1. Because we would give up valuable assets
2. He doesn't fit into the team first culture.
3. The minutes not given to JVR would have to come from the other young promising players to justify the cost.
4. His performance WILL decline due to his age and his lack of training predisposition. Older players only stay in the league if they train like workhorses. He eats hotdogs, golfs and fishes during his down time.
1. That's actually a good reason.
2. That's actually a terrible, terrible reason. Chiarelli, is that you?
The old-geezers that traded Tyler Seguin because he didn't fit their 'team culture' is hilarious and the same reasoning you're using. I'm guessing you wouldn't Seguin on our team as well ...
3. The RWs for next year will be Marner, Brown, Kapanen, xxx with Nylander moving to C. If you decide to play 28 point Connor Brown over 92 point Phil Kessel, then that's entirely on you.
Hyman - Matthews - Kessel (17 minutes)
Johnsson - Kadri - Marner ( 16 minutes)
Marleau - Nylander - Kapanen (15 minutes)
Aaltonen - Lindholm - Brown ( 12 minutes)
4. Oh yeah totally. You were probably one of the posters who thought he would've retired by now from obesity even though he's played a gazillion games consecutively at a top-level (outside of the 14/15 Leafs).
Boston moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Toronto moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Pittsburgh might be moving Kessel for a reason. It isn't because his individual numbers are crap.
There is a pattern here. Strong no
Are you just making random opinions with no context?
Boston moved Kessel because they had NO cap space. They already had stars Savard, Krejci, Lucic, Horton, Chara, AND more locked up and were already at the cap limit when Kessel's contract ended. They had no choice but to either deal him, or one of their already-core players.
Toronto moed Kessel because they had to rebuild. There was absolutely no scenario, NONE, where Toronto rebuilds without moving Kessel. That trade indirectly ended up giving us Matthews (guaranteed last place), Kapanen (in deal) , Andersen (draft pick in the deal traded).