Phil Kessel

[maplesyrup]

I'm not sure that's "massive." I love Kessel but to be honest, I'd rather have Bergeron as the cornerstone of my team. I just think he's more "valuable" to a team in many ways.

It's almost double the goals and 1.5x the points. That's pretty massive. And, while Bergeron may be valuable in more ways, I think Kessel has become more valuable overall. His defence has significantly improved as has his playmaking. He's made up some of the gap there, and the difference in offensive production more than makes up for the differences in other areas, as far as I'm concerned. Kessel would be the best non-goalie on most teams in the league. I don't think you can say that about Bergeron - and, the teams that it would be true for are pretty poor teams.

Eh. Hey, I like both guys. Taking my Blue-coloured glasses off for a moment, like I said, I like Bergeron better. Now when Kessel wins a Hart trophy, maybe we can look at Perry-like numbers but I have to say, I think I'm going to be pretty unhappy with any contract number that begins with an "8."

 

[Leafaholic99]

8 years at $8,100,042 per year !!

 

[Corn Flake]

8 years at $8,100,042 per year !!

$8,100,043 or no deal.

 

[Jalili]

I'm confused. What makes Kessel a more valuable player than say, Patrice Bergeron who signed for 6.5 mil X 8? Everyone says centers are worth more too.

One player taking a below market contract doesn't set the salary scale. What good does the Bergeron contract do the Leafs if Kessel, a pending UFA, wants to be paid like Corey Perry?

That's basically it. Bergeron could easily have asked for and gotten more.

 

[maplesyrup]

That's basically it. Bergeron could easily have asked for and gotten more.

Well, it's a shame Kessel doesn't like HIS team/city as much as Bergeron does then.

 

[Kin]

Well, it's a shame Kessel doesn't like HIS team/city as much as Bergeron does then.

- Bruins Fans, Summer 2009

 

[maplesyrup]

Well, it's a shame Kessel doesn't like HIS team/city as much as Bergeron does then.

- Bruins Fans, Summer 2009

True that.

 

[Redleaf]

Nonis isn't stupid enough to lowball him, and Kessel loves Toronto. He'll be a Leaf for at least another 5 years. I have little doubt about that. Ill leave the number crunching to his agent and the team. Only question I have is what it will do to his contract if Kessel takes his game to yet another level this year. I'd have probably tendered an offer this off season and tried to nail it down sooner rather than later.

 

[bustaheims]

Eh. Hey, I like both guys. Taking my Blue-coloured glasses off for a moment, like I said, I like Bergeron better. Now when Kessel wins a Hart trophy, maybe we can look at Perry-like numbers but I have to say, I think I'm going to be pretty unhappy with any contract number that begins with an "8."

I think you've gone past taking off your blue coloured glasses. The bare minimum for Kessel will be Semin's contract - $7M per, and, over the past couple seasons, Kessel has really shown himself to be the superior player. The next comparable would be Parise, who'd be getting more than $8M if he signed under the current CBA, and Kessel has outproduced him over the past two seasons, as well. Same with Rick Nash @ $7.8M, and Eric Staal @ $8.25M. Heck, he's even outproduced Corey Perry over the past two seasons, and most of us are using his contract as a ceiling for Kessel. Anything less than $8M per for Kessel would be below market value for a player of his calibre that is about to become a UFA. Truthfully, with the new CBA and the expected increase in the cap, he probably clocks in close to $8.5M per.

 

[maplesyrup]

Truthfully, with the new CBA and the expected increase in the cap, he probably clocks in close to $8.5M per.

Yuk.

 

[Peter D.]

Would be thrilled to sign him for $7 (not going to happen), extremely happy if he signs for $7.5 (8 years, $60 million and be done with it), could live with $8, and would be willing to swallow $8.5.

Any way, he's going to be paid, and the Leafs are going to pretty much end up giving him close to what he wants.  If for whatever reason he is not a Leaf this time next year, it will be a complete and utter disaster.  There's no way the team can let him go.

 

[Zee]

Nonis isn't stupid enough to lowball him, and Kessel loves Toronto. He'll be a Leaf for at least another 5 years. I have little doubt about that. Ill leave the number crunching to his agent and the team. Only question I have is what it will do to his contract if Kessel takes his game to yet another level this year. I'd have probably tendered an offer this off season and tried to nail it down sooner rather than later.

5 years?  I think they'll lock him up to the max.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'd be shocked if he signed for anything under $8mil. I say offer him 8 years at $8.1mil (since that seems to be the style these days).

The Bergeron contract + another 8.1 mil on top for an AAV of 7.8125 mil. ;-) 

 

[Redleaf]

Nonis isn't stupid enough to lowball him, and Kessel loves Toronto. He'll be a Leaf for at least another 5 years. I have little doubt about that. Ill leave the number crunching to his agent and the team. Only question I have is what it will do to his contract if Kessel takes his game to yet another level this year. I'd have probably tendered an offer this off season and tried to nail it down sooner rather than later.

5 years?  I think they'll lock him up to the max.

I agree. I said (at least) five years.

 

[bustaheims]

Truthfully, with the new CBA and the expected increase in the cap, he probably clocks in close to $8.5M per.

Yuk.

I think, perhaps, you need to readjust your expectations to the new reality under the current CBA. The numbers I'm putting out are those you can expect Kessel to sign for right now. If he has another point per game season where he scores 35-40 goals, he'll likely get $9M per on the open market next summer.

 

[maplesyrup]

Truthfully, with the new CBA and the expected increase in the cap, he probably clocks in close to $8.5M per.

Yuk.

I think, perhaps, you need to readjust your expectations to the new reality under the current CBA. The numbers I'm putting out are those you can expect Kessel to sign for right now. If he has another point per game season where he scores 35-40 goals, he'll likely get $9M per on the open market next summer.

Double yuk.

 

[Jalili]

8.1 for 8 years would be decent for both sides. No doubt he could push for more, and given who his agent is, it wouldn't surprise me if he does.

 

[bustaheims]

Double yuk.

What's worse? Kessel at ~$8.5M or the Leafs without Kessel? It's a pretty clear answer to me, because, even if the Leafs trade Kessel, they'll almost certainly end up being a worse team without him than they are with him. Talent of Kessel's calibre just doesn't come cheap and it certainly ain't plentiful.

 

[Corn Flake]

Double yuk.

What's worse? Kessel at ~$8.5M or the Leafs without Kessel? It's a pretty clear answer to me, because, even if the Leafs trade Kessel, they'll almost certainly end up being a worse team without him than they are with him. Talent of Kessel's calibre just doesn't come cheap and it certainly ain't plentiful.

Agreed. It's silly to get bent out of shape about the $$$ of a deal that at worst will probably be a bit of painful cap hit in year 1 and then fit well within the cap structure as it rises.

For the Phil Kessel we've seen in the last 2 seasons and that 7 game playoff, I gladly pay him top dollar. 

 

[ZBBM]

Double yuk.

What's worse? Kessel at ~$8.5M or the Leafs without Kessel? It's a pretty clear answer to me, because, even if the Leafs trade Kessel, they'll almost certainly end up being a worse team without him than they are with him. Talent of Kessel's calibre just doesn't come cheap and it certainly ain't plentiful.

I realize he's showing signs of being a more complete player, but regardless of whether the team would be worse off if they traded him (which is not a foregone conclusion), he is simply not an elite player ("elite" defined here as top 10 or even top 20 in the league).  $8M+ is the kind of money Crosbys and Malkins make.  Kessel is a good, but he's not that good.  I wouldn't pay him that much, and if he holds out for it, I'd trade him.