Kessel traded to Penguins

[Beowulf]

Not bad, not great return. But I think the ideas by many (not talking about anyone on this board) that the Leafs got "fleeced" and that it was a "terrible" move is based on their NHL 2002 expectations of the return.

In reality, given his contract, the down year, the clear direction the team is taking and perhaps Kessel's negative intangibles it is a fair deal.

It's essentially Kessel for two 1sts (1st rounder and Kapanen) and a 2nd (Harrington), albeit they are on the lower end.

Is it a home run? No definitely not, but there are two good prospects and the chances to get two more (1st + 2nd). On top of that it does put a clear stamp on the overall change the team is trying to make; it's not just talk anymore.

 

[Captain Canuck]

Addition by subtraction.

Kessel had a million dollar shot, but a ten cent head. He quit on the team last year and then grumbled and moped about, becoming a distraction and negative influence in the locker room. You could see that negativity spreading around to other guys and this team wasn't worth paying attention to after the calendar flipped to 2015....complete lost cause.

Looking forward to next season without Kessel in the Blue and White! 

 

[princedpw]

mirtle: The Kessel trade gets worse for the Leafs. The first-round pick is conditional on Penguins making the playoffs.

mirtle: Here are the conditions on the first-round pick the Leafs get in the Kessel trade. http://t.co/PGnXxrG2Jy

Well, it is really, really too bad such conditions weren't a part of the initial Kessel trade!

I guess I can go back to hoping Kessel scores 50 goals next year and we get Pittsburgh's late 1st rounder

 

[cabber24]

mirtle: The Kessel trade gets worse for the Leafs. The first-round pick is conditional on Penguins making the playoffs.

mirtle: Here are the conditions on the first-round pick the Leafs get in the Kessel trade. http://t.co/PGnXxrG2Jy

Well, it is really, really too bad such conditions weren't a part of the initial Kessel trade!

I guess I can go back to hoping Kessel scores 50 goals next year and we get Pittsburgh's late 1st rounder

I know! How were the Leafs so stupid! They finished second last, a holistic misjudgement of skill from top to bottom. It upsets me that this parameter has been put on this first round pick especially since we had no parameters on our first rounders traded to Boston. Just another kick in the collective Leaf fan balls.

Please no more kicks the balls! I'm hoping this is the last one.

 

[L K]

It's worse that Burke didn't have that kind of stipulation on the deal but I don't think that's something we should really have to worry about.  I mean Pittsburgh defense and bottom 6 still kind of suck but they should be able to outscore enough teams to at least be a low seed.

Buffalo should be better but aren't anywhere near a playoff team to me.
Toronto is in the Auston Matthews sweepstakes.  Carolina is likely in them too.
New Jersey shouldn't really be any better this year either.

Boston got worse (although did add some prospects for the future).

Columbus and Florida would be the two teams to worry about catching up to Pittsburgh at this point I would imagine.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

No Maata or Pouliot + retention + a 2nd going back AND pick protection in this deal makes it a massive loss IMO.

I know moving him was the best strategy, but I don't like it at all. It's as if the Pens asked for everything they wanted and the Leafs went with it every step of the way.

Too bad.

 

[mr grieves]

Not a fan of this. That's 7 years of having $1.2M to $2M of dead cap space. They needed to get something more for that in my mind.

Practically though that's more or less meaningless. I don't like it but if that was required for them to get the best return out there? At best, you're talking about 2 or 3 years where that money might matter to the Leafs and by then you'd really hope that the cap has grown to the point where we're talking about 1 or 1.5 percent of the cap.

If Kessel's retained ~$2m will only be 1.5% of the cap, his full ride of $8m would've been 6% of the cap. That more or less evacuates the concerns that Kessel's hefty contract -- $8m for an elite scorer beginning to feel his age -- would've posed a problem for the Leafs' cap structure when they were contending.

I dunno. This isn't very impressive return for the Leafs. Pens fans seem happy to have got PK for "basically nothing." So, two things:
1. Say what you will about Diamond Dave, but the guy never was the clear loser in a trade. Dubas's first ride without training wheels was, I think, bumpy.
2. That moving Phaneuf wasn't the priority and that the return here is everything the Pens could want -- salary retained and pick draft protected -- seem to point to someone in our front office really not wanting Kessel around the team. 

 

[wnc096]

DarrenDreger: Biggs and Tim Erixson to Pens as well

The Biggs Era is over! Hunwick signing pushed Erixon out. Need the contract space and he's too far down the depth chart now.

