No names in those trades are as high as Galchenyuk's ceilling on Talent, age and potential. In my opinion, the nearest player was Voracek but no one thought that he would dev as the player he is today.
- koarik91

Whoa whoa whoa.... so you're saying Gally is better than Carter and Richards (in his prime years?). Wow...just wow......

Whoa whoa whoa.... so you're saying Gally is better than Carter and Richards (in his prime years?). Wow...just wow......
- PhilMcCracken

No, he's comparing him to the 8th overall pick, Simmonds, Vorachek(who was highly viewed at the time), and Brayden Schenn.

No, he's comparing him to the 8th overall pick, Simmonds, Vorachek(who was highly viewed at the time), and Brayden Schenn.
- Schenn-Sational!

I was comparing Galchenuyk to each of the main pieces in return of the 3 players you said earlier

You had it right

Montreal is possible

Bigger, responsible 2 way forward with good offensive skills. Not a future #1 Center in my opinion but a good #2 if not excellent #3. Plays like Jordan Staal but lite in my opinion as for potential.

Potential for top 9 power forward
- koarik91

You must be kidding! The last big center we drafted, McCarron was drafted as a winger, is i dunno, no one! The last big center we had on the top 2 lines was Bobby Smith! If mtl trade Sherback or McCarron, the leafs will have to eat alot of Kessels salary. That won't happen.

I would think Kessel would cost 1 of Galchenyak/Gallagher - I don't think they trade Kessel without a sure bet coming back...especially to the (frank)ing stinking Hab
- Garnie

I think Kessel shouldn't cost that much! It's a salary dump so no grade A prospects! Habs will need cheap players to fill rest of roster. What we do have are defensemen. And again, don't look at cheap talented prospects, look at players who like Kessel have bad contracts. Emilin and Markov have LNTC btw.

Please no Scott Gomez type trade!

You must be kidding! The last big center we drafted, McCarron was drafted as a winger, is i dunno, no one! The last big center we had on the top 2 lines was Bobby Smith! If mtl trade Sherback or McCarron, the leafs will have to eat alot of Kessels salary. That won't happen.
- andrest

It's already said that TOR would need to retain salary. Kessel might be hated around in the league but the guy is a regular 35-40 goal scorer.

I would be ready to give at least McCarron for him

It's already said that TOR would need to retain salary. Kessel might be hated around in the league but the guy is a regular 35-40 goal scorer.

I would be ready to give at least McCarron for him
- koarik91

If Toronto wanted to retain salary he wouldn't be there. They can't retain salary until 2021. I want him too but taking away the cap hit is enough.

I think Kessel shouldn't cost that much! It's a salary dump so no grade A prospects! Habs will need cheap players to fill rest of roster. What we do have are defensemen. And again, don't look at cheap talented prospects, look at players who like Kessel have bad contracts. Emilin and Markov have LNTC btw.

Please no Scott Gomez type trade!
- andrest

Kessel is not a salary dump don't be ridiculous. The guy is an elite talent.

Kessel is not a salary dump don't be ridiculous. The guy is an elite talent.
- RogerRoeper

So was Joe Thornton. It hard to accept that although he's an elite talent he as a bad contract. I'd take his contract on but a bad contract has to go the other way. The Habs aren't stupid enough to ship a promising prospect for a one dimensional goal scorer. At least I hope not!

So was Joe Thornton. It hard to accept that although he's an elite talent he as a bad contract. I'd take his contract on but a bad contract has to go the other way. The Habs aren't stupid enough to ship a promising prospect for a one dimensional goal scorer. At least I hope not!
- andrest

Phil Kessel is worth 8 million. It's not a bad contract at all.' Do you think a guy who puts up his stats should make 5 million?

Thornton wasn't a salary dump. It's was a bad move Boston made.

Kessel is not a salary dump don't be ridiculous. The guy is an elite talent.
- RogerRoeper

Why do the Leafs want to trade him then? Because he's an elite talent? Cause they need to manage their cap! It's a salary dump and it's ok. That's what they have to do.

