Eklund: The Kessel Connundrum

Trade Phaneuf, not Kessel....

Kessel to pens for Bennett, Harrington, pick, and doumolin/pouliot.

Not us anymore? Thank God.

i doubt the rebuilding leafs will be big players on july 1st. may be if they keep phil and dion

dumb move.... gave up SO much to get him and he's only 27 and did practically all of the leafs scoring for the last 3-4 years.

If the leafs are going to make a trade with any team you listed there i sure hope it's Arizona. Arizona has the best prospect pool to make deal work

IF 81 is traded today as part of a deal can Leafs agree to pay the bonus?

Can that be negotiated as well? As you said they don't care about the money, can't the leafs just agree to pay it in the deal?

IF 81 is traded today as part of a deal can Leafs agree to pay the bonus?
- Popcorn Kid

No it's whatever team owns his rights.

Is Toronto really expected to be a big player in free agency? They are on the ground level of a rebuild

Dude they can have an agreement to move him July 1st one minute after his bonus is paid. Know what they get and push for FA without hindrance.

Is Toronto really expected to be a big player in free agency? They are on the ground level of a rebuild
- Just5

don't believe they would be going after anything more than reclamation projects and guys like Winnik last summer.

Dude they can have an agreement to move him July 1st one minute after his bonus is paid. Know what they get and push for FA without hindrance.
- Steven_Dean

precisely. I don't know what is so difficult to understand about this.

or they deal him today... and make another deal on July 1st with the same time.... which includes "future considerations".

Trade Phaneuf, not Kessel....
- SofaKingBored

agreed

dumb move.... gave up SO much to get him and he's only 27 and did practically all of the leafs scoring for the last 3-4 years.
- BALUCHA

yup.

get over it.

with ALL that goal scoring he did... he was still a massive MINUS player and where did the team finish in the standings with him in the line-up.

can't have it both ways. Kessel definitely has skill... skill is not his problem.

you want to change the dynamic in that locker room? you went out and got who you consider to be the best coach on the planet and you want to handcuff him with a poisoned locker room on day 1?

fish or cut bait.

Trade Phaneuf, not Kessel....
- SofaKingBored

Sofa, you KNOW what the correct answer is....

move BOTH.

Sofa, you KNOW what the correct answer is....

move BOTH.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I like Kessel, but I know he's gotta get moved. The 4 have to.

I like Kessel, but I know he's gotta get moved. The 4 have to.
- weirdoh

I agree with you.

But if they move Lupul and Bozak as the only two they move... that achieves essentially nothing.

One of Kessel and Phaneuf have to be gone by camp. Preferably Kessel.

I agree with you.

But if they move Lupul and Bozak as the only two they move... that achieves essentially nothing.

One of Kessel and Phaneuf have to be gone by camp. Preferably Kessel.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Preferably Phaneuf!

Trade coming up. Rutherford called someone in the hallway.

We'll have to wait and see if anyone gets moved.

Behind the scenes, it's possible Leafs ownership doesn't want Shanahan, Dubas to make any big moves until they get an experienced GM in place?

the Leafs sucking is not Phils problem, he did what he was there for
any other player step it up
Leafs suck not because of Phil
keep the talent trade the scrubs

I doubt keeping Kessel past July 1st will prevent them from signing the low salary/low demand depth players they will be signing on July 1st.

NHL teams are allowed to be over the salary cap until a certain date before training cap. I think they can be 10% over, which is roughly equal to Kessel's cap hit.

Don't forget that there are other players who will be moved in between now and then that will also clear up cap space.

And finally.... some teams won't care about the $4million bonus. Clearly a team like Arizona would care, but a team like LA or Pittsburgh should have no problem ponying up the cash to secure one of the games top scoring wingers.

Kessel has always played well with pavelski in international competition. I suppose a top line of Thornton, Pavelski, and Kessel would be ok

Realistically, what would it take to get him? Couture would be an over payment. Marleau +? Burns, Vlasic, Pavelski, Thornton aren't on the table.