You cant discredit the situation he was in and the clear 180 degree direction change that franchise took mid season. Hell we had ehrhoff do basically the same thing for us, he was bought out then signed in pittsburgh and was playing well and helping that team untill his injury.

He isnt a heart and soul locker room leader, and here he wouldnt need to be. He is a guy who scores alot of goals in the NHL. The sabres need a top line pure goal scorer.

I was in on the nash debate last night, and im all for kessel too. ESPECIALLY if his salary is 6 million.
- ieetbred

No way Toronto moves him in division and eats 2 mil.

Maybe I missed it but I don't see all these blatant issues that make him a cancer. He's a one dimensional player but when that dimension is scoring at a high rate with the linemates he's had, I'd still be cool with it.

Imagine a top 6 of
Kane-Eichel-Kessel
Moulson-O'Reilly-Ennis

And you would still have Reinhart and Girgensons. That's a good looking offense IMO.
- Zschalberg

Locked in salary for way too many years... Even if the Leafs do eat some of it

Not just "one dimensional" but also selfish play IMO

Locker room issues with teammates & coaches

Doesn't work hard, on or off the ice, as far as practice goes & staying/getting in shape

Overall bad attitude, and the way he totally quit on the 2nd half of last season


Dude is super talented, & can certainly score goals...
But the rest of it makes him a no go for me
I will admit though,
ALMOST all of that is fixable, and maybe he just needs a change to help get his head on straight...
But I'm not willing to take that risk

Bylsma talks about building a "winning" culture
And the Kessel has been repeatedly acting doesn't say "winner" to me
Just seems like a bad idea to me

He is quite a sniper though
I admit that

I will say this, however, I think that if Murray does make a trade whether it be for Kessel, a top 6 winger, or a defenseman, it'll be for them plus. It seems like all of Murray's deals have his target guy but he likes to get things on the side as well. Bogo maybe, Legwand, McGinn.

I know each were different situations and maybe Bogo was a target as well and Legwand was a throw in but it just seems like Murray likes the more complex trade
- Zschalberg

Could be
I also think teams are always trying to get a little extra thrown in one way or the other though
Tough to know unless you're in the room though obv

No way Toronto moves him in division and eats 2 mil.
- dadeadhead

I bet they'd take two 1sts from Boston in a heartbeat
That would be pretty funny actually

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 27m27 minutes ago
As far as NHL and LAK concerned, Kings are free of obligation to Richards and he's off LA cap, player eligible to sign anywhere.


Cap hit completely gone suddenly...wow

"Hey look, Mike...we've been trying to get rid of you. How about you find something dumb we can claim breaches your contract, and we'll slide you half of what you're due in cash?"

I bet they'd take two 1sts from Boston in a heartbeat
That would be pretty funny actually
- jdfitz77

I'd bet the cost would be higher for any in divisional trade and no way they eat celery.

http://sabresdigitalpressbox.com/2015/06/29/ryan-oreilly-conference-call-audio/
- Stripes77

Hey I think I've heard of that one guy that asked that question

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 27m27 minutes ago
As far as NHL and LAK concerned, Kings are free of obligation to Richards and he's off LA cap, player eligible to sign anywhere.


Cap hit completely gone suddenly...wow

"Hey look, Mike...we've been trying to get rid of you. How about you find something dumb we can claim breaches your contract, and we'll slide you half of what you're due in cash?"
- stashu

Wow
Wtf did he do that enabled LA to just void the contract

Wow
Wtf did he do that enabled LA to just void the contract
- jdfitz77

They are saying breach of contract.

They are saying breach of contract.
- dadeadhead

Me thinks the Kings caught him doing something he wasn't supposed to do and said either you take this or it comes public knowledge.

If he doesn't fight he you know he screwed up.

