Salary Cap: We are looking for nuclear Kessels. And whales. Beam me up, Scotty Bowman

[mikethelegacy]

Just to get things strait, is Kessel owed money by the Leafs on his contract July 1st? If yes, then I don't think we see a trade today.

Or perhaps Toronto wants less assets to get rid of that $4 million bonus. It's really hard to say. $4 million doesn't mean much to either of these teams. Two of the richest in the league.

 

[WayneSid9987]

On the flip side, the Pens can say "we'll pay that 4M if you play ball with us/be a bit more reasonable with your asks".

 

[Scandale du Jour]

On the flip side, the Pens can say "we'll pay that 4M if you play ball with us/be a bit more reasonable with your asks".

I would hope they would pay the 4M if it means keeping Maatta.

 

[Winger for Hire]

Pens can build a really powerful deck with Kessel...

 

[The Old Master]

I think it's just a case of wanting to move on to the fa market....knowing what you have/need and room for.

 

[bigG]

 

[penguins2946*]

Post from the main board:

The guys on Toronto sports radio were talking about it this morning. And they made great points - the fact that Shananhan has publicly stated he's looking to trade Kessel, means he's made up his mind. The only thing he needs to decide is when will he will get the best return for him - now or at the deadline? The consensus was NOW is the perfect time to trade him for two main reasons:

1. The UFA crop is terrible. The best available forwards are Ribeiro and Beleksey. If a team is looking to add an impact player before the season, Kessel is clearly the best player "available" and it's not even close.

2. Financially, teams are most flexible now. They can still move out money, buy players out, make trades a little easier and work Kessel into their long-term financial plans. At the deadline (even though most of Kessel's contract will be paid for the current year), teams need to figure out how they can work 8 mil into their cap for multiple years. There's not as much flexibility. It's easier for teams to take on Kessel now than AFTER they try to fill holes elsewhere...

... They used Pittsburgh as an example:

Once an interested party like the Pens sign a couple players, let's say Frolik and someone else to contracts, they are financially prohibited from acquiring Kessel.

If the Leafs pull Kessel "off the market" and teams make other moves, the Leafs are decreasing their own trade market for him.

NOW is the time to take advantage of a horrible free agent market.

The guys were bang on.

If Kessel doesn't happen today, he doesn't happen. That's what I'm thinking the situation is. If he doesn't happen today, I bet the Pens would go after Oshie and try to sign Tihkonov and Frolik.

Fantastic points as well.

 

[PensFanSince1989]

Lots of chatter on Twitter about Kessel going to Philly

 

[HandshakeLine]

Who exactly on Twitter is chattering?

 

[Ogrezilla]

Lots of chatter on Twitter about Kessel going to Philly

Sadly, I think this is the next most likely outcome. Not super likely, but more likely than him staying in TOR.

 

[penguins2946*]

Lots of chatter on Twitter about Kessel going to Philly

From where? Kessel literally makes no sense for the Flyers. They have Simmonds and Voracek as RWers and they need to re-sign Voracek to a huge raise after this coming season, why would they move for Kessel?

 

[PensFanSince1989]

Who exactly on Twitter is chattering?

No one that I know of being reputable, just seems to be the focus of Kessel and Twitter discussions right now.

 

[TheSniper26]

Yeah I'm not really seeing the logic in Toronto waiting a few days into free agency before making a deal. If they wait and let teams fill up on contracts the already limited number of potential trading partners goes down and the offers likely get worse. I think the best deal they're likely to see will be some time this evening.

 

[HandshakeLine]

No one that I know of being reputable, just seems to be the focus of Kessel and Twitter discussions right now.

Cool. I was just wondering if it was someone worth noting or if it was the usual sub-trade board babble that Twitter loves.

On a related note, twitter is a horrible medium and we will be deservedly mocked by later generations for ever thinking it could be anything but stupid.

 

[Winger for Hire]

I haven't seen anything about Kessel and Philly, but then again I'm not on twitter.

 

[HandshakeLine]

From where? Kessel literally makes no sense for the Flyers. They have Simmonds and Voracek as RWers and they need to re-sign Voracek to a huge raise after this coming season, why would they move for Kessel?

That's what I see too. Philly doesn't really work as a trade partner, unless they're planning some other major moves.

 

[Stad]

Lots of chatter on Twitter about Kessel going to Philly

"The Hockey Chat" started that rumor lol. He's not a legit source so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[penguins2946*]

I haven't seen anything about Kessel and Philly, but then again I'm not on twitter.

I looked up "Kessel Flyers" in the search and saw nothing of note other than a speculation of what it would cost. I see 1 account with 7000 followers tweeting about it, that's it.

 

[orby]

Philly would be stupid to trade for Kessel, he doesn't fill a need for them at all. They need defense above all else

 

[Shady Machine]

To be honest, i'd rather spend 4.5-5 or so on Franson, who is 27, 6'5", and shoots the puck 10x harder, then spending it on Martin.

The term is the issue. If Martin will miraculously sign a 3 year 4.5MM deal, I'd take that over Franson's 4.5 over 6 year deal. The dude is going to get term and he's not that good.

 

[BHD]

I don't know whether the organization could stomach his contract.

 

[penguins2946*]

I don't know whether the organization could stomach his contract.

The Pens stomaching Kessel's contract? Well, seeing how they're heavily interested in him, I'd venture to say they could.

 

[Shady Machine]

Immediately. I would probably do KK+Pouliot for Drouin. He is that good

Bad idea.

 

[HandshakeLine]

The Pens stomaching Kessel's contract? Well, seeing how they're heavily interested in him, I'd venture to say they could.

Especially with salary retained on the Leafs' end.

 

[thecore]

It would be like the Flyers to go after Kessel in spite of hurting themselves, but I don't think Hextall is as dumb as Holmgren, sadly.

I wonder if at this point the talks have soured and the Leafs would take a lesser return just to burn the Pens a bit. I have no idea, but it could happen if the talks go badly.