I would think Montreal and Toronto would be two teams most Canadian players would LOVE to play for. And with Montreal rising up to contender status it makes them an even more attractive place to play.
- paulr

Your joking?

Players melt under the constant media pressure (24x7) in all Canadian markets. At different times LaCavalier, St. Louis and Briere made choices or let it be known that did not want to play in a Montreal market. The pressure in Toronto is even more intense. Blue Jays are having a good season. But they only get face time on media, talk radio in particular when a station pushes a baseball segment. Otherwise it is hockey, hockey, hockey. Many players and most wives just hate the pressure.

Your joking?

Players melt under the constant media pressure (24x7) in all Canadian markets. At different times LaCavalier, St. Louis and Briere made choices or let it be known that did not want to play in a Montreal market. The pressure in Toronto is even more intense. Blue Jays are having a good season. But they only get face time on media, talk radio in particular when a station pushes a baseball segment. Otherwise it is hockey, hockey, hockey. Many players and most wives just hate the pressure.
- spatso

BUT, what if you go to Toronto and are part of a winner? The adulation and reverence you would get from the city would be awesome. Put it this way, LA won the Cup and the city of LA yawned...Toronto wins a cup the planet would implode and turn into a black hole.

So there are bad sides of going to Tor (pressure), but a good side (everyone cares).

Your joking?

Players melt under the constant media pressure (24x7) in all Canadian markets. At different times LaCavalier, St. Louis and Briere made choices or let it be known that did not want to play in a Montreal market. The pressure in Toronto is even more intense. Blue Jays are having a good season. But they only get face time on media, talk radio in particular when a station pushes a baseball segment. Otherwise it is hockey, hockey, hockey. Many players and most wives just hate the pressure.
- spatso

My joking what?

There are media issues for sure and tax issues but if you are a player those are two of the top hockey markets in the world. If the Leafs didn't suck players could handle the media. Now that Montreal is a contending team players will love to play there. Are you suggesting players prefer Nashville with no media?

If this is sort of remotely true:

NHLSourcesSay @NHLSourcesSay · 6 t

#BreakingNews #Ducks have offer on table for #Canucks Ryan Kesler; two 1st round picks 10th, 24th overall + top prospect. #NSS #confirmed


NHLSourcesSay @NHLSourcesSay · 6 t

#Hawks need to up offer, VAN want Tervainen + Leddy + 1st round pick. #Canucks willing to keep 50% of Kesler salary #NSS ball in CHI court


NHLSourcesSay ‏@NHLSourcesSay

#Penguins still in mix, Kesler's second choice behind #Hawks. Current offer of Sutter + Pouliot + 1st round pick not enough for #Canucks


Anaheim's offers by far the worst unless prospect is named Jesus On Ice Skates. Or Gretzky. It's a weak draft.

Piuttsburgh's is solid and competitive with the Hawks.

Leddy and Pouliot are comparable. Sutter and who the Hawks have probably been offering (Danault or Hartman) are comparable. In both cases, one team's asset just has more experience than the other.

Of ALL the assets actually named here, Leddy is by far the surest thing/highest upside. Pouliot CUOLD end up a better player than Leddy. But that would likely be 2-3 years away minimum. Leddy has all the tools Pouliot does and more size. There ARE valid questions about Leddy's decision-making an delay in his own end, but he has improved in those areas every year. And at 22, he is a top 4 defenseman/PP threat on just about any team in the league except maybe Chicago and 2-3 others.

Granted, Sutter is more of a sure thing than Hartman or Danault. But the best player right now =of all these guys is Nick Leddy. And he could well be 5 years from now.
- John Jaeckel

If there is any truth to that they should probably pull the trigger immediately. Though I kind of think they can get some conditional stuff back. Or a few later round picks down the line.

Not at all. He paired Keith with Weber because Weber is a rock defensively, not to mention the whole left right thing. Without question Canada's two best skaters at the Olympics were Doughty and Weber.
- golfingsince

....leave it to the Hawks to commit to a solution at 2C for one year.....this board would go nuts

It does give them so cap flexibility for sure...what does the 2015 FA pool look like?
- UnnamedSource

If they are as high on TT as the press clippings indicate that is their likely route....

There is about a 0% chance he will be moved
- John Jaeckel

Agree and one can't underestimate the relationship on and off the ice with Keith ...

BUT, what if you go to Toronto and are part of a winner? The adulation and reverence you would get from the city would be awesome. Put it this way, LA won the Cup and the city of LA yawned...Toronto wins a cup the planet would implode and turn into a black hole.

So there are bad sides of going to Tor (pressure), but a good side (everyone cares).
- kwolf68

You are 100% correct.

