This happens all the time, every off season.
They sign them almost a year in advance "every time"??
News to me.
What I'm trying to say is not everyone makes decisions in advance like that and Kessel may be one.
RFA contract
8.5 average over the next 2 years and 5.5 when he is 38 years old.
I get the feeling that these are things you know but are being intentionally obtuse.[/QUOTE]
You are absolutely correct, and you have been sucked in. Some people feel an obligation to initiate a debate regardless of how incoherent or anything lacking of facts or even common sense is brought forth.
Kessel is making this too nervous for comfort!
The same way that Anaheim didn't mess around with Getzlaf and Perry. They locked them both up during the season. If those guys made it to UFA they were GONE! No questions asked.
IF in fact Kessel refuses to negotiate and sign a deal during the season he is as good as gone! 100%. If that is the case then Nonis needs to trade him at the deadline. You can not simply let him walk on July 1st, not an option.
Nonis just needs to give him what he wants and lock him up. Don't play around.
I can totally see Kessel leaving the Leafs, but back to Boston? It didn't end well with him and the Bruins so I couldn't see their GM wanting to take him back. BUT, crazier things have happened so I guess never say never.
What a punch in the face to the Leafs that would be, lol.
Yea I figured it was all in jest, hence the lol at the end. Ha.
Ever since Curtis Joseph joined the Red Wings in 2002, and later Sundin to the Canucks, it has been clear to me that since the beginning, "loyalty" in professional sports, particularly the NHL is a myth. And I mean this in referring to all sides: Owners, GM's and players. Great players get traded, great players walk away from teams to join other teams. I'm no expert on this, but it's pretty obvious to me that owners think about money and market value first as do GM's. So it's only logical that players make the most of their market value when they can, as it's not everyday they are UFA's
Of course Kessel likes Toronto. He's a young, rich hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs that gets VIP treatment wherever he goes from whoever he meets. I'm sure the perks of his position are many. But again, as a young hockey player approaching UFA status, that feeling of actually getting to choose where you go must be huge as it doesn't come everyday. A lot can happen in a year and judging from Kessel's past decisions with other teams from the beginning, I can see him leaving this decision to the very end to sign with another team. Could be Minnesota or another team with a sizeable hockey market. But in the end, it will be what Kessel himself thinks is good for his market value on a business standpoint. I can see this turning out like Curtis Joseph's departure. Although Joseph allegedly later regretted the move, anyone in his position would have done the same and I don't think he would change anything. In a way, I almost hope that Kessel does move on so it would force the Leafs to really build a team without depending on one guy so much.
OT but I really hope that Kessel's sister Amanda upstages him in the Olympics too. Girl's got no NHL to go back to just College Hockey. Eh, Hackey
They sign them almost a year in advance "every time"??
News to me.
What I'm trying to say is not everyone makes decisions in advance like that and Kessel may be one.
Are you joking? Sundin wasn't signed by the Leafs which is why he signed with another team.
They were signed during the season. This season hasnt even started yet..
He said that he would not talk about a deal during the season......why is that so hard for people to understand?
He said that he would not talk about a deal during the season......why is that so hard for people to understand?
And if he gives his agent a set of demands, why would he need to?
Kessel said that HE would not negotiate during the season. He said nothing about his agent.
Wow....so does he work for his agent, or does his agent work for him? If he states that he will not negotiate during the season....then I take him at face value....and not some word twisting views of what he means. He was very Clear when he told Boston that he wants out.
We give him what he wants now, or we shop him before the trade deadline....risking him walking for nothing is really not an option.
Why would Kessel need to talk about the contract save for the end when he says "pass me a pen"? Seriously, that's what the agent gets paid big bucks for.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...all this hand-wringing in the off season is ridiculous and quite frankly, annoying for me to have to read.
I have good news for you... You don't "have to read" anything you don't want to.
I have good news for you... You don't "have to read" anything you don't want to.