We've seen guys in small hockey markets get hyped before and not live up to it in bigger hockey markets. This is Loui's biggest test. We'll see if he's as good as people think.
- RogerRoeper

Just another dynamic to add to the puzzle for sure. Should be interesting in this respect for a lot of teams. Can't wait for us to get Kadri and Franson signed again so i can start to feel optimistic about this season.

Boston is the only organization that trades young top picks so early. Kessel, Thorton Seguin.
- RogerRoeper

It has really affected their success level too.

Finally getting healthy was the biggest contributor in my opinion, but a change is as good as the rest sometime.
- LeftCoaster

Yeah for sure. He did get hurt both years he's played here though, but yeah, nothing like the back injury he was dealing with in Anaheim. Definitely a feel good story regardless of the sweater he pulls over his head. Kessel and him playing together was a minor victory for a lot of Leaf fans..it'd been along time since we saw a duo dominate in the fashion they did. Probably since Sundin/Mogilny or Sundin/Roberts.
-
Whats your take though on the Sedins though Lefty. Amazing players ofcourse, but are you of the mindset that trading for rising stars may prove to be the best approach considering there age? Or do you think they should be lifetime Canucks? Its hard to think of when they've done so much for the franchise though i know, some guys you just wanna see hang their jerseys up in your city. They seem like those guys.

Still think Boston pulled the plug on Seguin too early and will regret it. They won't put up with his crap but they have no problem with a guy like Brad Marchand who embarrasses the organization on just about every shift? That said I think Erickson will put up some serious numbers in Boston. Guy is a bonafide first line player.
- Gary_B.

They traded from a position of strength, the center position, to address a need. Stanley Cup contending teams trading youth for this type of upgrade is not uncommon. Boston's stacked at center, Bergeron, Krejci, Campbell, Kelly, Peverley etc. They lost Horton to free agency and needed a winger, they found a fantastic one in Loui Eriksson.

Not really much different when Dallas traded the 11th overall pick Jarome Iginla to acquire Joe Nieuwendyk.

Are the Ducks more than happy to have lost Lupul+Gardiner for nothing now, considering they let Beauchemin go via free agency and could have re-signed him for nothing?

The trade does not look good for Anaheim given the circumstances.
- RogerRoeper

Hindsight...you might be saying the same thing about Kessel if he doesn't re-sign. You let the equivalent of Eriksson and Hamilton go for nothing, well one playoff round.

They traded from a position of strength, the center position, to address a need. Stanley Cup contending teams trading youth for this type of upgrade is not uncommon. Boston's stacked at center, Bergeron, Krejci, Campbell, Kelly, Peverley etc. They lost Horton to free agency and needed a winger, they found a fantastic one in Loui Eriksson.

Not really much different when Dallas traded the 11th overall pick Jarome Iginla to acquire Joe Nieuwendyk.
- LeftCoaster

Truth.

Every team has made trades that look bad in retrospect. At the time, I don't recall any leafs fans predicting Lupul would have the sort of production he has, including you. easy to crow about a winning hand after it's been dealt.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Definitely not you're right. I remember so many ppl actually crapping on the fact that we traded for Lupul, and how his salary was way too big a burden etc etc. Leaf fans always find a way to either be over excited, or extremely hateful towards moves like that. Whatever happened to just backing whoever wore the sweater without bustin balls before they step on the ice? lolll. I guess its the views and opinions of other teams fans that get our panties in a bunch. TBH for me, i just effin love hockey, and without all the teams and fanbases, exactly how they are, the rivalries and games wouldn't be sooooo sick. Its a healthy hate, as long as there is respect at the end of the day. I absolutely can't stand the Habs, but i have no problem admitting how important their franchise is to the NHL. Without the Habs, the story of the Leafs is sorely lacking and vice versa. Theres honestly nothing like watching those two jerseys take the ice at the same time. Fuggin love it. Growing up in BC as well..those Nucks, Leafs games..even though we've been absolutely raped for the past 8 years LOL (it was the other way around the 7 years previous), its so awesome to sit in that environment.

Hindsight...you might be saying the same thing about Kessel if he doesn't re-sign. You let the equivalent of Eriksson and Hamilton go for nothing, well one playoff round.
- LeftCoaster

I said it the day of the trade though. Why didn't they just re-sign Beauchemin?

Yeah for sure. He did get hurt both years he's played here though, but yeah, nothing like the back injury he was dealing with in Anaheim. Definitely a feel good story regardless of the sweater he pulls over his head. Kessel and him playing together was a minor victory for a lot of Leaf fans..it'd been along time since we saw a duo dominate in the fashion they did. Probably since Sundin/Mogilny or Sundin/Roberts.
-
Whats your take though on the Sedins though Lefty. Amazing players ofcourse, but are you of the mindset that trading for rising stars may prove to be the best approach considering there age? Or do you think they should be lifetime Canucks? Its hard to think of when they've done so much for the franchise though i know, some guys you just wanna see hang their jerseys up in your city. They seem like those guys.
- Rysko81

They should remain, and in my mind are committed to, life-long Canucks. They're the number one and number two franchise leaders in terms of scoring, they're outstanding members of the community in Vancouver and they're still very good players.

In my opinion I'd much rather see Kesler go than the Sedins. If we're transitioning towards youth then lets do it with the twins and build a second line from youth.

I said it the day of the trade though. Why didn't they just re-sign Beauchemin?
- RogerRoeper

Maybe he indicated that he was looking for a change of scenery? We don't know.