But!

Tell me more about Toronto winning anything, let alone the actual friggin Cup. I could even handle the implosion into a black hole. Many of us would sign up for the one way ticket.

You are 100% correct.

But!

Tell me more about Toronto winning anything, let alone the actual friggin Cup. I could even handle the implosion into a black hole. Many of us would sign up for the one way ticket.
- spatso

LOL...yea, can't argue too much there. I think paul said it best...create a winner in Toronto and the media stuff will go away.

If there is any truth to that they should probably pull the trigger immediately. Though I kind of think they can get some conditional stuff back. Or a few later round picks down the line.
- fattybeef

I would make a sizeable bet the Ducks offer they guessed at is far from correct..

Not worth my key strokes or yours but to think Kesler is going to be traded for a package of hopes and dreams entirely is too dumb to even comment on.

I will say again 3 pieces.....2 players (younger) + a very early pick in this draft.

My joking what?

There are media issues for sure and tax issues but if you are a player those are two of the top hockey markets in the world. If the Leafs didn't suck players could handle the media. Now that Montreal is a contending team players will love to play there. Are you suggesting players prefer Nashville with no media?
- paulr

Every player wants to play in a Canadian market once. Jagr has made it known he would like Montreal just to experience the experience. But for most players they get ground down. Spezza and Kesler being the most recent.

You are 100% correct.

But!

Tell me more about Toronto winning anything, let alone the actual friggin Cup. I could even handle the implosion into a black hole. Many of us would sign up for the one way ticket.
- spatso

The leafs need two things to build their team one is to draft better and two is to develop their prospects better. If the Leafs keep drafting big guys just to have big guys they won't get better. The Leafs need skill and character now watch them draft Ritchie who may or may not show up on any given night ... but he is big!

Here,s a theory on your only deal available.

Buffalo 6 th over all Tanev and Shinkaruk

Vancouver 2nd overall Grigorenko Zardov

Kesler put on waivers

Kane can join his buddy next year in Buff
- VANTEL

i know the weed is good in BC but really this early in the morning?

If there is any truth to that they should probably pull the trigger immediately. Though I kind of think they can get some conditional stuff back. Or a few later round picks down the line.
- fattybeef

Yeah If this rumor was true you would have to pull the trigger. Losing TT might hurt. I think he will have a very good career, but the key to a kesler deal to me is trading Sharp. Of course if they retain a bunch of Kesler's contract they might not need to trade sharp. But they would trade him and get back a very good young player or players.

I would make a sizeable bet the Ducks offer they guessed at is far from correct..
On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

I think the ducks get either Stastny, Kesler or Spezza. They hold most of the chips and are controlling the play right now.

I think the ducks get either Stastny, Kesler or Spezza. They hold most of the chips and are controlling the play right now.
- spatso

We will see but they have the young players and 10th pick so far.

The issue as much or more than anything else could be how much Kesler can steer the trade.....He wasn't as high on going to the Ducks as Chgo or Pitt.

My whispers indicate Ducks package the best on paper up until yesterday....

JJ,

Any legs still to the Tampa trade rumors?

I would like to know your opinion if Hawks can´t get one of those touted centers like Kesler, Spezza, Stastny, Thornton etc. what should Stan do then? Who they should be after that? I know Nielsen has been mentioned many times but don´t know if he is available. Vermette is one good choise or should they find one or two cheaper ones in UFA market or what, anyone?

JJ,

Any legs still to the Tampa trade rumors?
- Dannyboy

I do think a guy like Brett connolly could be interesting. He was rushed to the Nhl before he was ready but he has had a few strong seasons now in the ahl and is ready for full-time nhl duty, imo

If the Hawks can sign Toews and Kane and aquire Kesler the Convention will be rockin'!

Kesler is a beast, whether it's Anaheim or Chicago he will put those teams over the top. That's a given. I think he deserves to go to a team that has a shot at a cup. Vancouver needs to get assets in return and rightfully should go for the best package. No team is going to steal Kesler, they might have with the last GM.

Nikita freakin' Nikitin makes more money than Hammer...

Just let that sink in for a second.

Deal keeps getting better every day

If the Hawks can sign Toews and Kane and aquire Kesler the Convention will be rockin'!
- paulr

Did you bug McD's office?

If the Hawks can sign Toews and Kane and aquire Kesler the Convention will be rockin'!
- paulr

When is it? I need to plan my celebration or crying.

Nikita freakin' Nikitin makes more money than Hammer...

Just let that sink in for a second.

Deal keeps getting better every day
- prd797

And let it sink in for Oiler fans why their team will continue to flounder.