Phil Kessel

[DeathToAllButMetal]

Can't say he didn't bring his game against Boston this time around.

He's been great for 2 seasons now. Some people will never be happy with him.

Kessel's game has improved, dramatically. But Boston made that trade, won a cup right away, and has become one of the most solid teams in the conference, year-in and year-out. Leafs need to develop something similar going forward to even up the trade. Starts with a big win tonight!

 

[veedubn1]

Bozak is an integral part of this team, they are going to re-sign him without even a second thought. Don't even think for a second that Nonis won't pay him market value. Bozak is worth much more than 3.5 per and the liklihood of him going to UFA is as about as remote as it gets.

He's not worth much more than 3.5 per... simply being good on faceoffs and responsible defensively doesn't bump your salary over the 5M per season threshold. If that were the case, then Jay McClement is with 6M per season.

There are very few centers out ther and Colborne looks like he's about ready to step up to the big club next year, giving us four NHL centers (Kadri, Grabo, McClement, Colborne). I'm fine with letting Bozak walk. The last two games proved we don't need him and we certainly don't need to pay him "market value" which will be inflated due to the lack of centers on the market.

Ideally, Bozak is a 3rd line center that you can slide into your top 6 when necessary. He needs to be paid accordingly, not paid because the Leafs didn't have anyone else to fill the position.

Remember, we're talking about a player who hasn't hit 50 points in a season yet.

 

[sommervr]

Not sure why Bozak has a reputation being good defensively. His career stats are brutal and he hasn't been good in the playoffs. In this series defence is more like rugby than hockey. I will take the guy that is 6'5" and laugh all the way to the bank

 

[veedubn1]

Kessel's game has improved, dramatically. But Boston made that trade, won a cup right away, and has become one of the most solid teams in the conference, year-in and year-out. Leafs need to develop something similar going forward to even up the trade. Starts with a big win tonight!

Saying the Leafs need to win the cup or "something similar going forward" to justify that trade is completely ridiculous.

The pieces acquired in the Kessel trade have done very little to contribute to Boston's winning ways since the deal. Seguin is the only person worth mentioning at this time and he's been an absolute no-show this series and was a 3rd line center when they won the cup.

 

[SteveV*]

We won the Kessel trade.

 

[HellasLEAF]

His skating is making a huge impact. Both when rushing the puck and on the back check. I think the thought that is bad defensively is over. He makes key defensive plays every game now.

 

[SteveV*]

Seguin is over rated too.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

Wonder where digruntled observer is,

haven't heard him complain about us giving up a "****ing 2nd overall pick" for a while now

 

[darrylsittler27]

While Kessel has proven himself..

The jury is still out. For one we haven't resigned him yet. Seguin isn't that old and Hamilton may not hit his prime for years.I thought at the time a first,2nd and 3rd rounder was even trade based on compensation rules. 2 years should tell a better analysis of this trade.

 

[TMLife*]

Scouts were saying they would take kessel over crosby in his draft year. This kid had potential flying out of every orifice, he is just touching the surface of what he can be IMO. There is more to come. At the same age for example, pavel datsyuk was HORRID defensively. If kessel wants it, he can be a top 5 player in the league for many years.

 

[pucci2001]

Interesting you say that. I just checked out the Ducks' board and the main board and not a single Ducks fan is trying to run Perry out of town after putting up just 2 assists in the 7 game series they just lost.

The Toronto fan base is.. uhh... interesting.

I was reading their board last night it seemed they have a group of contributors that claim Perry is not a clutch player and cant excel in the playoffs, its a plague on all teams to have fans as uninformed and psychotic as those people are. He is a hart winner, rocket richard winner and people have the balls to say he isnt a clutch performer, oh yeah he won a gold medal and the memorial cup too.

Anyways back to Kessel he is without a doubt the most consistent player for the leafs this series, solid two way game, couldn't have imagined him playing any better than he is. Would love another top 2 dman and a real center on this team but as it stands I want Kessel for the long haul, best leaf, best player on any Canadian team right now. Show him some love, he is the real deal.

