I think if we traded Kessel we could match what we paid for him pretty easily. He's only shown that he is a very good winger in this league, and he is just entering his prime. But for the reasons I just mentioned we will not be getting rid of him any time soon. As much as I dislike the trade that brought him here, he is one of the better goal scoring wingers in the league - now it's a matter of getting him a centre
- Nastradamus

This. And I hope that centre comes from the draft instead of blowing up the farm to land one.

I find that a little odd.
- robin_steele264

It's just a hunch. I could be wrong. We'll see.

I back what he says most of the time because it actually has logic and sense in it.
- optimus-reim

Ok....so can you explain the logic of dealing all of Kessel, Lupul & Phanuef?

Since I'm so dumb, can you please lay out your end game?

I think if we traded Kessel we could match what we paid for him pretty easily. He's only shown that he is a very good winger in this league, and he is just entering his prime. But for the reasons I just mentioned we will not be getting rid of him any time soon. As much as I dislike the trade that brought him here, he is one of the better goal scoring wingers in the league - now it's a matter of getting him a centre
- Nastradamus

Not the kind of player you can build a Cup winner around. Much better off to trade him for the elite prospects that become the center we desperately seek. Much easier to build the team around a character, 1st line center than Kessel or Phaneuf.

Explain how I've guzzled the kool-aid...

Am I incorrect about any of the 3 players current & potential production?

I'm still waiting for the 10% (as optimus-reim puts it), to put me in my place...
- Pen15

no no.. i meant UG's nutswinger has guzzled more than his kool-aid.

don't always agree with you.. but can't say you're wrong.

then again.. i prefer to see the silver lining. not exactly the type of leaf fan who goes out of my way looking for reasons to cut myself.

That defeats the purpose of acquiring Kessel in the first place. The whole of acquiring him was to make the playoffs. And they've failed miserably at doing that.

Fact is, Kessel helps the Leafs get worse draft picks. Without him, they'd draft higher. Plus, he's a UFA in 2 years and his "pay me or I'm gone attitude" will force the Leafs to either overpay to keep him or watch him walk for nothing.
- Unholy_Goalie

Time will tell how this plays out. I'd hate it if he left for nothing. That move shouldn't have been made but it was so let's move on and try make this team better, hope Burke does!

That defeats the purpose of acquiring Kessel in the first place. The whole of acquiring him was to make the playoffs. And they've failed miserably at doing that.

Fact is, Kessel helps the Leafs get worse draft picks. Without him, they'd draft higher. Plus, he's a UFA in 2 years and his "pay me or I'm gone attitude" will force the Leafs to either overpay to keep him or watch him walk for nothing.
- Unholy_Goalie

He'll take a discount to play in Toronto...

Like the entire Pitt roster.

Doesn't matter. As long as he wears a Leafs jersey, he'll be the best.
- Unholy_Goalie

82pts...good enough for 6th in league scoring....

Or is that another useless stat like +/-?

It's just a hunch. I could be wrong. We'll see.
- Zezel

I actually find it totally insane.


Buy hey... everyone is different!


I still love you.


I think I'll go to the Avengers tonight.

I think if we traded Kessel we could match what we paid for him pretty easily. He's only shown that he is a very good winger in this league, and he is just entering his prime. But for the reasons I just mentioned we will not be getting rid of him any time soon. As much as I dislike the trade that brought him here, he is one of the better goal scoring wingers in the league - now it's a matter of getting him a centre
- Nastradamus

If we traded Kessel we could land either a prospect #1C/RW and an established #1C/RW. Like Ryan Strome and Nino Niederreiter.

Not the kind of player you can build a Cup winner around. Much better off to trade him for the elite prospects that become the center we desperately seek. Much easier to build the team around a character, 1st line center than Kessel or Phaneuf.
- Unholy_Goalie

you're doing what you do.. and assuming your assumptions are facts.

if you can see from your moms basement that kessel isn't an elite level player.. than 29 other professional experienced NHL level gm's can see he's not either, and they won't be parting with their elite prospects/players to bring him in.

this is not nhl 12, and your opinion is not written on a tablet anywhere. it's a two way street..

