He was talking about Lupul not Kessel
- HealthyScratch6

I was to lol I just did a poor job of writing it. The first sentence for about lupul and the rest is about Phil

Lou's a GM who thinks his team always has a chance to win the cup in any given year. That one cup run gave him hope when they had no business being there. He's also shown his willingness to trade picks and prospects. NJ is a likely landing spot for Kessel but so are some other teams.
- Santo_44

No business being there? I love that people still think this

Oh yes make this happen. First time he doesn't back check vs the Rangers or FLyers will be great.

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

Nash also had a NTC which limited his return value for the Jackets

Kessel has depreciated way more than 4 spots of a draft.
- Tangled

He's more like all those guys you get in the 3rd round

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

Well 6th and Severson and more was proposed earlier...

They're probably going to want Huberdeau and Ekblad from Florida, right?

The sales pitch "look how many points he has" doesn't really work for NJ brass nor does it their fans... I don't expect a deal will happen, not because of what goes on at this forum, but because Lou won't like Phil's contract.

It's quite likely he will be moved to Florida on retained salary (1m/y) for Huberdeau going the other way...

I was to lol I just did a poor job of writing it. The first sentence for about lupul and the rest is about Phil
- blizzzard

Gottcha, well he might be towards the bottom of the list of elite players making that kind of money but the thing is none of the other players are available. Normally you have to draft and develop your own.

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.
- Tumbleweed

Yea for sure not wise having a gm that old. I'm sure if he can make it so we are back in the play offs next year he will even if it means we will be back out in 5.i mean what the (frank) does a 70 year old care about what about more then 2 years down the road lol he is very likely to sacrifice long term success for short term gain because he is old as fack lol

They are very different scenarios. Kessel has 7 years left or 8 not sure when his contract kicked in at 8 per. Then factor in he has never hit forty goals and they way he acts, like what teams highest payed player doesn't have to speak to the media then when they do make asses out of themselves by being childish. He has no heart no defense game and went completely dry for the last twenty games. You will no doubt get a decent package but most times you trade a top ten player ( as leafs fans would argue he is ) you lose that trade. You forget the scraps kovalchuk went for ? I would take kovalchuk over kessel every day of the week and wouldn't even think twice about. Then factor in that ever gm in the league knows Phil isn't part of the leafs future plans and they will have to move him any ways and that = significantly less of a return then what you are asking for.
- blizzzard

A Russian will never win you anything.........and Kovalchuk quit on you.

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.
- Tumbleweed

Agreed. THis is why I think Florida is a slightly better trading partner.

Well 6th and Severson and more was proposed earlier...

They're probably going to want Huberdeau and Ekblad from Florida, right?

The sales pitch "look how many points he has" doesn't really work for NJ brass nor does it their fans... I don't expect a deal will happen, not because of what goes on at this forum, but because Lou won't like Phil's contract.

It's quite likely he will be moved to Florida on retained salary (1m/y) for Huberdeau going the other way...
- archromat

Florida will definitely be throwing in the 11th overall if he goes there. And there's a huge difference between Ekblad who is a 1st overall and as much of a can't miss player as they come and a 6th overall pick. There's a better than not chance that the 6th overall never puts up Kessel numbers. As far as Severson goes I don't know much about him but from what I read you guys think very highly of him. I'd be happy with the 6th and something minor instead of your best up and coming dman

Nash also had a NTC which limited his return value for the Jackets
- uf1910

kessel has a similar clause

Gottcha, well he might be towards the bottom of the list of elite players making that kind of money but the thing is none of the other players are available. Normally you have to draft and develop your own.
- HealthyScratch6

That's part of your problem or at least I think it is. He is available. IMO the second it's known a player is available you have hurt his trade value. I could be wrong as u said that's just what I think but it's hard not to believe all 29 gms don't know you want him gone so why would they all not try and talk you down and offer a lot less. I mean if I was running the Devils I don't need Phil kessel. Hell I would argue you guys need to move him worse then we or anyone else needs to trade for him. Now if I came to you about him then I would expect you to set the bar but to me you guys have put him out there and it's up to the other 29 teams to set the price for him. This is the exact reason I didnt like that Lou is shopping gelinas because I feel that hurts his value.

A Russian will never win you anything.........and Kovalchuk quit on you.
- Bullot

Forget the names then and just go off skill sets lol hell kessel could easily pass as a Russian lol at least kovy faught phaneuf and folded Brayden schenn like a lawn chair lol

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

It's close to fair but someone will offer them more.

Yea for sure not wise having a gm that old. I'm sure if he can make it so we are back in the play offs next year he will even if it means we will be back out in 5.i mean what the (frank) does a 70 year old care about what about more then 2 years down the road lol he is very likely to sacrifice long term success for short term gain because he is old as fack lol
- blizzzard

you guys should hope he doesn't really lose and try for a package deal of phaneuf and kessel.

Florida will definitely be throwing in the 11th overall if he goes there. And there's a huge difference between Ekblad who is a 1st overall and as much of a can't miss player as they come and a 6th overall pick. There's a better than not chance that the 6th overall never puts up Kessel numbers. As far as Severson goes I don't know much about him but from what I read you guys think very highly of him. I'd be happy with the 6th and something minor instead of your best up and coming dman
- HealthyScratch6

Florida won't give Toronto a top 6 player and 11th overall unless Toronto gives them the Nashville pick... which is possible.

kessel has a similar clause
- Tumbleweed

I think kessel would be a good fit in sj. I also feel they have the typ of pressure on them to pull of that move.

you guys should hope he doesn't really lose and try for a package deal of phaneuf and kessel.
- Tumbleweed

He's not that senile yet...

He's not that senile yet...
- archromat

You hope lol

Good that the thread is going today might have to keep making titles that draw in leafs fans they aren't so bad when the seasons over

Forget the names then and just go off skill sets lol hell kessel could easily pass as a Russian lol at least kovy faught phaneuf and folded Brayden schenn like a lawn chair lol
- blizzzard

I'm taking Kovy's prime over Kessel's prime every time. Here's why.

A Russian will never win you anything.........and Kovalchuk quit on you.
- Bullot

But he won this thing:

That's part of your problem or at least I think it is. He is available. IMO the second it's known a player is available you have hurt his trade value. I could be wrong as u said that's just what I think but it's hard not to believe all 29 gms don't know you want him gone so why would they all not try and talk you down and offer a lot less. I mean if I was running the Devils I don't need Phil kessel. Hell I would argue you guys need to move him worse then we or anyone else needs to trade for him. Now if I came to you about him then I would expect you to set the bar but to me you guys have put him out there and it's up to the other 29 teams to set the price for him. This is the exact reason I didnt like that Lou is shopping gelinas because I feel that hurts his value.
- blizzzard

I understand what you are saying but there is another side to this coin. If a player is coveted by a number of teams it creates a demand issue which then drives the price back up. The fact that his work ethic is less than stellar and his penchant for Harvey's burgers is well documented doesn't tarnish the fact the he is an elite goal scorer with explosive speed and skill like few others in the league. That kind of talent is always in demand.

I'm taking Kovy's prime over Kessel's prime every time. Here's why.

- tomburton99

Me to. I was a huge kovy fan before we got him so it was unreal when we did. The guy was unstoppable in shoot outs. Not trying to rub it in because he is a good goalie (that's more the reason I'm using this instance ) but I remember him coming down on lindqvuist in a shoot out and just freezing him five hole the king never even moved. You could put kovy in there with stammer and Ovie when it came to being lethal. I just don't think kessel can win you games like a kovalchuk could. I sound like I'm ripping Phil here but I'm not just was a huge kovy fan.