Speculation: Kessel's Future?

[Leafidelity]

Lets trade Kessel, Phaneuf, Gardiner, JVR and Rielly for picks.

 

[Johny Drama]

Whatever Kessel's future, I hope it's decided by the end of this season. Either know your going to sign him and be prepared to fork over whatever he wants (when he's allowed to re-up), or be prepared to deal him and start positioning your team for the 2013 draft.

I'd prefer not to go into next season with Kessel on an expiring contract. Not to mention Phaneuf on an expiring contract also.

This was always going to be an issue, IMO, regardless of who is the GM. Based on some of the recent contracts that Burke dished out (Grabo), I dont think its unreasonable to assume that Kessel will be looking for 6.5 million at minimum to sign here long term. This was one of the issues some of us had with the deal in the first place....Kessel just doesnt strike me as someone who would want to take a home town discount to stay in Toronto. I agree with JE, management needs to get an idea of how much it will take to sign him long term, sooner than later. If the amount and term is beyond what they want to pay, look to move him. This year's draft is rife with top 6 forwards, might be the best time to receive good value for him if are looking to deal.

All in all, cannot afford to let this become an issue and let him go into the last year of his deal with no decision.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Tbh, I didn't really like the Carlyle signing, and looking to being able to sign the 2 top ufa's Burke would have helped us with it, but Carlyle is screwing us. TBh, hoping he gets relieved, at least to Asst. Coach. Eakins is fully deserving, especially by the Calder finals showing. Don't like firing Burke now when he was a big factor for Leaf negotiations in the CBA.

And Carlyle's Stanley Cup isn't as significant as a Calder Cup final appearance?

 

[Kegs]

They were a contending team with or without Kessel they could afford it. That and it proved to be a perfect storm of a deal. If you could get a first or second overall pick in a deal for Kessel, sure, pull the trigger. Needs to be a sure thing though. Too much invested in him to get a bunch of maybes.

Boston def got lucky. Hard to imagine trading a player like kessel and getting a top line centre and a defence man who loves to hit and and loves to take huge sniper esq slap shots from the point. As I said I'd trade him but only if my return made the team better.

 

[Raging Bull]

Boston def got lucky. Hard to imagine trading a player like kessel and getting a top line centre and a defence man who loves to hit and and loves to take huge sniper esq slap shots from the point. As I said I'd trade him but only if my return made the team better.

Unfortunately for Nonis I doubt he's going to be able to find a GM who overestimates the quality of his team and wants to make a big splash by landing a young player.

Chances are anyone that wants Kessel is going to be a contending team that needs a piece to push them over the top. That means middle of the pack picks. IMO you do everything you can do to re-sign him, and if he doesn't want to stay here when his contract comes up, deal with that when/if it comes up. They won't let him stay past next years deadline without a contract extension.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Well I sure hope they're working at it now. Give him a 10 year deal worth 78-80m. I'd do anything to keep him here. It's just at the worst possible scenario, I'd rather get something of worth instead of literally losing Seguin and Hamilton for zilch.

You know that's impossible, right?

 

[InterceptSchenn]

I'd fire Carlyle before trading or letting go of Phil Kessel. 25 years old, not even in his prime, 4x 30+ goal scorer. Not going anywhere unless hes knocking on Nonis' door asking for a trade.

 

[Stephen]

We're not going to get Seguin, Hamilton and Knight for Kessel in any trade, so why bother?

 

[The Blue Devil]

Sillier to think he had any say in where he was being traded to, at the time it was basically anywhere but Boston and will pay him

Kessel full-out said he wanted to play in Toronto. The only reason Burke traded for him was because he knew Kessel would sign with them.

 

[Kegs]

Unfortunately for Nonis I doubt he's going to be able to find a GM who overestimates the quality of his team and wants to make a big splash by landing a young player.

Chances are anyone that wants Kessel is going to be a contending team that needs a piece to push them over the top. That means middle of the pack picks. IMO you do everything you can do to re-sign him, and if he doesn't want to stay here when his contract comes up, deal with that when/if it comes up. They won't let him stay past next years deadline without a contract extension.

You are probably right! I saw one guy say Jamie benn + 1st for kessel. And since it was said on hfboard it would for sure be do able.

