That's an option, but there's no guarantee a better deal would have developed down the line. What if Kessel had another bad year?

Cut ties, take what you can get and move on. The same people complaining about the return are the same ones who would have hitched if he wasn't traded today.
- Phenom

I forgot to mention that you are selling Kessel at his lowest possible value. He is coming off that horrible half season under horachek where he put up virtually no points. Further, Shanahan had come out and said he wanted Kessel gone. All of that drove his value down. The leafs put pressure on themselves to get rid of their most valuable asset in a buyers market. We just traded our biggest chip for a couple of good prospects when he could have and should have landed a couple of great ones.

The market clearly does not exist right now and they should have just held him until the market arrived. (TRADE DEADLINE)

It's going to be a long road... hopefully most fans will be patient.

Going to take 3 year to make things right.

Leafs need to start accumulating 1st round picks and prospects.

Send Dion packing at the trade deadline.

It would be nice to have 3 or 4 first rounders going into the draft.
- jimmc7722

Like Boston did this year?

Kessel will make his debut against Seguin. They need to fight on the first shift then hug it out and have a laugh in the box. Any chance you guys wanna eat about 2 mil on Phanuef and trade him here
- NoobasaurusRex

Only if Nichushkin and a 1st come back.

How they gonna get one? They just traded their best asset for a playoff protected 1st.
- burn

Holy poop. Can this team do anything right? Getting tired of it. Seriously? That's what you pull in for an elite player? A late 1st rounder, and a bunch of 3rd liners. Pathetic. Really couldn't at least get one of Maata or Pouliot? Couldn't wait for one season under Babcock, build up his trade value and actually trade him when he doesn't have his one bad season. He's going to end up potting 50 goals, and become even better then he is. Seriously pathetic, all for trading the guy, but come on with that return. Martin Jones, a backup goaltender got a better return for Christ sakes. And they retain salary on top it all, seriously pathetic. They managed to lower the value of all the other players on the Leafs by doing this, set the bar real low. My god.
- ThePresident

Relax. They simply took the best offer they got! That is Kessel' value, no more hypothetical trade proposals, just the facts.

I forgot to mention that you are selling Kessel at his lowest possible value. He is coming off that horrible half season under horachek where he put up virtually no points. Further, Shanahan had come out and said he wanted Kessel gone. All of that drove his value down. The leafs put pressure on themselves to get rid of their most valuable asset in a buyers market. We just traded our biggest chip for a couple of good prospects when he could have and should have landed a couple of great ones.

The market clearly does not exist right now and they should have just held him until the market arrived. (TRADE DEADLINE)
- mycokes

Yep, like Pres says, even if you don't trade him, Babs should be able to up his value, at least helping him be a better overall player. The other side is teams wouldn't have the cap space after the UFA period, but I think waiting would have been better in this instance...

i would prefer to keep him, and would retain 1 mil max for a good return. sekera at 5.5? phaneuf is fine at 7.
- BoTtLePoLiCe

With all the small forwards you guys have would Ritchie, Oleksiak and a 2nd for him at 1.5 held?

Been around long enough to make an educated guess, my friend.
- Phenom

I can only speak for myself but I am complaining about this trade and would have been happy to see July 1 come and go with nothing.

For Rielly? I'll think on it.
- HonkyTonkMan

No. But think away. Report back to me telepathicly

Like Boston did this year?
- HonkyTonkMan

Boston messed up big time.

Not sure what direction they are heading.

Should have kept Hamilton and traded Chara.

Only if Nichushkin and a 1st come back.
- Phenom

Can't trade, we just drafted his future BFF Guryanov.

It's going to be a long road... hopefully most fans will be patient.

Going to take 3 year to make things right.
- jimmc7722

It's a long road
When you're on your own
And it hurts when
They tear your dreams apart
And every new town
Just seems to bring you down
Trying to find peace of mind
Can break your heart
It's a real war
Right outside your front door I tell ya
Out where they'll kill ya
You could use a friend
Where the road is
That's the place for me
Where I'm me in my own space
Where I'm free that's the place
I wanna be
'Cause the road is long yeah
Each step is only the beginning
No breaks just heartaches
Oh man is anybody winning
It's a long road
And it's hard as hell
Tell me what do you do
To survive
When they draw first blood
That's just the start of it
Day and night you gotta fight
To keep alive
It's a long road

Most see him as a 3-4 dman
Not likely a top pairing.
- ILoveLamp

i say 4-5

Relax. They simply took the best offer they got! That is Kessel' value, no more hypothetical trade proposals, just the facts.
- fidopro

That is his value RIGHT NOW. The leafs forced their own hand in trading him right now

It's going to be a long road... hopefully most fans will be patient.

Going to take 3 year to make things right.
- jimmc7722

You speak like Indian chief.

I forgot to mention that you are selling Kessel at his lowest possible value. He is coming off that horrible half season under horachek where he put up virtually no points. Further, Shanahan had come out and said he wanted Kessel gone. All of that drove his value down. The leafs put pressure on themselves to get rid of their most valuable asset in a buyers market. We just traded our biggest chip for a couple of good prospects when he could have and should have landed a couple of great ones.

The market clearly does not exist right now and they should have just held him until the market arrived. (TRADE DEADLINE)
- mycokes

His lowest possible value would be if he had another bad season next year. I think smart GMs know his worth as a scorer after one bad half-season. But it doesn't sound like there was much hardball being played with Rutherford.

You speak like Indian chief.
- sloppyseconds2

BERUBE

Yep, like Pres says, even if you don't trade him, Babs should be able to up his value, at least helping him be a better overall player. The other side is teams wouldn't have the cap space after the UFA period, but I think waiting would have been better in this instance...
- aminnes

This is the type of deal I expected for Phaneuf. Not quite this return but something similar. I shudder to think what they will get for him and how much will be retained

With all the small forwards you guys have would Ritchie, Oleksiak and a 2nd for him at 1.5 held?
- NoobasaurusRex

That'd be a real nice return but I hope the leafs don't retain salary on him even though they'll probably have too. But 2.75 against the cap for the next 6 years would suck. especially since they would only be able to retain on 1 other player.

His lowest possible value would be if he had another bad season next year. I think smart GMs know his worth as a scorer after one bad half-season. But it doesn't sound like there was much hardball being played with Rutherford.
- Phenom

Clearly not because look at the return. That value is absolute shyte

EDIT: Obviously another bad season would lower his value

And just for good measure, let's throw in 2 former 1st rounders and a 2nd...on top of retaining salary. What the hell kind of trade was this? This was not a player to retain salary on, everybody knows what he'll do on the Pens, he is a #1 RW on any team in the league. You cannot say that about any other player on the Leafs, in any position. Jesus.

I forgot to mention that you are selling Kessel at his lowest possible value. He is coming off that horrible half season under horachek where he put up virtually no points. Further, Shanahan had come out and said he wanted Kessel gone. All of that drove his value down. The leafs put pressure on themselves to get rid of their most valuable asset in a buyers market. We just traded our biggest chip for a couple of good prospects when he could have and should have landed a couple of great ones.

The market clearly does not exist right now and they should have just held him until the market arrived. (TRADE DEADLINE)
- mycokes

They didn't play it very smart for sure. They talked too much. But that's the risk you run with an inexperienced crew. I'm sure it will be a learning experience.

Start? We've been accumalating since the deadline dude.
- mykokes

Are you a Hybrid Leafs / Lightning fan too?

Can't trade, we just drafted his future BFF Guryanov.
- NoobasaurusRex

I guess we'll have to take him too then. We'll throw in Bozak for your troubles.