He's a top 5 point getter in the last 4 years or so. He will get a significant return.
- Santo_44

He is also 27 signed to a mammoth contract and has character issues and again the entire league knows you will be moving him so how does that help his value ?

Kovy was bought as a rental IMO or that's what is price was based around. But two of the players/pieces moved for kovy don't even play in the league anymore.
- blizzzard

Leafs could always retain some salary which would drive his value up.

Leafs could always retain some salary which would drive his value up.
- HealthyScratch6

FOAD!

If Kessel was as highly valued as what the fans want for him, why on earth are they trying to move him?

Leafs could always retain some salary which would drive his value up.
- HealthyScratch6

True but how much because that's a lot of years and would it be wise when your team might be coming together in 5 or so years to still have that tagged onto your cap. I'm not bashing kessel I just don't think he is a player I would pay the price you guys want. For me I think drafting at 6 is the best options for the Devils. From there you make either or both seconds available gelinas, Merril available and one of Jacobs and santini and work from those pieces to add a second teer scoring winger. I would honestly rather pay a second for lupul then a first plus for kessel but that's just me.

If Kessel was as highly valued as what the fans want for him, why on earth are they trying to move him?
- archromat

Not many people know this but the leafs are actually trying to rebuild right now.

Kovy was bought as a rental IMO or that's what is price was based around. But two of the players/pieces moved for kovy don't even play in the league anymore.
- blizzzard

price isn't that different from what NYR paid for Nash, who had a very comparable contract to kessel at the time.

Matteau doesn't seem like a sure fire nhl'er at this point.

True but how much because that's a lot of years and would it be wise when your team might be coming together in 5 or so years to still have that tagged onto your cap. I'm not bashing kessel I just don't think he is a player I would pay the price you guys want. For me I think drafting at 6 is the best options for the Devils. From there you make either or both seconds available gelinas, Merril available and one of Jacobs and santini and work from those pieces to add a second teer scoring winger. I would honestly rather pay a second for lupul then a first plus for kessel but that's just me.
- blizzzard

Done, you can't take it back.

Done, you can't take it back.
- HealthyScratch6

If he played 82 games a season how high would you guys be on him? He plays with fire and I like that plus he does score at a decent rate just injuries man.

Done, you can't take it back.
- HealthyScratch6

Great! Lupul for a 2nd sounds perfect to me.

Everybody remembers that Cody Franson got the Leafs a 1st round pick and a prospect. Cody Franson. For a 1st. And a Prospect.

People thinking that Kessel wouldn't get the Leafs a high draft pick and a prospect are out of their minds.
- H8terade

First off, it was an overpayment because it was seller's market at the time. If it was seller's market for Kessel, you'd have a point. It's not.

Second off, there's a pretty big difference between a 6th overall and where Nashville will be drafting (around 21st). Statistically, 6th overall is ~16% likely to produce an all star, about a 50% chance of making a top 4/6 player... where drafting at that point only gives you roughly a 50-60% that chance of him being an NHL player for more than a hundred games... I'm running on 5 year old stats I did, but they probably haven't changed a whole lot.

price isn't that different from what NYR paid for Nash, who had a very comparable contract to kessel at the time.

Matteau doesn't seem like a sure fire nhl'er at this point.
- Tumbleweed

I'd go as high as Merrill+Quenneville + 2015 and 2016 2nd rounders. I think Kessel could be a nice addition but not if we have nothing to put around him. We really need to keep these next two 1st rounders to do that.

Edit: Matteau looked solid when he was call up at the end of the year, he'll just never be a big point producer.

price isn't that different from what NYR paid for Nash, who had a very comparable contract to kessel at the time.

Matteau doesn't seem like a sure fire nhl'er at this point.
- Tumbleweed

Yea matteau is a head scratcher. He could be a hell of a player though he has "tools" lol he is a good skater but I think that pick should of been given up then we would of picked in the top ten last year instead of 30th. Think about this. For a team that has missed the play offs 3 of the past four seasons we have picked 29th 30th and not at all in the first round the past few years. That's what kills teams that are on top but we aren't so what does it do to us lol our system is hurting.

