WatchfulElm
Former "Domi a favor"
Let's try a mathematical way to evaluate that. I'll give a grade (out of 10) to each player, according to their contribution in the NHL since the trade and their projected future contribution :
Scott Gomez 3 (he was a key player for 1 year only)
Tom Pyatt 5 (good 3rd line player)
Michael Busto : 0
Habs total : 8 points
Ryan McDonagh : 9 (top pairing D for many years to come)
Chris Higgins : 6 (excellent 3rd line or average 2nd line player)
Doug Janik : 0,5 (AHL player mostly)
Pavel Valentenko : 0 (never made it to the NHL)
Rangers total : 15,5 points
15,5 - 8 = 7,5 points of difference in value
Tyler Seguin 10 (all star player for many years to come)
Dougie Hamilton 8 (potential top pairing D for many years to come)
Jared Knight : 2.5 (potential 2nd or 3rd line player but still far away from there)
Bruins total : 20.5
Phil Kessel 9 (pure goal scorer and 1st line player for many years to come)
Leafs total : 9
20,5 - 9 = 11,5 points of difference in value
So I'd argue that the Kessel trade is worse, but not by a lot. The difference maker might be Tom Pyatt, who's now a good player in the NHL. Sadly not for the Habs, which probably makes this trade looks worse from the Montreal POV.
Scott Gomez 3 (he was a key player for 1 year only)
Tom Pyatt 5 (good 3rd line player)
Michael Busto : 0
Habs total : 8 points
Ryan McDonagh : 9 (top pairing D for many years to come)
Chris Higgins : 6 (excellent 3rd line or average 2nd line player)
Doug Janik : 0,5 (AHL player mostly)
Pavel Valentenko : 0 (never made it to the NHL)
Rangers total : 15,5 points
15,5 - 8 = 7,5 points of difference in value
Tyler Seguin 10 (all star player for many years to come)
Dougie Hamilton 8 (potential top pairing D for many years to come)
Jared Knight : 2.5 (potential 2nd or 3rd line player but still far away from there)
Bruins total : 20.5
Phil Kessel 9 (pure goal scorer and 1st line player for many years to come)
Leafs total : 9
20,5 - 9 = 11,5 points of difference in value
So I'd argue that the Kessel trade is worse, but not by a lot. The difference maker might be Tom Pyatt, who's now a good player in the NHL. Sadly not for the Habs, which probably makes this trade looks worse from the Montreal POV.