Hopefully Biggs doesnt turn the corner and become the next Lucic

 

[Bates]

Biggs can't even be the next Kassian, never mind the next Lucic.

DarrenDreger: Biggs and Tim Erixson to Pens as well

The Biggs Era is over! Hunwick signing pushed Erixon out. Need the contract space and he's too far down the depth chart now.

Hopefully Biggs doesnt turn the corner and become the next Lucic

 

[wnc096]

Not a fan of this. That's 7 years of having $1.2M to $2M of dead cap space. They needed to get something more for that in my mind.

Practically though that's more or less meaningless. I don't like it but if that was required for them to get the best return out there? At best, you're talking about 2 or 3 years where that money might matter to the Leafs and by then you'd really hope that the cap has grown to the point where we're talking about 1 or 1.5 percent of the cap.

If Kessel's retained ~$2m will only be 1.5% of the cap, his full ride of $8m would've been 6% of the cap. That more or less evacuates the concerns that Kessel's hefty contract -- $8m for an elite scorer beginning to feel his age -- would've posed a problem for the Leafs' cap structure when they were contending.

I dunno. This isn't very impressive return for the Leafs. Pens fans seem happy to have got PK for "basically nothing." So, two things:
1. Say what you will about Diamond Dave, but the guy never was the clear loser in a trade. Dubas's first ride without training wheels was, I think, bumpy.
2. That moving Phaneuf wasn't the priority and that the return here is everything the Pens could want -- salary retained and pick draft protected -- seem to point to someone in our front office really not wanting Kessel around the team.

I think with Phil, Bozak and to a lesse extent Phanuef.  Its addition by subtraction.  removing the rotten core of this team makes them better...even if the return isnt the greatest. 
It was obvious that the leafs weren't going into this season with at least 2 of these guys.  If and when bozak/phaneuf are moved i'm sure the return will be underwhelming on paper, but it will be a good thing for the team

Michael Farber described it perfectly....Leafs win the deal because Phil isn't on the team anymore

 

[hockeyfan1]

Happy that the Leafs went through with the idea of trading Kessel.  Not too happy with the returns.  But, at least they won't need to stare at that monstrous contract anymore.

I could imagine Kessel with Pittsburgh playing on a team with Crosby and Malkin.  He should be back to his scoring ways and provide the Pens with a good chunk of it.
Too bad things soured here in Toronto.  Wonder what it would have been like, hypothetically-speaking, if Kessel had played under Babcock (assuming the Leafs had parted with either one of Phaneuf or Bozak instead)?

Well, whatever.  What's done's, done.  Adios Phil.  Good luck in Pittsburgh.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Kessel will score 60 next year.

 

[lamajama]

mirtle: The Kessel trade gets worse for the Leafs. The first-round pick is conditional on Penguins making the playoffs.

mirtle: Here are the conditions on the first-round pick the Leafs get in the Kessel trade. http://t.co/PGnXxrG2Jy

Well, it is really, really too bad such conditions weren't a part of the initial Kessel trade!

I guess I can go back to hoping Kessel scores 50 goals next year and we get Pittsburgh's late 1st rounder

I know! How were the Leafs so stupid! They finished second last, a holistic misjudgement of skill from top to bottom. It upsets me that this parameter has been put on this first round pick especially since we had no parameters on our first rounders traded to Boston. Just another kick in the collective Leaf fan balls.

Please no more kicks the balls! I'm hoping this is the last one.

The lack of conditions on the Kessel trade with Boston was a colossal mistake and irresponsible move made by what we all thought was a qualified GM. No excuse for this.

 

[Frank E]

mirtle: The Kessel trade gets worse for the Leafs. The first-round pick is conditional on Penguins making the playoffs.

mirtle: Here are the conditions on the first-round pick the Leafs get in the Kessel trade. http://t.co/PGnXxrG2Jy

Well, it is really, really too bad such conditions weren't a part of the initial Kessel trade!

I guess I can go back to hoping Kessel scores 50 goals next year and we get Pittsburgh's late 1st rounder

I know! How were the Leafs so stupid! They finished second last, a holistic misjudgement of skill from top to bottom. It upsets me that this parameter has been put on this first round pick especially since we had no parameters on our first rounders traded to Boston. Just another kick in the collective Leaf fan balls.

