Too Much for Kessel?

[mattrock123]

What do you think?

[The Duke]

Personally I think Kessel will be good on the Leafs... but I dont think I would have made that trade.

[_venom_]

I'd do the trade 10 times out of 10. It'd be different if we were trading for a late 20s or early 30s player but Kessel is only 21 for god's sake. The 2nd rd pick is meaningless because most players drafted in the 2nd rd never even make an NHL roster and a 2nd rd pick can easily be obtained (we can trade a bunch of our players at the deadline for 2nd rders if we chose). So essentially it's two 1st rder's for Kessel. Now, despite people worrying already that the Leafs will be the worst team in the NHL, I don't think they will and I think the pick won't even be top 5. Next year's pick will be even worse as there will be more improvements made in the summer. Some people will look at the trade and say: would you trade Schenn and Kadri for Kessel? I actually probably would but that's beside the point. The point is that for every Schenn or Kadri (and neither has proved anything yet) there will be more Jiri Tlusty's or Wade Belak's or Aki Berg's. Draft picks are unknowns. Sure you can draft a star if you're lucky but you can also draft a star in the 7th rd like Lidstrom. You always take the proven commodity in a trade like this. And it just so happens that Kessel is a 21 year old sniper with 40+ goal potential. The Leafs haven't had anyone with that kind of scoring potential in who knows how long.

Then there is also the fact that by signing guys like Bozak, Stalberg, Hanson, etc...we don't leave our cupboard bare after trading the picks. Next season guys like Kadri and Bozak are almost sure to make the team and should be good players. People get infatuated with draft picks but those picks are meaningless until the player develops, if they develop at all. You know what you're getting with Kessel and I'm excited about what he can bring.

[LLJ]

I. Some people will look at the trade and say: would you trade Schenn and Kadri for Kessel? I actually probably would but that's beside the point. The point is that for every Schenn or Kadri (and neither has proved anything yet) there will be more Jiri Tlusty's or Wade Belak's or Aki Berg's. Draft picks are unknowns. Sure you can draft a star if you're lucky but you can also draft a star in the 7th rd like Lidstrom. You always take the proven commodity in a trade like this. And it just so happens that Kessel is a 21 year old sniper with 40+ goal potential. The Leafs haven't had anyone with that kind of scoring potential in who knows how long.

.

While I agree with you about Schenn, I have to say the Kadri kid intrigues me and I wouldn't give him up until I saw at least a full NHL year of his game first.

[The Duke]

Another Day, Another Loss.

Kessel is gonna be chilling in re-hab, sure bet he doesnt want to return fast....

Leafs were not 1 more player away from competing (via Kessel)

We just lack skill on this team, one player won't change that for this year.

[Komodo]

Well, first of all, Burke could have signed him to an offer sheet, thereby only having to trade one 1st instead of 2...

Secondly, it's way too early to tell for sure (we'll really have to wait to see who is available at our designated draft slot, and how they turn out down the road to truly judge it).

However, the team is looking really crappy right now. Granted it's only been 4 games, but if they finish with a bottom-5 record, and win the lottery, Boston will get Hall or that Russian guy.

All hell would break loose.

[_venom_]

Well, first of all, Burke could have signed him to an offer sheet, thereby only having to trade one 1st instead of 2...

Secondly, it's way too early to tell for sure (we'll really have to wait to see who is available at our designated draft slot, and how they turn out down the road to truly judge it).

However, the team is looking really crappy right now. Granted it's only been 4 games, but if they finish with a bottom-5 record, and win the lottery, Boston will get Hall or that Russian guy.

All hell would break loose.

Actually the compensation for signing Kessel to an offer sheet would have been two 1sts and a 2nd because of the size of his contract (over 5.2 million per year).

[Cyrus]

Isn't that what the leafs gave up anyways?

A first this year, and 2nd, plus a first next year. LOL

[Mike Hunt]

I didn't like the move when it was made. I don't like it now with this awful start. I won't like it if Kessel scores 35 goals. To me, he's a second tier star and second tier stars don't merit two early first rounders and a second. Anybody who thought the picks weren't going to be "that early" were fooling themselves. Even if the leafs were to sneak into the playoffs, that still probably would have placed the pick in the first half of the round. When that's your best case scenario, you need to value your picks more than just giving them arbitrarily "first round value".

[The Duke]

I didn't like the move when it was made. I don't like it now with this awful start. I won't like it if Kessel scores 35 goals. To me, he's a second tier star and second tier stars don't merit two early first rounders and a second. Anybody who thought the picks weren't going to be "that early" were fooling themselves. Even if the leafs were to sneak into the playoffs, that still probably would have placed the pick in the first half of the round. When that's your best case scenario, you need to value your picks more than just giving them arbitrarily "first round value".

Exactly.... When your Best Case Senario is just sneaking in the playoffs (with Kessel), and your worst case senario is Lotto (top 5 pick) .... you need to value your picks more.

[mattrock123]

I didn't like the move when it was made. I don't like it now with this awful start. I won't like it if Kessel scores 35 goals. To me, he's a second tier star and second tier stars don't merit two early first rounders and a second. Anybody who thought the picks weren't going to be "that early" were fooling themselves. Even if the leafs were to sneak into the playoffs, that still probably would have placed the pick in the first half of the round. When that's your best case scenario, you need to value your picks more than just giving them arbitrarily "first round value".

Exactly.... When your Best Case Senario is just sneaking in the playoffs (with Kessel), and your worst case senario is Lotto (top 5 pick) .... you need to value your picks more.