If he played 82 games a season how high would you guys be on him? He plays with fire and I like that plus he does score at a decent rate just injuries man.
- blizzzard

Lupul is decent if he could stay healthy but your guys pick is 36 in a deep draft which would probably get you a player who in a normal draft would be a 1st round pick so I'd take that any day.

Lupul is decent if he could stay healthy but your guys pick is 36 in a deep draft which would probably get you a player who in a normal draft would be a 1st round pick so I'd take that any day.
- HealthyScratch6

Well don't get to carried away I don't think I specified which second and what year

Not many people know this but the leafs are actually trying to rebuild right now.
- HealthyScratch6

With the "deals" being proposed, if GMs thought like that, you'd think they weren't trying to rebuild.

He is also 27 signed to a mammoth contract and has character issues and again the entire league knows you will be moving him so how does that help his value ?
- blizzzard

27 years old is just a year or two into his prime years. And 8 million for a PPG player and a 30 goal scorer is not what you call mammoth contract....

If he played 82 games a season how high would you guys be on him? He plays with fire and I like that plus he does score at a decent rate just injuries man.
- blizzzard

When healthy he is a good 2nd line winger who would probably get 50-60 points.

Kessel (50% retained) and Rielly for Clowe, Zubrus, and a 5th round pick.

With the "deals" being proposed, if GMs thought like that, you'd think they weren't trying to rebuild.
- archromat

You can undervalue Kessel all you want because he's a leafs player and you don't like him like most poeple outside leafs fans do but the guy was top 5 in scoring 4 years running till a down year this year. Those players rarely become available. He will get a significant return whether its from NJ or maybe Florida or another team that thinks they are close to competing and just need some additional scoring to put them over the top.

Awesome response!

You can undervalue Kessel all you want because he's a leafs player and you don't like him like most poeple outside leafs fans do but the guy was top 5 in scoring 4 years running till a down year this year. Those players rarely become available. He will get a significant return whether its from NJ or maybe Florida or another team that thinks they are close to competing and just need some additional scoring to put them over the top.
- HealthyScratch6

Who hasn't been? Meh everyone's a top 5 point getter for the past 4 years.

When healthy he is a good 2nd line winger who would probably get 50-60 points.
- Santo_44

Does he not post what would be 30 goals or close to in a full season? And I think if you looked at most of the players making that much money with that much term left he would be at the bottom of the list of players you wanted would you not agree ? I mean if he is truly elite he is at the very bottom of that class and I would be trying to be getting him for a price of a star player and not the price of Malkin who makes 8 a year does he not ? Who knows you guys might get the package you want. I just hope it's not nj who pays it.

Does he not post what would be 30 goals or close to in a full season? And I think if you looked at most of the players making that much money with that much term left he would be at the bottom of the list of players you wanted would you not agree ? I mean if he is truly elite he is at the very bottom of that class and I would be trying to be getting him for a price of a star player and not the price of Malkin who makes 8 a year does he not ? Who knows you guys might get the package you want. I just hope it's not nj who pays it.
- blizzzard

He was talking about Lupul not Kessel

I'd go as high as Merrill+Quenneville + 2015 and 2016 2nd rounders. I think Kessel could be a nice addition but not if we have nothing to put around him. We really need to keep these next two 1st rounders to do that.

Edit: Matteau looked solid when he was call up at the end of the year, he'll just never be a big point producer.
- rmdevil313

I think the package is pretty close to fair value except .... based on other big names moving (e.g. nash, kovalchuk, kesler, carter, yandle, richards), one consistent asset coming back is a 1st. I don't think the leafs move him without getting a 1st back.

Yeah, I wouldn't think that Lou should give up a 1st either at this point, but I have a hard time predicting what he'll do next.