no way you trade huberdeau for kessel straight up let alone a first and bergenheim. if huberdeau is included M.R. is coming back the other way... a fair trade would be kessel, Phaneuf and Reilly for huberdeau, kulikov and a 1st. id say thats a wash across the board and all the players get a change of scenery.
- boltsfan48

Are you freakin drunk? Kessel is top 3 in scoring over the past 5 years. No way kessel goes for anything less than huberdeau, berg and a 1st.
You need to wake up, I'm not a huge fan of kessel's but the guy has great value
Kessel, phaneuf, and Rielly? Do you even watch hockey? My gawd, what a tool.

Are you freakin drunk? Kessel is top 3 in scoring over the past 5 years. No way kessel goes for anything less than huberdeau, berg and a 1st.
You need to wake up, I'm not a huge fan of kessel's but the guy has great value
Kessel, phaneuf, and Rielly? Do you even watch hockey? My gawd, what a tool.
- Fakepartofme

You need to settle down.
This guy is OBVIOUSLY trolling.

IMO kessel gets traded for a package that sends money back, so that FLA can pay their young stars.
Something like:

TO FLA: Kessel, Polak (10.5M)
TO TOR: Huberdeau, Kulikov, Bergenheim, 2015 1st (~7.5M)

FLA has about 3.5M in cap space remaining at the end of the deal, and lots of UFAs likely set to move out.

......if only they could trade that Bolland guy...

Are you freakin drunk? Kessel is top 3 in scoring over the past 5 years. No way kessel goes for anything less than huberdeau, berg and a 1st.
You need to wake up, I'm not a huge fan of kessel's but the guy has great value
Kessel, phaneuf, and Rielly? Do you even watch hockey? My gawd, what a tool.
- Fakepartofme

You're in a bad bargaining position. We have good cheeseburgers here.

You need to settle down.
This guy is OBVIOUSLY trolling.

IMO kessel gets traded for a package that sends money back, so that FLA can pay their young stars.
Something like:

TO FLA: Kessel, Polak (10.5M)
TO TOR: Huberdeau, Kulikov, Bergenheim, 2015 1st (~7.5M)

FLA has about 3.5M in cap space remaining at the end of the deal, and lots of UFAs likely set to move out.

......if only they could trade that Bolland guy...
- Climuster

I think Nick Bjugstad thinks Vincent Viola can pay the "young stars".

Reminds me of the Luongo deal, when they thought they'd get the world.
- PanthersGoal

1) Goalie market is different
2) Kessel is not 35
3) Kessel is not signed until he is 43
4) Kessels contract will not have any cap circumvention implications
5) See below

Since 2011
Games/Goals/Assists/Points
1 Claude Giroux F 266 86 198 284
2 Evgeni Malkin F 221 106 166 272
3 Phil Kessel F 272 116 146 262
4 Alex Ovechkin F 265 159 102 261
5 Sidney Crosby F 194 78 180 258

You're in a bad bargaining position. We have good cheeseburgers here.
- PanthersGoal

Mmmmm burgers.
But you have too much sun, daylight hurts the kessel.

I think Nick Bjugstad thinks Vincent Viola can pay the "young stars".
- PanthersGoal

If I'm the Leafs, I'm asking for Bjugstad and a 1st.

If I'm the Leafs, I'm asking for Bjugstad and a 1st.
- Champ

Im fine with Huberdeau, 1st + something that is not a salary dumb.

Huberdeau, Kulikov, 1st
Kessel, Robidas

1) Goalie market is different
2) Kessel is not 35
3) Kessel is not signed until he is 43
4) Kessels contract will not have any cap circumvention implications
5) See below

Since 2011
Games/Goals/Assists/Points
1 Claude Giroux F 266 86 198 284
2 Evgeni Malkin F 221 106 166 272
3 Phil Kessel F 272 116 146 262
4 Alex Ovechkin F 265 159 102 261
5 Sidney Crosby F 194 78 180 258
- GardinerExpress

To be honest, these stats are great, but if you are ranking the players actual value Kessel falls drastically.

You also have to add Getzlaf, Perry, Kane, Toews, Carter, Seguin, Tavares and Stamkos to name a few.

If I'm the Leafs, I'm asking for Bjugstad and a 1st.
- Champ

Mmmmm burgers.
But you have too much sun, daylight hurts the kessel.
- Fakepartofme

Bure partied like a rock star here on south beach, and filled the net. Don't think he downed as many burgers and cookies as a Kessel could though.

Are you freakin drunk? Kessel is top 3 in scoring over the past 5 years. No way kessel goes for anything less than huberdeau, berg and a 1st.
You need to wake up, I'm not a huge fan of kessel's but the guy has great value
Kessel, phaneuf, and Rielly? Do you even watch hockey? My gawd, what a tool.
- Fakepartofme

kessel's contract is very difficult for teams to take on, and it will absolutely have a negative impact on the return the leafs get for him.

nobody denies that he's a great player, but like others said, the leafs aren't dealing from a position of strength here.