 

[MajorityRules*]

The jury is still out. For one we haven't resigned him yet. Seguin isn't that old and Hamilton may not hit his prime for years.I thought at the time a first,2nd and 3rd rounder was even trade based on compensation rules. 2 years should tell a better analysis of this trade.

Ahhh yes, the same crowd who were willing to claim the trade a loss immediately following the drafting of Seguin are now claiming we have to wait for them to mature.

I just love the realist crowd.

 

[pucci2001]

He's not worth much more than 3.5 per... simply being good on faceoffs and responsible defensively doesn't bump your salary over the 5M per season threshold. If that were the case, then Jay McClement is with 6M per season.

There are very few centers out ther and Colborne looks like he's about ready to step up to the big club next year, giving us four NHL centers (Kadri, Grabo, McClement, Colborne). I'm fine with letting Bozak walk. The last two games proved we don't need him and we certainly don't need to pay him "market value" which will be inflated due to the lack of centers on the market.

Ideally, Bozak is a 3rd line center that you can slide into your top 6 when necessary. He needs to be paid accordingly, not paid because the Leafs didn't have anyone else to fill the position.

Remember, we're talking about a player who hasn't hit 50 points in a season yet.

I honestly hope we can resign him for under 4mil, If we have to go over that it better be a short term deal until we can get Kessel resigned(since they are BFFs) and it can be a bandage until we find a real #1 center or Kadri develops his game to a point where he can compete on the draws and play solid minutes against top players alongside kessel. I really don't think we can let him walk, purely because he and Kessel have a huge bromance going on. If we have to keep Bozak to lock up Kessel long term so be it, well worth it and Bozak isn't a bad player to have, he can slide up and down the line up and play in any situation.

 

[Derrty]

Had a beauty back check last night that caused an offside. All cbc could talk about was the play before where the Bruins player broke up a play. I was very disappointed.

 

[deprw]

Kessel's game has improved, dramatically. But Boston made that trade, won a cup right away, and has become one of the most solid teams in the conference, year-in and year-out. Leafs need to develop something similar going forward to even up the trade. Starts with a big win tonight!

I have always wondered, if they could have won more Cups with Kessel. Seguin had no part in their Cup run and with Kessel I think they could have won b2b Stanley Cups. They were close 2010 and with Kessel in their line up, I think they could have won year earlier. Pure speculation though.

I'm real happy with his play. Now we have to extend him. His elite talent for sure. In the future w'll see if Seguin or Hamilton can reach that level.

 

[pcruz]

Kessel's game has improved, dramatically. But Boston made that trade, won a cup right away, and has become one of the most solid teams in the conference, year-in and year-out. Leafs need to develop something similar going forward to even up the trade. Starts with a big win tonight!

As much as I agree that Boston is a great team even without Kessel a few things can be argued about that statement:

Boston's core team hasn't changed much. Chara, Marchand, Lucic, Kreijci, Bergeron, Seidenberg, etc were there with Kessel, and post Kessel. This core group did win a cup, but they also were knocked out last year in the first round, and the year before winning the cup, they were clearly lacking in offensive production.

Which leads to my next point, the Bruins traded Kessel, and immediately went looking for an offensive player to replace him. It's not as if they traded away their 3rd spare tire since they only needed the one. They traded one of their wheels and went out to purchase another one. This guy was Horton.

Lastly, it can be argued that the key to Boston winning the cup wasn't Seguin, or the absence of Kessel, but the addition of Kaberle...HAHAHA right? No, they add Kaberle, win the cup, he's one of what, 2 players who doesn't come back, and they get knocked out in the first round.

Wait a minute, that's just coincidence.....and so is the fact that they have become this stanley cup winning team after trading Kessel.

I think my point has more merit simply because there were so few changes and the results were so dramatically different.

 

[pcruz]

The jury is still out. For one we haven't resigned him yet. Seguin isn't that old and Hamilton may not hit his prime for years.I thought at the time a first,2nd and 3rd rounder was even trade based on compensation rules. 2 years should tell a better analysis of this trade.

People like you need to give their heads a shake. Of course Kessel hasn't re-signed yet. He's not allowed to talk contract yet.