 

[Kegs]

We're not going to get Seguin, Hamilton and Knight for Kessel in any trade, so why bother?

I wonder if they could shaft Anaheim one last time

 

[The Blue Devil]

Ahh, apologies. Thanks for clearing it up.

On the Kessel/Carlyle thing - it might turn out that Kessel isn't a fan Carlyle coaching (which I think is going to happen). I think that's a huge reason why Kessel won't consider re-signing here.

People said the same about Kovy in NJ, the same could be said about Selanne etc.

 

[Raging Bull]

Didn't know that Kessel has a limited NMC/NTC that kicks in this summer. That could push them to sign him to an extension even earlier.

 

[Pilky01]

Kessel should be traded because there is no doubt in my mind he will bolt for quieter surroundings as soon as his contract is up.

 

[The Blue Devil]

I guess Nonis could get a first round pick for Kessel. This way the Leafs would only be down one 1st round pick. How Burke though Kessel was worth two first round pick is beyond me. No way Kessel fetches this much right now, even after a career year.

You mean the same 21 year-old, top 5 pick coming off a 36 goal season?

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Didn't know that Kessel has a limited NMC/NTC that kicks in this summer. That could push them to sign him to an extension even earlier.

In the previous CBA you could not sign any one to an extension until their last contract year. And Kessel have as you say a limited NMC/NTC then so the time to move him is now.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Every Team in the NHL already has a Phil Kessel - most got him for free - the rest would not pay nearly as much.

If you can get a Top10 Pick + Good Goalie Prospect you run as fast as you can to the bank and cash in.

Every team has 25 year old top 6 scorer?

Edit: In the NHL?

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

My biggest concern about Phil Kessel is not about his personality or lack there off, it is not about the trade (even do at the time it was one of the daftest move a GM could make) it is about him being a limited player. If your plan A is to allow him to only care about the offensive and give him the puck as much as possible he will soon enough give you goals, that is the nature of his talent. But when your plan A does not work he is more then useless seeing as he can not adept to playing any other way. He is not alone in this regard, many winger who are snipers suffer from this and it can work as long as there are enough quality players to make up for it surrounding the star winger. But in Leafs case that is not the case.

 

[Anth93]

Realistically if he sniffs free agency, he's gone. Approach him with a new contract (around 6.5/7) mid-year and if he's hesitant you trade him to the #1 buyer.

There's no right or wrong in my opinion. He either wants to be here or he doesn't and we welcome a top prospect.

 

[Kegs]

Realistically if he sniffs free agency, he's gone. Approach him with a new contract (around 6.5/7) mid-year and if he's hesitant you trade him to the #1 buyer.

There's no right or wrong in my opinion. He either wants to be here or he doesn't and we welcome a top prospect.

Im not a fan of paying players like that. guess with a ntc.

 

[Leaf Army]

Kessel's a great player but we need to surround him with more.

I like the Kessel trade. Burke's biggest fault isn't that he made the Kessel trade. It's that he stopped there.

He got lucky with Lupul and made a bold move with Phaneuf. But for a guy with such a big personality he was on the sidelines too much and was too hesitant to go all in.

 

[Leaf Army]

Kessel's a great player but we need to surround him with more.

I like the Kessel trade. Burke's biggest fault isn't that he made the Kessel trade. It's that he stopped there.

He got lucky with Lupul and made a bold move with Phaneuf. But for a guy with such a big personality he was on the sidelines too much and was too hesitant to go all in.

My point is if you want to trade 2 first round picks for Kessel, that's fine. I still have no problem with that.

But if you're going to do that, when a guy like Brad Richards becomes a UFA you can't all of a sudden become a wallflower.

 

[Kegs]

My point is if you want to trade 2 first round picks for Kessel, that's fine. I still have no problem with that.

But if you're going to do that, when a guy like Brad Richards becomes a UFA you can't all of a sudden become a wallflower.

I think the bruins gm eyed the leafs roster and predicted high draft picks. He seems to be good at his job.

 

[Stephen]

We already have Kessel, and he's a great player. Can't harp on the past and what he cost when that was 4 years ago. Get him re-signed and get some pieces around him.

 

[Hero]

I honestly think Kessel/Lupul duo need to move.

Good value, great complimentary pieces, but we're not at a place to contend and made should be looking for early 20 guys, playing a more team game.