Not the kind of player you can build a Cup winner around. Much better off to trade him for the elite prospects that become the center we desperately seek. Much easier to build the team around a character, 1st line center than Kessel or Phaneuf.
- Unholy_Goalie

While I agree Kessel isn't the 'character' cups are won around, the type of team renewal you seek is atleast 10 years away I would say. Unless a new GM comes in and rebuilds the core - again, we'll have to wait for this young team to pan out and age, so we can destroy and rebuild again. Kessel as the face of the Leafs forward group will not win a cup, but who knows what happens over the next few years.

That's a very interesting question actually. For all the million miles of talk about the Kessel deal from Leaf fans and all other fans, you don't hear a lot of theories about his value. I suppose this is because everyone assumes Kessel is going nowhere for at least this year.

But it's an interesting hypothetical. Let's say Burke just sends a message to all GMs, Kessel is available and starts taking bids, which teams are interested? What does he get? Kessel just finished having a pretty deadly year. In my opinion Kessel is an elite all world skilled forward with a great contract. I wouldn't trade him right now but if I did would be asking for at least two firsts. It would have to be a very solid young prospect already in the NHL and a first and second.
- Zezel

Pittsburgh could sure use a scoring winger but they only have elite talent and third linners to offer back. if the leafs move kessel i hope they throw in some of their defensive depth and acquire a young franchise player, but block busters of that magnitude are few and far between.

This. And I hope that centre comes from the draft instead of blowing up the farm to land one.
- TML4Life85

agreed

agreed. probably not in straight up gambling of draft picks like burke did, more so in recently drafted first round players.. or similiar..

but definitely agreed.
- joel878

yea gambling with the draft picks was unusually amateur of him

Schultz is overrated, I'd sign and trade his ass.

I know Im being super funny!!!




At least you arent in the Flames position, where you have a 35 year old guy you dont wanna move, and refuse to rebuild.
- robin_steele264

We were in a similar position not to long ago....except we had a 35yr old who didn't want to move, and we wanted to rebuild...

Schultz is overrated, I'd sign and trade his ass.
- Leafland

....you're overrated

I actually find it totally insane.


Buy hey... everyone is different!


I still love you.


I think I'll go to the Avengers tonight.


- robin_steele264

Is it? Or is it so sane that I just blew your mind.


You totally should go see the Avengers because it's awesome and be sure to see it in 3D.

Time will tell how this plays out. I'd hate it if he left for nothing. That move shouldn't have been made but it was so let's move on and try make this team better, hope Burke does!
- TML4Life85

the irony is that a few years ago, when he was blow-harding about going after zherdev, my defense was the exact same thing he just said. that at first glimpse zherdev would bolt for money, only difference being that i felt he would use the KHL as a bargaining chip. in his opinion, i was not only wrong, but had no basis to even have that opinion.

this is aside from his point that we can't draft grigorenko, because he's to big of a risk.

point is.. don't take him to seriously. his tune changes certainly more than his underwear. you'll be caught in this whirl wind hypocrisy overload. not worth the headache.

Is it? Or is it so sane that I just blew your mind.


You totally should go see the Avengers because it's awesome and be sure to see it in 3D.
- Zezel

I refuse to see it till I see the Dark Knight Rises, because it will kick the Avenger's collective asses

Ok....so can you explain the logic of dealing all of Kessel, Lupul & Phanuef?

Since I'm so dumb, can you please lay out your end game?
- Pen15

No. You wouldn't be able to comprehend it as you clearly think Kessel, Lupul and Phaneuf are going to land us Lord Stanley.

Schultz is overrated, I'd sign and trade his ass.
- Leafland

You can have Khabibulin.


Done.

No. You wouldn't be able to comprehend it as you clearly think Kessel, Lupul and Phaneuf are going to land us Lord Stanley.
- optimus-reim

Show me where I said this...

I'll wait.

EDIT: I'd like to point out YET AGAIN....you've yet to respond with a comprehensive thought yourself. Could it be that you let UG do all the debating for you?

Pittsburgh could sure use a scoring winger but they only have elite talent and third linners to offer back. if the leafs move kessel i hope they throw in some of their defensive depth and acquire a young franchise player, but block busters of that magnitude are few and far between.
- ky678468

I don't think we would have to add much with Kessel, if anything at all, to bring in a potential franchise player.