As for those who think Kessel and Bozak sign within days of each other, then they believe Bozak goes on the open market, gets offers from other teams, and decides to sign with Toronto as a UFA.

Because, by the time the Leafs and Kessel can even begin to start contract negotiations officially, Bozak will have been a free agent for some time.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Thank you Kessel!!

Loving how he has gotten that monkey off his back, against the Bruins.

He has always been a great sniper with speed to burn. So what if he's not the greatest defensive forward and doesn't get physical?

He was brought in to score goals and make things happen on the ice. And that's just what he does. He's streaky for sure. But a lot of goal scorers are. Hes not a dynamic personality or particularly charismatic, which is a big reason some fans didn't like him when he came over. I'm sure a lot of those haters have managed to see the light.

I don't care about the Kessel trade anymore. He has done exactly what was advertised. Which team wouldn't kill for a 30+ goal scored? He has done it each year he's been in Toronto except this season. And even in this shortened season he has gotten 20 goals.

I'll say it again.

Thank you Kessel!!

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Wonder where digruntled observer is,

haven't heard him complain about us giving up a "****ing 2nd overall pick" for a while now

i bet you he can't even enjoy the leafs success because of how his obnoxious opinions have been proven faulty and his logic lacking with every clutch play by his whipping boys.

 

[Egoclapper]

Kessel is a gamer, I was excited when we traded for him because I'd seen him score clutch goals with Boston in the post-season. He's been PPG and able to showcase his playmaking ability since getting a 1st line winger (Lupul and JVR). What he needs is a centre of his calibre, when was the last time you saw Bozak make an individual play on the level of Kessel, Lupul, JVR or Kadri?

Bozak isn't going to stay just because he's friends with Kessel. I've seen clips on TSN/Leafs TV of Kessel and Kadri already getting buddy-buddy at practice. The team is better with Bozy than without, but as we saw last night, they don't need him and won't be forced to hand him a 5 year contract like Grabovski got.

 

[veedubn1]

I honestly hope we can resign him for under 4mil, If we have to go over that it better be a short term deal until we can get Kessel resigned(since they are BFFs) and it can be a bandage until we find a real #1 center or Kadri develops his game to a point where he can compete on the draws and play solid minutes against top players alongside kessel. I really don't think we can let him walk, purely because he and Kessel have a huge bromance going on. If we have to keep Bozak to lock up Kessel long term so be it, well worth it and Bozak isn't a bad player to have, he can slide up and down the line up and play in any situation.

They're friends and they'll always be friends no matter what team they're on. Gards and Schultz are friends as well and Schultz had no problem picking the Oil over the Leafs.

Kessel is a pro and would play even better beside a center who could command more attention from a defense. Bozak has played to the best of his ability and played well, but for this team to take the next step, Bozak needs to be on the 2nd or 3rd line and committing huge $ to him (making him untradeable) would be a mistake with a guy like Colborne coming up from the farm.

I like Bozak... I just don't like his rumoured price tag and he's DEFINITELY not the long term answer at 1C. And anyone who says "we can just trade him later" has clearly not been paying attention this year to the many teams stuck with ugly, unmovable deals.

 

[Starkiller]

Phil Kessel has stepped up and is making a name for himself, Same with Optimus Reim! Im Impressed.

 

[SenorDingDong]

Wonder where digruntled observer is,

haven't heard him complain about us giving up a "****ing 2nd overall pick" for a while now

Him and DaveT83 have pulled their typical vanishing act. If the leafs lose tonight, I expect them to come back.

 

[leach11]

Him and DaveT83 have pulled their typical vanishing act. If the leafs lose tonight, I expect them to come back.

I've seen Disgruntled post a couple things in the past week or so, but DaveT has completely vanished following Kessel's hot streak at the end of the regular season. I got my posts deleted for continually calling him a troll, but it's quite obvious now that that's exactly what he was.

 

[Billy6]

I owe Phil Kessel an apology.

I've been a Kessel critic for the last few years and I really didn't expect him to show up in this series, but he did and he proved me wrong. Kessel has some shortcomings in his game no doubt but he is a good hockey player who IMO showed a lot in this series.

Thanks Phil for a great effort.