- teams know the leafs are in full rebuild and want to move him
- his contract is difficult for teams to take on
- he's struggled this year, both on and off the ice
- going to be 28 when next year starts....not exactly old, but old enough that he likely doesn't fit into the plans of a lot of young "rebuilding teams" like florida.

the return will be good, but you seem to think that the leafs will get as much or more than they gave up for him......and i don't think that's gonna be the case

kessel's contract is very difficult for teams to take on, and it will absolutely have a negative impact on the return the leafs get for him.

nobody denies that he's a great player, but like others said, the leafs aren't dealing from a position of strength here.

- teams know the leafs are in full rebuild and want to move him
- his contract is difficult for teams to take on
- he's struggled this year, both on and off the ice
- going to be 28 when next year starts....not exactly old, but old enough that he likely doesn't fit into the plans of a lot of young "rebuilding teams" like florida.

the return will be good, but you seem to think that the leafs will get as much or more than they gave up for him......and i don't think that's gonna be the case
- sensarmy_11

BINGO!

BINGO!

- PanthersGoal

So Kessel for Fla 1st in 2015 and 2016.

So Kessel for Fla 1st in 2015 and 2016.
- Champ

I've already stated my deal, with no negotiation. Huberdeau for Kessel even up. Since we are one of a few that can and would take on fat boys salary. I'd give it a go.

Bure partied like a rock star here on south beach, and filled the net. Don't think he downed as many burgers and cookies as a Kessel could though.
- PanthersGoal

Plus, he'd be playing for a coach who comes out in the middle of a playoff race and says he's ok if his team misses the playoffs. What a franchise!

Plus, he'd be playing for a coach who comes out in the middle of a playoff race and says he's ok if his team misses the playoffs. What a franchise!
- Canada Cup

Gallant is a good coach. It's all about managing expectations.

kessel's contract is very difficult for teams to take on, and it will absolutely have a negative impact on the return the leafs get for him.

nobody denies that he's a great player, but like others said, the leafs aren't dealing from a position of strength here.

- teams know the leafs are in full rebuild and want to move him
- his contract is difficult for teams to take on
- he's struggled this year, both on and off the ice
- going to be 28 when next year starts....not exactly old, but old enough that he likely doesn't fit into the plans of a lot of young "rebuilding teams" like florida.

the return will be good, but you seem to think that the leafs will get as much or more than they gave up for him......and i don't think that's gonna be the case
- sensarmy_11

Leafs can keep him. Whatever center they get will need a winger, and he's signed long term.

So Kessel for Fla 1st in 2015 and 2016.
- Champ

And huberdeau.

Done.

I've already stated my deal, with no negotiation. Huberdeau for Kessel even up. Since we are one of a few that can and would take on fat boys salary. I'd give it a go.
- PanthersGoal

I would rather have Bjugstad

Leafs can keep him. Whatever center they get will need a winger, and he's signed long term.
- Feeling Glucky?

no doubt, and there would be nothing wrong with that.....he's a great player. that being said, if the team is serious about a full rebuild, then kessel is the one piece they have that will help that rebuild the most (assuming guys like JVR, kadri, reilly, etc, aren't going anywhere).....and other teams know that.

my point was that if they do trade him, they aren't dealing from a position of strength. there aren't many teams who can take on that contract......and almost none of them are contenders.......unless the leafs eat salary or take a bad contract back, it's probably not an ideal market to trade a player who's making 8mil until the age of 36

I've already stated my deal, with no negotiation. Huberdeau for Kessel even up. Since we are one of a few that can and would take on fat boys salary. I'd give it a go.
- PanthersGoal

Star players don't get traded straight up for decent, but not spectacular, prospects.

no doubt, and there would be nothing wrong with that.....he's a great player. that being said, if the team is serious about a full rebuild, then kessel is the one piece they have that will help that rebuild the most (assuming guys like JVR, kadri, reilly, etc, aren't going anywhere).....and other teams know that.

my point was that if they do trade him, they aren't dealing from a position of strength. there aren't many teams who can take on that contract......and almost none of them are contenders.......unless the leafs eat salary or take a bad contract back, it's probably not an ideal market to trade a player who's making 8mil until the age of 36
- sensarmy_11

But that's the thing, Leafs have other assets they could move out to help the rebuild along if they don't get something they like for Kessel.

JVR alone could get more than what these guys think Kessel is worth.


There are very few players like Kessel in he league, and even fewer available for trade, locked down long-term. If the Leafs are moving him, it's on their terms, which puts them in a position of strength. Especially if the other team is somewhat desperate to look like a legitimate franchise.

I've already stated my deal, with no negotiation. Huberdeau for Kessel even up. Since we are one of a few that can and would take on fat boys salary. I'd give it a go.
- PanthersGoal

What that deal gets you is the sound of laughter followed by a click, and then calls from the other 28 GMs laughing at you.

Star players don't get traded straight up for decent, but not spectacular, prospects.
- Feeling Glucky?

Ok, you can have Upshall, Bergy, or Flash too.