Wow
Wtf did he do that enabled LA to just void the contract
- jdfitz77

They made a statement that they won't be mentioning anything further, so who knows. apparently they sweet talked the NHL tho

Locked in salary for way too many years... Even if the Leafs do eat some of it

Not just "one dimensional" but also selfish play IMO

Locker room issues with teammates & coaches

Doesn't work hard, on or off the ice, as far as practice goes & staying/getting in shape

Overall bad attitude, and the way he totally quit on the 2nd half of last season


Dude is super talented, & can certainly score goals...
But the rest of it makes him a no go for me
I will admit though,
ALMOST all of that is fixable, and maybe he just needs a change to help get his head on straight...
But I'm not willing to take that risk

Bylsma talks about building a "winning" culture
And the Kessel has been repeatedly acting doesn't say "winner" to me
Just seems like a bad idea to me

He is quite a sniper though
I admit that
- jdfitz77

A lot of that seems like an outside looking in perception. I don't know enough to dispute what you say but I don't know how much of it is true and how much of it is just fan speculation and he said she said.

I don't know, I just know I'll take anyone that can help this team win. That's why GMTM gets paid the money to decide if he's a guy we want or not

They made a statement that they won't be mentioning anything further, so who knows. apparently they sweet talked the NHL tho
- stashu

Gotta imagine this isn't the last we hear of it. NHL and NHLPA will likely both have something to say about it. High profile player too.

They made a statement that they won't be mentioning anything further, so who knows. apparently they sweet talked the NHL tho
- stashu

I'm guessing there was hush money paid.

TSN radio saying the Leafs and other teams considering picking up Hodgson off waivers

(That's surprising, although if he's scoring 20g then his contract is just fine)


And supposedly StL (who is desperate for scoring), still won't give the Leafs a good return for Kessel, even after the Leafs agreed to keep 2mil of his salary

They now are trying to get Kessel to come work with Gary Roberts in the offseason thinking thy will have to keep him, at least for the time being

I'd have thought a team like Florida would jump at him
Unless all these teams are just lowballing Shanny & he's refusing to accept what he considers Kessel to be worth

I'll say this...
I obviously DO NOT want Kessel
But of the Leafs will sell him off CHEAP, and keep salary...
Hmmmmm
Then I'm listening
But it sounds like they'd rather keep him for now & see what happens then to sell him off cheap

They are saying breach of contract.
- dadeadhead

Right
I'm just wondering what it could be?
Failed drug test?
Weren't there some rumors about that in Philly?

Right
I'm just wondering what it could be?
Failed drug test?
Weren't there some rumors about that in Philly?
- jdfitz77

Failed drug test would be put out by the NHL.

I really think the Kings found something on him and said either take this or we go public

A lot of that seems like an outside looking in perception. I don't know enough to dispute what you say but I don't know how much of it is true and how much of it is just fan speculation and he said she said.

I don't know, I just know I'll take anyone that can help this team win. That's why GMTM gets paid the money to decide if he's a guy we want or not
- Zschalberg

It's all pretty much public knowledge at this point
I'm sure there's been some exaggeration to some of it
But it's just way too much for me to overlook personally

Failed drug test would be put out by the NHL.

I really think the Kings found something on him and said either take this or we go public
- Stripes77

I'm wondering what it coul be that woul allow LA to void the contract though?
Weird situation

I'm wondering what it coul be that woul allow LA to void the contract though?
Weird situation
- jdfitz77

It's some sort of violation of the Standard Player Contract. So, if you can locate one, you can try and figure it out I suppose.

It's definitely an interesting situation though.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA what are the Bruins doing>???

BREAKING: The #Flyers have acquired a 2017 3rd-round draft pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for C Zac Rinaldo→ http://bit.ly/1FL0b3f

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA what are the Bruins doing>???
- Stripes77

What now?!?!
Is Sweeny the new "Milbury?"
Hahaha

No way Toronto moves him in division and eats 2 mil.
- dadeadhead

That i would agree with. Boston wouldnt even let an eastern team sniff hamilton.

I dont think toronto should be in any rush to trade him now that the draft is over, his price isnt going down and they have cap space.

Replacing a goon with another goon..

Frank Seravalli ‏@frank_seravalli 1m1 minute ago
#Flyers have traded Zac Rinaldo to Boston for a 2017 third-round pick.

What now?!?!
Is Sweeny the new "Milbury?"
Hahaha
- jdfitz77

I forgot to paste the tweet...its unreal