with gardiner or just an old teammate?

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

Well he's won Best Defenceman in the NCAA two years in a row and is over a PPG twice now at 21 He wants all the money

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.
- leafs_wingp

I sort of agree but only based on their contracts. I would take Nash any day over Kessel and most people would. (if they were at the same price $$)

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
- Leafsfan9329

So all of these listed players are no good because of their +/-?

Phil kessel
Ilya kovalchuk
Patrik Elias
Jarome Iginla
Zach Parise
Corey Perry
Alex Ovechkin
Ryan Getzlaf
Rick Nash

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?
- Barx

Wonder why more players don't take this option. They usually have to develop anyway at 18 so why not wait 2 years and choose your team.

I sort of agree but only based on their contracts. I would take Nash any day over Kessel and most people would.
- PootieTang

Why. The numbers don't agree with you.

Stats, Contract and birthdate.

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

I'd take Toews... yeah, that's about it.

Stop trying to get all these good young FA's
- AdamFrench

Can't understand why some of these college guys go this route, but hopefully he signs in Vancouver because I hear he's a beauty!

Leafs need to go after Kopitar, not sure how but he would be great in a Leafs sweater with Kessel!

Ah ok cool, well let's get him then lol but would it happen? Is he buddies with gardiner or just an old teammate?
- wolfos412

Defence partner for two years

Of course none of them.
That question makes no sense.

How many players below Kessel on the list if you look at it would you trade Kessel for?

I'm betting the same amount. (Young 2nd year players aside)
- leafs_wingp

You're missing the point. Kessel is an elite scorer with that bunch: Giroux, Stamkos, etc. But nobody would trade any of those guys for Kessel because they all do so much more than just score. Kessel just scores; that's it, that's all.

So all of these listed players are no good because of their +/-?

Phil kessel
Ilya kovalchuk
Patrik Elias
Jarome Iginla
Zach Parise
Corey Perry
Alex Ovechkin
Ryan Getzlaf
Rick Nash
- Timeforsoup

Especially the last guy on the list.

The original list he posted, not that one. And if you wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa, you're crazy.
- 1979AD

Im crazy because I wont trade a 25 year old (soon to be 40 goal scorer) for a 33 year old who is signed for $5.2Mil until age 42?

I'll stick with Kessel, thanks

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.
- 1979AD

I didn't contradict myself.

I said he was great last year and he was good before the concussion. All I'm saying is giving up on him based on the past 20 or so games (where most of the team has sucked) is wrong.

We've seen this too many times. Give up on a player when he's basically worth nothing, goes elsewhere and BOOM. Please, don't go back that route again.

Well he's won Best Defenceman in the NCAA two years in a row and is over a PPG twice now at 21 He wants all the money
- AdamFrench

All our base are belong to him.

You're missing the point. Kessel is an elite scorer with that bunch: Giroux, Stamkos, etc. But nobody would trade any of those guys for Kessel because they all do so much more than just score. Kessel just scores; that's it, that's all.
- 1979AD

Spezza, Giroux and Stamkos do so much more?

Come on man. They do not.

The only difference. They have played with better players on better teams than Kessel has since 09-10. That is it.

The original list he posted, not that one. And if you wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa, you're crazy.
- 1979AD

Hossa's 33. terrible idea

Right now, not for Crosby or Spezza.


There are other things to consider though in this day and age. Kessel and Giroux's cap hit combined are almost that of Malkin's.

So would you trade Kessel/Giroux for Malkin?
- leafs93

You really wouldn't trade Philip Kessel for Crosby? i'm assuming this is because of questions marks around his concussions?

Im crazy because I wont trade a 25 year old (soon to be 40 goal scorer) for a 33 year old who is signed for $5.2Mil until age 42?

I'll stick with Kessel, thanks
- mfreedman

I wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa either.

He's almost 10 years older.

Hossa at 27 years old then yes, but my time machine is broken right now.

I'd take Toews... yeah, that's about it.
- Boosinicka

Toews was not on the list

The original list he posted, not that one. And if you wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa, you're crazy.
- 1979AD

Isn't Hossa into his 30's? Not saying Kessel is better, but if we're talking now, most of those guys are near the end of their career, except Toews and Kane and Nash. Toews, hands down, Kane and Kessel? I think is a wash. Nash? same thing. You're not losing those trades but I don't think you're winning either.

You're missing the point. Kessel is an elite scorer with that bunch: Giroux, Stamkos, etc. But nobody would trade any of those guys for Kessel because they all do so much more than just score. Kessel just scores; that's it, that's all.
- 1979AD

Actually, he is a very good passer/playmaker. But yes he is strictly an offensive player and possibly the softest player in the league getting pucks out, etc.

Im crazy because I wont trade a 25 year old (soon to be 40 goal scorer) for a 33 year old who is signed for $5.2Mil until age 42?

I'll stick with Kessel, thanks
- mfreedman

I thought he was more like 31. If this team were ready to contend for the next 3 years, I would definitely take the Hoss.

The original list he posted, not that one. And if you wouldn't trade Kessel for Hossa, you're crazy.
- 1979AD

You've just made a complete fool out of yourself.

You would trade Kessel (who hasn't even entered his prime yet) for a guy who's on the decline of his career?

JFJ is that you?