Well said. Things aren't looking that great right now. That said, think about a core of Kessel, Stalberg, Kadri, Bozak and hopefully someone like Kulemin can step us as well. Our defense will be solid for years to come. I still think the Kessel move was the right move.

[jumanok]

well guess what leaf fans, we're dead last....do i think we'll stay there, no...but the move is looking, less and less attractive these days. I don't fault Burke on being aggressive. But a 1st round pick? 2 years straight?? yeeeshhh

[The-Insider]

Isn't it funny that when we desperatly want them to finsih last to get a high draft pick they defy all logic and make a meaningless run for it at the end of the year, and when we want them to do well because we don't have a pick they place last and play horribly? Morons. When will this team ever get it right?

[jumanok]

Isn't it funny that when we desperatly want them to finsih last to get a high draft pick they defy all logic and make a meaningless run for it at the end of the year, and when we want them to do well because we don't have a pick they place last and play horribly? Morons. When will this team ever get it right?

I don't know man, it just depresses me thinking about this stupid team. I've been a die hard since the days of Palmateer...through Bester, Wregget, Vaive, Felix, Cujo, Leeman, Iafrate.....you know what I mean? But, now every time I want to get back into loving hockey, I'm just faced with a dead team with no signs of hope.

PLEASE, prove me wrong!!! I'm dying here!!!

[Yosemite Dan]

Isn't it funny that when we desperatly want them to finsih last to get a high draft pick they defy all logic and make a meaningless run for it at the end of the year, and when we want them to do well because we don't have a pick they place last and play horribly? Morons. When will this team ever get it right?

Yeah I was flabbergasted when Toskala went down last year and they could of just put Joseph in and lost most of their remaining games and no one would of complained but instead they go sign Martin Gerber who used to be pretty good at one time and still has something left. In addition he was motivated to play for a contract next here with some team. Predictably he plays out of his mind most of the games and singelhandedly won several games himself and cost the Leafs several draft positions. Bizarre move and is something that Ferguson would have done to try and keep his job. It's like when GM's get here something in the water makes them stupid. Burke said he didn't want to coast the rest of the season to give his players a losing attitude. That theory sure has worked out well for this year.

[YogiStewart]

Another Day, Another Loss.

Kessel is gonna be chilling in re-hab, sure bet he doesnt want to return fast....

Leafs were not 1 more player away from competing (via Kessel)

We just lack skill on this team, one player won't change that for this year.

hence the problem.
any other teams stepping up to bat to trade for Kessel? didn't sound like it.

seems like Burke was indeed convinced that Kessel would get them into the playoffs this year and that, come next year, him and some of the young talent and some new editions (via free agency or one-sided salary trades) would make them real competitive.

i personally wasn't sold on this team. their forwards are probably in the bottom quarter talent-wise. not one skilled forward that would make another team's top 2 lines (except for Kessel). and the D, for some reason, is looking really, really horrible.

so far - and its still early, but early indicators are showing - looks like Burke's D-first and truculence plan is failing badly.

[Habibi]

Now, despite people worrying already that the Leafs will be the worst team in the NHL, I don't think they will and I think the pick won't even be top 5. Next year's pick will be even worse as there will be more improvements made in the summer.

Former Toronto hockey junkie that slipped off the train a few years after the lockout season chiming in to laugh.

I was skeptical of this trade when they made it. Kessel is a good player. I used to be really high on him when he first came into the league. I drafted him on my hockey pool team his first two years in the league. I like him. But what we gave up seemed then, and doubly so now, a bit much. Especially when this year's pick had potential, and was our fallback out. They might just dent the legendary Toronto fan's zerg loyalty if they fail historically without that pick as the silver lining. There is literally nothing to cheer for. Toronto fans can cheer for anything. It's well proven they can cheer for their team to lose, for draft position. This year there will be nothing. Just bitterness. I love it.

Also, I read that the actual compensation we would have had to give up, if we signed him to a contract, was actually two 1st rounders and a 3rd rounder. I think the only reason Burke didn't do that is because he would have come off like a hypocrite after all the things he said about Kevin Lowe.

Same old Leafs. They talk a lot about building from within and blah blah blah. It's all shite. The media, the fan base and the management - all three are problems, and all three are why this team just isn't going anywhere unless they luck out and go Ricky Martin on us for a one year wonder.

I'm going to follow the Leafs again this season, because it makes me happy when they lose. Can you really argue that it's not what they deserve?

[Crowned]

Another Day, Another Loss.

Kessel is gonna be chilling in re-hab, sure bet he doesnt want to return fast....

Leafs were not 1 more player away from competing (via Kessel)

We just lack skill on this team, one player won't change that for this year.

hence the problem.
any other teams stepping up to bat to trade for Kessel? didn't sound like it.

seems like Burke was indeed convinced that Kessel would get them into the playoffs this year and that, come next year, him and some of the young talent and some new editions (via free agency or one-sided salary trades) would make them real competitive.

i personally wasn't sold on this team. their forwards are probably in the bottom quarter talent-wise. not one skilled forward that would make another team's top 2 lines (except for Kessel). and the D, for some reason, is looking really, really horrible.

so far - and its still early, but early indicators are showing - looks like Burke's D-first and truculence plan is failing badly.

You're making it sound like the Leafs were the only interested team in one of the league's elite young players. You tell me, do YOU think teams inquired about Kessel? Why wouldn't they?

[jumanok]

arrgghhhhhhh, 0-7! ohhh sorry 0-6-1..let's see what the monster can do next week.

[GswStorm3]

Burke gave up way too much.