Please no more kicks the balls! I'm hoping this is the last one.

The lack of conditions on the Kessel trade with Boston was a colossal mistake and irresponsible move made by what we all thought was a qualified GM. No excuse for this.

Or, or, Boston said no to it being protected.

 

[mr grieves]

I think with Phil, Bozak and to a lesse extent Phanuef.  Its addition by subtraction. 

[...]

Michael Farber described it perfectly....Leafs win the deal because Phil isn't on the team anymore

Michael Farber's bad at math.

 

[L K]

Biggs can't even be the next Kassian, never mind the next Lucic.

DarrenDreger: Biggs and Tim Erixson to Pens as well

The Biggs Era is over! Hunwick signing pushed Erixon out. Need the contract space and he's too far down the depth chart now.

Hopefully Biggs doesnt turn the corner and become the next Lucic

For Biggs to amount to anything close to Lucic he would have to:
1) Get up out of bed
2) Shower
3) Have breakfast
4) Brush his teeth
5) Get dressed
6) Find his keys
7) Turn on the car
8) Figure out whether he was supposed to turn left or right at the corner

before he would be anything more than a non-prospect at this point.  Biggs is a contract number so the Leafs aren't sitting at 50 contract later in the year when they want to make a trade or pick a guy up off waivers.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not a fan of this. That's 7 years of having $1.2M to $2M of dead cap space. They needed to get something more for that in my mind.

Practically though that's more or less meaningless. I don't like it but if that was required for them to get the best return out there? At best, you're talking about 2 or 3 years where that money might matter to the Leafs and by then you'd really hope that the cap has grown to the point where we're talking about 1 or 1.5 percent of the cap.

If Kessel's retained ~$2m will only be 1.5% of the cap, his full ride of $8m would've been 6% of the cap. That more or less evacuates the concerns that Kessel's hefty contract -- $8m for an elite scorer beginning to feel his age -- would've posed a problem for the Leafs' cap structure when they were contending.

But he might have posed a problem with them finishing in a position to get higher picks.  And if not, and he's just on the team to string together 30 goal seasons while the team rebuilds, what's the point?  He's only going to diminish in value as he gets older.  As I've previously said, I love the guy but they've decided to go in a new direction and there's no point holding off on it.

 

[lamajama]

mirtle: The Kessel trade gets worse for the Leafs. The first-round pick is conditional on Penguins making the playoffs.

mirtle: Here are the conditions on the first-round pick the Leafs get in the Kessel trade. http://t.co/PGnXxrG2Jy

Well, it is really, really too bad such conditions weren't a part of the initial Kessel trade!

I guess I can go back to hoping Kessel scores 50 goals next year and we get Pittsburgh's late 1st rounder

I know! How were the Leafs so stupid! They finished second last, a holistic misjudgement of skill from top to bottom. It upsets me that this parameter has been put on this first round pick especially since we had no parameters on our first rounders traded to Boston. Just another kick in the collective Leaf fan balls.

Please no more kicks the balls! I'm hoping this is the last one.

The lack of conditions on the Kessel trade with Boston was a colossal mistake and irresponsible move made by what we all thought was a qualified GM. No excuse for this.

Or, or, Boston said no to it being protected.

I think the Leafs had more leverage than that. Kessel was not re-signing in Boston and Nashville, which was apparently the only other interested party, was not offering what the Leafs were.

 

[Leaflifer]

Good riddance.

If they didn't retain salary, then you couldn't expect much for an overpaid player with mental/heart issues. If they retained salary, well, it kind of speaks to how his value in the league has dropped because they certainly shopped him and didn't get that much in return from the highest bidder on his list - a late 1st rounder - no top flight prospect.

I won't complain about what they got because I would have taken a 7th to get him out of the locker room.

Phil is up there with my most rotten Leafs of all time. Sure he had skill and he'll put up points. But in my book, he's a quitter - he has character issues since before he was drafted that he hasn't outgrown. I have little time for people like that. I'm glad he's gone.

I was going to comment on this move, but you pretty much summed up my thoughts on the deal...so....ditto to this.

 

[bustaheims]

I think the Leafs had more leverage than that. Kessel was not re-signing in Boston and Nashville, which was apparently the only other interested party, was not offering what the Leafs were.

Actually, the rumour at the time was that Boston preferred the deal Nashville was offering, but the Preds pulled out because they didn't feel they could get Phil signed before the Leafs swooped in with an offer sheet.