Loui Eriksson > Phil Kessel

Still a win for Boston +
- LeftCoaster

ahh no, Kessel would have had 5 straight 30 goal seasons if it wasn't for the lockout, Loui has only done that once..oh and Kessel is 2 years younger yet somehow has more career points in almost the same games .
I love this stat for the playoffs - Kessel (21 points in 22 games) Eriksson (9 points in 22 games)

Anyone who says Eriksson is better is either a B's fan or an insecure nucks fan

Loui is a solid player no doubt, underratedly crafty, and a solid playmaker for a winger, but i really think your assessment of the comparison of him and Kessel is very biased, and based on a hatred for the Leafs than your actual belief on the matter. I think if you had a choice at the end of the day, who you'd rather have playing with the Sedins...Kessel, or Loui, i think we all know what your answer would be. PS: That would be effing lethal btw lol.
- Rysko81

ya I would choose the better player...Eriksson I never said Kessel was a bad player...only that he's better than Kessel...and I never even said I hated the leafs...you assume that...

ahh no, Kessel would have had 5 straight 30 goal seasons if it wasn't for the lockout, Loui has only done that once..oh and Kessel is 2 years younger yet somehow has more career points in almost the same games .
I love this stat for the playoffs - Kessel (21 points in 22 games) Eriksson (9 points in 22 games)

Anyone who says Eriksson is better is either a B's fan or an insecure nucks fan
- GardinerExpress

Agreed, but like Lefty explained so eloquently, it was a trade that made a lot of sense for the Bs. They traded from a position of strength to address an area of weakness.

ahh no, Kessel would have had 5 straight 30 goal seasons if it wasn't for the lockout, Loui has only done that once..oh and Kessel is 2 years younger yet somehow has more career points in almost the same games .
I love this stat for the playoffs - Kessel (21 points in 22 games) Eriksson (9 points in 22 games)

Anyone who says Eriksson is better is either a B's fan or an insecure nucks fan
- GardinerExpress

it was a joke between me and Weirdoh if you actually read the whole thing. Maybe I should delete it because you Leaf fans keep commenting on it. That said, I think Loui Eriksson is a fantastic player.

No one sees Loui play. It's the In thing to look like an intellectual fan to name him a superstar and the NHLs most underrated player. f everyone calls him underrated, is he? I think Kessel is more underrated. He gets so much unfair crap.

If Erikkson is better, his numbers should be closer than they are. But they aren't better defense isn't making up the difference between him and a top 5 NHL scorer.

No one sees Loui play. It's the In thing to look like an intellectual fan to name him a superstar and the NHLs most underrated player. f everyone calls him underrated, is he? I think Kessel is more underrated. He gets so much unfair crap.

If Erikkson is better, his numbers should be closer than they are. But they aren't better defense isn't making up the difference between him and a top 5 NHL scorer.
- RogerRoeper

You get way to too butthurt over anything resembling criticism of your Leafs. Lefty just said the original post was a joke between him and Weirdohhomo. Relax. Have some wine. Perhaps a 67 vintage...

No one sees Loui play. It's the In thing to look like an intellectual fan to name him a superstar and the NHLs most underrated player. f everyone calls him underrated, is he? I think Kessel is more underrated. He gets so much unfair crap.

If Erikkson is better, his numbers should be closer than they are. But they aren't better defense isn't making up the difference between him and a top 5 NHL scorer.
- RogerRoeper

This is not true at all! We in the West see him play plenty, at one time a few years back even NHL players voted him as the most underrated player in the league. The guy is good, just accept it. There are plenty of good wingers in the NHL including Kessel!!

ahh no, Kessel would have had 5 straight 30 goal seasons if it wasn't for the lockout, Loui has only done that once..oh and Kessel is 2 years younger yet somehow has more career points in almost the same games .
I love this stat for the playoffs - Kessel (21 points in 22 games) Eriksson (9 points in 22 games)

Anyone who says Eriksson is better is either a B's fan or an insecure nucks fan
- GardinerExpress

or anyone who likes a more complete player...i love how you go from a B's fan or nucks fan...those 2 couldnt be further from each other

You get way to too butthurt over anything resembling criticism of your Leafs. Lefty just said the original post was a joke between him and Weirdohhomo. Relax. Have some wine. Perhaps a 67 vintage...
- TheTaoOfSemenko

My Kessel comment at the start probably didn't help things either...I just find it funny to rile up leafs fans...especially that 1 taking things too seriously on this site is hilarious to me

Trolls everywhere here

LOL. Poor Blues fans. They just want to discuss Pietrangelo

No one sees Loui play. It's the In thing to look like an intellectual fan to name him a superstar and the NHLs most underrated player. f everyone calls him underrated, is he? I think Kessel is more underrated. He gets so much unfair crap.

If Erikkson is better, his numbers should be closer than they are. But they aren't better defense isn't making up the difference between him and a top 5 NHL scorer.
- RogerRoeper

I get your idea, but have to disagree with parts of it. Kessel isn't really underrated, he is just playing for the leafs. Leafs fans sees him as god and best winger of NHL, and the rest of the league sees him as a leafs player which mean a crappy player. In all honesty, every one seeing him with no bias knows he is good. As for Eriksson, people just look over him all the time when it comes to a good winger and offensive threat which is why he is underrated. Fact is, he is a really good player and should do well with Bruins with either Bergeron or Krejci as center. Can't wait to see him score 30 some goals and 75 points. Will be really good for my hockey pool

Toronto still has this deal won. Seguin is a problem child, Hamilton is/will be a journeyman at best, and the other guy is just that, the other guy.

Kessel is a top ten scorer in this league.
- Old Pappy

Hamilton a journeyman at best? Okay, now your grasping.

Hamilton a journeyman at best? Okay, now your grasping.
- Jeropotato

its called being retarded...which is what you really wanted to say

Oh yeah, the trade that's supposed to be the worst in history yet 4 years after it the Leafs have by far the best player.
- RogerRoeper

they dont have eriksson or hamilton...the best players involved...only leafs fans see kessel as the best of those 3