Why do the Leafs want to trade him then? Because he's an elite talent? Cause they need to manage their cap! It's a salary dump and it's ok. That's what they have to do.
- andrest

That's not why at all. They're blowing up the team to rebuild. Are you not aware of this?

Phil Kessel is not being traded because of his contract.

That's not why at all. They're blowing up the team to rebuild. Are you not aware of this?

Phil Kessel is not being traded because of his contract.
- RogerRoeper

Look at last years top 40 goal scorers. BTW, Kessel was not in the top 40! Out of the 40, how many do you think make over 8M a year? 10 maybee and most of them are franchise players. Then add that his attitude and general physical condition are questionable. That for a guy that you pay 8m a year until the 2022-23 season who scored 25 goals last year! If they could buy him out and not have the hit on their cap they would have done so. My Toronto friends, it's a salary dump. The leafs need a clean slate to rebuild properly.

Phil Kessel is worth 8 million. It's not a bad contract at all.' Do you think a guy who puts up his stats should make 5 million?

Thornton wasn't a salary dump. It's was a bad move Boston made.
- RogerRoeper

Boston had the money to sign Chara and they won the cup!

Kessel has never scored 40 goals in a year! For that kind of money, you could have Benn and Pacioretty as Leafs! Not 25 goals but over 80!

Kessel is not a salary dump don't be ridiculous. The guy is an elite talent.
- RogerRoeper

Elite scorer with no other talent.

Still think he will be going to Montreal. Goaltending and defense is set up nicely for a long time. Now it's time to work on the offense.

What better way to boost the offense then to add on of the nhls most offensive players in the past 5 years?
- QuickSCF

He certainly can put up the points.
Agree the rest of his game is offensive.
If the NHL invented a new trophy for best floater/scorer i cannot see anyone wrestling it away from Kessel. He's got it locked til he retires.
Best fit if doable is the Penguins or Nashville.

Kessel would not fit in well in the Kings system. The Kings require gritty forwards that play a possession game and aren't afraid to play in the corners and on the boards, as well as come back and help out on defense. Kessel would be a 40-point player on the Kings. No thanks.

Look at last years top 40 goal scorers. BTW, Kessel was not in the top 40! Out of the 40, how many do you think make over 8M a year? 10 maybee and most of them are franchise players. Then add that his attitude and general physical condition are questionable. That for a guy that you pay 8m a year until the 2022-23 season who scored 25 goals last year! If they could buy him out and not have the hit on their cap they would have done so. My Toronto friends, it's a salary dump. The leafs need a clean slate to rebuild properly.
- andrest

Everything is not about last year. He just spent 3 and a half years as a PPG player with Tyler Bozak as his centre. He's top 10 in overall points in the entire NHl the last 5 years.

Kessel would not fit in well in the Kings system. The Kings require gritty forwards that play a possession game and aren't afraid to play in the corners and on the boards, as well as come back and help out on defense. Kessel would be a 40-point player on the Kings. No thanks.
- tkecanuck341

Yet Gaborik looked ok.

Kessel is too talented to turn into a 40 point player.

Boston had the money to sign Chara and they won the cup!

Kessel has never scored 40 goals in a year! For that kind of money, you could have Benn and Pacioretty as Leafs! Not 25 goals but over 80!
- andrest

Chara signed his deal long before Kessel was traded. You're facts are way off.

It isn't only about goal scoring. Kessel gets a lot of assists.

Yet Gaborik looked ok.

Kessel is too talented to turn into a 40 point player.
- RogerRoeper

Gaborik is not the same type of player as Kessel. Gaborik is exceptional at carrying the puck and creating opportunities, and as he has shown over the past season and a half, is willing to do the dirty work in the corners and along the boards. A lot of the points he gets are a result of that.

As many others have mentioned, Kessel is a roamer/floater type player. Those types of players do not do well in the Kings system. I'm not arguing that he is not a good player. He is. He is exceptional at getting open in high-percentage areas and putting the puck in the net. He's not so good at creating scoring chances from nothing. Unless he drastically changes his game, he won't succeed in Darryl Sutter's system.

If someone offers Toronto a 12 inch Meatball Sub for Kessel they should take it. They would have to eat about 2 mil of salary as well. Done and Done!!