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november

I like the Kessel trade for the penguins. Now Crosby and malkin will have no more excuses, they are playing with Phil the thrill!
 

Merlot

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Guys,

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/1...guins-acquire-phil-kessel-toronto-maple-leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded forward Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a source confirmed to ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. The Penguins are sending the Maple Leafs forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nick Spaling, defenseman Scott Harrington and a first-round draft pick in return, a source said. Additional players could be involved, as well.

The high-scoring Kessel, 27, collected 25 goals and 36 assists this past season for the Leafs, his sixth season for the team. Toronto finished 30-44-8, leading to it hiring Mike Babcock as coach.

Kessel had a $4 million signing bonus that was payable Wednesday.

The move unites him with Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.


Kessel to the Penguins. :lol: How are our Leafs twins going to spin that now that the one they label superstar is gone?

http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?fetchKey=20152ALLSASAll&viewName=summary&sort=points&gp=1&pg=2

Some call him a leading scorer. Well, he was ranked 47th in the NHL with 61 points with an atrocious - 43 in +/- showing he's been more of a burden than anything. However, now that he's going to a bonafide contender, away from the worst performing NHL franchise since the U.S. was still thought to be winning in Vietnam, the Beatles hadn't yet broken up, and Lyndon Johnson was still President, Kessel will be on a team more interested in winning than throwing games on purpose. That should help Kessel improve significantly making him the + player he once was in Boston. But where does that leave the Leafs now that the twin's favorite is GONE!

Now Crosby and malkin will have no more excuses, they are playing with Phil the trill!

Neither will Kessel.

good luck,

Merlot
 

gohabsgo

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Kessel, Tyler Biggs, Tim Erixon and 2nd in 2016 for
Kapanen, Harrington, Spaling, 1st and 3rd picks in 2016. TOR retains $1 .25M/year.



The Leafs got fleeced - what an underwhelming return for Toronto

  • Kapenen is a smallish late first round pick with a limited upside as a checking forward. Biggs was also drafted #22 overall three years earlier. This could be a wash for both teams.
  • Harrington is a third pairing dman at best in the NHL and will probably see a lot of time with the Marlies.
  • Spalling is a bottom 6 forward.
  • Giving up the 2nd rounder almost negates the first round they acquired. Its like moving up from 31-35 to 20-25
  • AND to add insult to injury, the Leafs have to eat part of Kessel's bloated contract.


Bottom line: Toronto got a bunch of spare parts and non impact players for a legit first line winger who will flourish in Pitt. playing with Sid and Gino. Kessel will only count $6.8M against their cap. Good job Rutherford in not including Olli Määttä in the deal.
 

wolfie7

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WTF were the Wings thinking signing Mike Green at $6M a year?!? Makes me think of Paul Coffey and those pathetic pussy flamingo / leg dangling attempts at shot blocking in the playoffs... At least Coffey tried to fake it. The Rangers owned Green's ass in this year's playoffs... Detroit would've been better served signing Paul Martin.

I do like the Brad Richards signing, though. A few years late, but better late than never. Good fit to our system. Better than Weiss ever was.
 

joelcairo

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WTF were the Wings thinking signing Mike Green at $6M a year?!?
I do like the Brad Richards signing, though. A few years late, but better late than never. Good fit to our system.

Agree on both counts. Don't mind the Green signing so much, as there is a potential upside and it's "only" for 3 years...but 6 mill is WAY too much.

Richards, on the other hand, is cheap enough and only for one year.
 

joelcairo

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Rutherford schooled Shanny and his multiple OHL level assistant G.M.'s

Yeah...and the other HUGE move in the GREAT LEAF RE-BUILD (ha ha ha ha ha) was getting Hab castoff P-A Parenteau.

They might as well cancel all thoughts of EVER having a parade on Yonge Street.

What a joke of a franchise!
 

joelcairo

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But like other teams may have noticed, Marc Bergevin likely found out that not many teams are lining up for their rejects a.k.a. Tomas Plekanec, David Desharnais, Lars Eller and P.A. Parenteau.

Toronto was obviously lucky: the Leafs didn't have to "line up" for the last of the "rejects" you named!

"Thank you Mr............Shanahan".
 

joelcairo

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if you really think Kess and Dion can fetch "only" what you suggest, then you really are pretty far out to lunch mon ami.

You will be surprised what the Leafs will get for each IF they are indeed traded.

One down, one to go.

QUITE the payoff for Phil (ha ha).
 

gohabsgo

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Leafs were sick and tired of Kessel

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/01/leafs-were-sick-and-tired-of-kessel

Kasperi Kapanen is a Leaf now. His stock has been dropping since Pittsburgh used a first-round pick to select him. Some people consider him a future third-liner, if he has a future in the NHL at all.

Scott Harrington is a Leaf now. He played four years for Mark Hunter’s London Knights. When they couldn’t come away with one of the Penguins’ better defensive prospects, they settled on the competitive Harrington. He is an AHL skater, scouts tell me. Maybe he’ll play in the NHL. Maybe not.
 

joelcairo

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Great article GHG!

Here are just SOME of the other terrific quotes from it:

"The hot dog vendor...just lost his most reliable customer."

"...the saddest Leaf season in history" (and that is saying a lot!)

"The Leafs held their breath, plugged their nose, and ostensibly GAVE Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins."

"The players they received for Kessel are probably named "if" and "but"."

"...the most destroyed team in Toronto history" (and again that is saying a lot!)
 

Merlot

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Guys,


"Sick of his act. Tired of his lack of responsibility. Unwilling to begin any reset or rebuild with their highest-paid, most talented, least-dedicated player. He didn’t eat right, train right, play right. This had to happen for Brendan Shanahan to begin his rebuilding of the Leafs. Separation between the Leafs and Kessel became necessary when it grew more and more apparent with time that everything Shanahan values was upended by Kessel’s singular, laissez-faire, flippant, mostly uncoachable ways."


So this is who the Twins called a superstar??? Above is the same thing the Bruins were saying about him, the same reason they dumped his uncoachable butt to Toronto in 2009. And what did the Leafs get out of this "awesome trade" according to the Twins? One very badly choked playoff series and 5 seasons of early golf.

Uncoachable huh. Nothing has changed in 6 years.

Cheers,

Merlot
 

lgna69xxx

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Loved the trade for Kessel... It is just what Shanny wanted: prospect, position player, a first round pick in another good draft class next year and cap room. It was a good hockey trade all in all because it helps both teams, Pitt now and the Leafs rebuild.

As far as Parenteau, looks like Bab's called him to persuade him to sign with the Leafs. Babs will work some majic with P.A. perhaps, and if not who cares, we want Auston Matthews so i hope the trades and signings help get him. :)

Go Leafs Go!
 

anon_vlad

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Pittsburg has always been one of my two favorite teams (the other being Detroit).

The aim of every hockey player should be to have his team score more goals than the opposing team when he is on the ice. Kessel was just edged out for worst in the league in that respect. I hope that his being shipped to a team which doesn't perpetually measure success by how lowly it can finish (to snag a saviour in the draft) and the dedication of Crosby and other Penguins will rub off on this somewhat talented bearded lady (with apologies to ladies everywhere).
 

lgna69xxx

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Kinda like how Pitt won a lottery to get the best player in the world vladdy my boy? Good one, you funny! :lol:
 

anon_vlad

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Yes, Pittsburg was definitely guilty. However, not recently and not every single year. Your fellow masochist, Doc Holliday, already recommends the Leafs throw next year also.

Note the word "perpetually" in my comments.
 
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