46 replies to this topic

[damned]

Heavy winds and sleet blew in off the lake as the Toronto Maple Leafs arrived for practice on an especially grey Monday morning.

Toque pulled down to his brow in typical fashion, Phil Kessel bowed his head and forged on.

The messy weather seemed fitting with the Leafs coming off what coach Randy Carlyle labeled their worst two games of the season. Losses to the Islanders and Rangers seemed to whip up a storm of sorts around the team and Kessel, as usual, found himself smack dab in the middle of it.

http://www.sportsnet...ssel_conundrum/

[damned]

Is the time right? Is the time ever right to trade a player like that?

[DRodger91]

You can't trade him. Not the player he is, but the price you paid for! But then again it's the new Nonis era, so maybe a huge mix up could be nice.

[**LS**]

Sure. Who needs a guaranteed 30 goal scorer? Pfft. Not us.

[Eastcoastcane]

Sure. Who needs a guaranteed 30 goal scorer? Pfft. Not us.

[Potvin29]

With Perry and Getzlaf up in the air I wouldn't mind. For anything less I would wind considerably.

[**LS**]

Can't trade your top offensive player on a hope that you might be able to acquire a high profile free agent. Especially, if you happen to be the Toronto Maple Leafs, given their track record at attracting star power.

[damned]

Your first post sums it up.

I don't know how you trade a 30 goal player and think you are doing your team a favor.

[chicken wing]

Trade him for Bobby Ryan.

Let Bobby and Carlyle reunite!

[**LS**]

Kinda like how Lupul and Carlyle reunited?

[chicken wing]

Yeah, Bobbys gotten even softer since Carlyle left. I think he needs Carlyles motivation.

[PhilTheThrill81]

Not the right time imo. Wait the season out, see who the Leafs draft (hopefully a centre). We are looking at potentially the strongest draft since 2003. People seem to think Kessel is thirty or something. He is just entering his prime and has four 30 goal seasons under his belt. Give him a number one centre and see what he does.

Also completely against trading him in hopes to sign Perry or Getzlaf. This is too big of a risk and building through free agency has not exactly worked for the Leafs.

This point has been edited by PhilTheThrill81: 30 January 2013 - 07:25 PM

[Potvin29]

Can't trade your top offensive player on a hope that you might be able to acquire a high profile free agent. Especially, if you happen to be the Toronto Maple Leafs-tickets/?publisherid=51113]Leafs[/url], given their track record at attracting star power.

Who said anything about signing? I meant if they traded him for one of them and then signed them. I'm not saying dump kessel and then sign one of them.

Plus I don't really think Kessel is all that thrilled at staying in Toronto himself seeing as how things have gone so it may end up being a necessity. I cannot believe this guy enjoys playing for Carlyle and having next to no support.

This point has been edited by Potvin29: 31 January 2013 - 01:55 AM

[DRodger91]

Kinda like how Lupul and Carlyle reunited?

Lupul got first line minutes in Toronto, that's the difference, not the re-uniting.

[gcc]

Sure. Who needs a guaranteed 30 goal scorer? Pfft. Not us.

Did you say "guaranteed", hmmm. 30 would be nice, real nice. What a 30 goal scorer will come with is a balanced approach to his game like lot's of assists , at least LEAST 30 , 1st line min,s. A good player when it comes to his checking game . Not stupid. 60-70 point guy's can be real valuable . Team leaders even when there is more than one doing the same. Good teams usually have a couple of guys they can call on for a point. They are called " franchise what ever" . Kessel? Deal him while you can !! If you can.

This point has been edited by gcc: 31 January 2013 - 03:47 PM

[Potvin29]

I'm telling you, the Leafs will have maybe one more season of Kessel regardless. I don't believe for a second this guy wants to re-sign here.

[**LS**]

I'm telling you, the Leafs will have maybe one more season of Kessel regardless. I don't believe for a second this guy wants to re-sign here.

I would have given a Kessel resigning much better odds than a Lupul resigning.... so who knows?

[Potvin29]

I would have given a Kessel resigning much better odds than a Lupul resigning.... so who knows?

A little over a season ago Lupul was a salary dump that cost his club himself, a first rd blue chip prospect in Gardiner and a 4th rd pick. Now he is being offered a multi-year deal worth 5+ mil per year. I don't think he disliked Carlyle enough for that. Kessel on the other hand can get paid wherever he goes. With no primary star here Kessel is exposed. If he goes to a more talent laden team he could get paid a boatload and excel. Until then I am fearful that Carlyle's style will continue to stifle him and he will just want out of here as the losses rack up.

[DRodger91]

A little over a season ago Lupul was a salary dump that cost his club himself, a first rd blue chip prospect in Gardiner and a 4th rd pick. Now he is being offered a multi-year deal worth 5+ mil per year. I don't think he disliked Carlyle enough for that. Kessel on the other hand can get paid wherever he goes. With no primary star here Kessel is exposed. If he goes to a more talent laden team he could get paid a boatload and excel. Until then I am fearful that Carlyle's style will continue to stifle him and he will just want out of here as the losses rack up.

I agree here, Kessel has a lot more value to other teams that Lupul does. Like I've said, the only reason why Lupul was good in Toronto is because he got top line minutes. You give him what he should be on other teams, nobody will even remember him. Kessel has a record that he can score by himself, but put a great passer with him, and it will be better.

[**LS**]

A little over a season ago Lupul was a salary dump that cost his club himself, a first rd blue chip prospect in Gardiner and a 4th rd pick. Now he is being offered a multi-year deal worth 5+ mil per year. I don't think he disliked Carlyle enough for that. Kessel on the other hand can get paid wherever he goes. With no primary star here Kessel is exposed. If he goes to a more talent laden team he could get paid a boatload and excel. Until then I am fearful that Carlyle's style will continue to stifle him and he will just want out of here as the losses rack up.

Having watched Kessel play early into the season, I don't get the impression that he is being stifled whatsoever. He has plenty of ice time and the same golden opportunities we have grown to expect with him. He has still only been a goal post and a magnificent save away from breaking the goose egg.

Kessel is not unaccustomed from being snake bitten in the past. He once went 14 games without a goal under Ron Wilson.

I have no worries about Phil at this time. And as long as the team is winning more often than not during this time, only spells good things for our future.