Phil "Hot dog boy/ Winger you can't win with" Kessel was traded coming a 61 point season where he completely quit, with a lot of years left on a big contract, fitness based questions of his longevity, trade protection that he leveraged to take the market down to 1-2 teams, by a rookie GM and along with a 2nd returned
-A playoff protected 1st
-3rd
-Top ~30-40 prospect league wide a year away from being picked 1st round
-a thought to be near NHL ready defense prospect
-25point defensive depth forward
Marner is an objectively better player and more attractive asset than Kessel was at that time