Yup. How is Kessel not worth 2 first rounders and a second. Keep in mind, he was traded at age 21. That rarely happens with young talented players.
Kessel was worth two mid level 1st rounders and a 2nd.
It was a risk for both teams.
If the picks turn out to be in the 20's, then the leafs steal Kessel.
If the picks are mid level, it was an even trade for both sides.
If the picks drop to (lol) 2nd and 9th overall, then it becomes an apocalypse.
Remember, Boston correctly saw Kessel as expendable to the future of their team (as proven by their Stanley Cup win 2 years later), and were looking for decent level picks in return.
Never in their wildest dreams did they think Burke would trade 2 first round picks if they even had a
chance of falling to 2nd overall.
As GM, trades like this are BURKES responsibility. His SPECIFIC JOB is to assess his team and make trades/signings based on that. To trade two first round picks and then finish 2nd last and 9th last is 100% verifiable proof that Burke is terrible at his job.