News Article: Kessel on his way out of Pittsburgh?

[Notsince67]

the leafs moved kessel because they wanted to continue the rebuild and that meant bug contracts had to be moved. if the leafs weren't rebuilding, no way he gets traded

Reports were that Babcock would only come on the condition that Kessel is moved.

 

[rent free]

Reports were that Babcock would only come on the condition that Kessel is moved.

highly doubt that.

 

[ACC1224]

Reports were that Babcock would only come on the condition that Kessel is moved.

That doesn't sound right.
Where the team was and where the team was headed meant that Kessel and Phaneuf needed to go for two main reasons.
1) Tank
2) Change of culture. In particular, they didn't want Kessel having an impression on the young kids.

 

[Buds17]

Boston moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Toronto moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Pittsburgh might be moving Kessel for a reason. It isn't because his individual numbers are crap.
There is a pattern here. Strong no

It'd be a no for me as well, not enough of a need for what it might take. A trade requires two parties though. Boston was willing to give him up, but Toronto was willing to bring him in. Replace Boston and Toronto with Toronto and Pittsburgh in the previous sentence. One team's question is another's answer if things line up and make sense.

 

[Notsince67]

That doesn't sound right.
Where the team was and where the team was headed meant that Kessel and Phaneuf needed to go for two main reasons.
1) Tank
2) Change of culture. In particular, they didn't want Kessel having an impression on the young kids.

Add 3) if Kessel couldn't play under Babcock, his value across the league would have been destroyed.

 

[ACC1224]

Add 3) if Kessel couldn't play under Babcock, his value across the league would have been destroyed.

He's too good not to have been able to play. His value was already limited, hence the return.

 

[Notsince67]

He's too good not to have been able to play. His value was already limited, hence the return.

There was a story about the leafs talking strategies and plays to move the puck out of the defensive zone ( a real problem at the time) Within the story was Kessel's response: "Nope...not going to do that". That attitude might have worked under Wilson but Babcock would have benched him. This is what I'm talking about.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Boston moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Toronto moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Pittsburgh might be moving Kessel for a reason. It isn't because his individual numbers are crap.
There is a pattern here. Strong no

I'm not jealous. I'm also a Pens fan. Also aware that he couldn't play with Crosby and Malkin didn't want to play with him.
If the pens want to offer up one of those guys, you would be surprised what I would offer.

Yeah imagine if Kessel came here, Matthews didn't want to play with him, Marner didn't want to play with him, Nylander didn't want to play with him, Kadri didn't want to play with him, Kessel played at a Conn Smythe level in the playoffs, we won the Stanldy Cup twice and then we wanted to move him because of "a reason". That would be just terrible.

 

[Notsince67]

Yeah imagine if Kessel came here, Matthews didn't want to play with him, Marner didn't want to play with him, Nylander didn't want to play with him, Kadri didn't want to play with him, Kessel played at a Conn Smythe level in the playoffs, we won the Stanldy Cup twice and then we wanted to move him because of "a reason". That would be just terrible.

Because Kessel will would guarantee a cup for the leafs....oh wait.

 

[rent free]

Because Kessel will would guarantee a cup for the leafs....oh wait.

and matthews marner nylander will?

kessel played with a much inferior supporting cast.

 

[Notsince67]

and matthews marner nylander will?

kessel played with a much inferior supporting cast.

I have no doubt that Matthews and Marner at the least will be way better players than Kessel. No comparison.

 

[rent free]

I have no doubt that Matthews and Marner at the least will be way better players than Kessel. No comparison.

doesn't matter. they are guaranteeing us a cup

 

[ACC1224]

I have no doubt that Matthews and Marner at the least will be way better players than Kessel. No comparison.

That seems like a pretty safe bet.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Because Kessel will would guarantee a cup for the leafs....oh wait.

What language is it you think you're reading?

 

[BayStreetBully]

Wow, Phil the Thrill Kessel! Imagine what it would be like to have him on the Leafs. Only downside is he’s 31. Imagine if the Leafs had him when he was 25. Wonder what life would’ve been like...

 

[Stephen]

Phil’s a lovable goof ball when things are going his way, he’s scoring and the team is winning with someone else doing the heavy lifting. When you need him to conform to a system, the hurricane sulk comes out. He’s a difficult persona to manage. That’s not a surprise to anyone.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Phil’s a lovable goof ball when things are going his way, he’s scoring and the team is winning with someone else doing the heavy lifting. When you need him to conform to a system, the hurricane sulk comes out. He’s a difficult persona to manage. That’s not a surprise to anyone.

I swear I read "lovable golf ball". A freudian slip of sorts I suppose.

 

[LeafFever]

So u posted here 11 years ago and you only made an account only 2 years ago?

Try to follow along...I had another account.

 

[rent free]

Try to follow along...I had another account.

well lets hope you don't get banned this time around

 

[LeafFever]

well lets hope you don't get banned this time around

I was a legend.

 

[rent free]

I was a legend.

keep thinking that. btw what was your old account's name?

 

[The CyNick]

The guy who built the Marlies is running the show. Best young GM candidate around.
But by all means, let's go with the 55 year-old weho's never been offered squat while the 32 year-old has had 2 Gm offers already.

How many players did he acquire on the Marlies? He's proven nothing.

 

[LeafingTheWay]

1. Because we would give up valuable assets
2. He doesn't fit into the team first culture.
3. The minutes not given to JVR would have to come from the other young promising players to justify the cost.
4. His performance WILL decline due to his age and his lack of training predisposition. Older players only stay in the league if they train like workhorses. He eats hotdogs, golfs and fishes during his down time.

1. That's actually a good reason.
2. That's actually a terrible, terrible reason. Chiarelli, is that you?

The old-geezers that traded Tyler Seguin because he didn't fit their 'team culture' is hilarious and the same reasoning you're using. I'm guessing you wouldn't Seguin on our team as well ...
3. The RWs for next year will be Marner, Brown, Kapanen, xxx with Nylander moving to C. If you decide to play 28 point Connor Brown over 92 point Phil Kessel, then that's entirely on you.
Hyman - Matthews - Kessel (17 minutes)
Johnsson - Kadri - Marner ( 16 minutes)
Marleau - Nylander - Kapanen (15 minutes)
Aaltonen - Lindholm - Brown ( 12 minutes)
4. Oh yeah totally. You were probably one of the posters who thought he would've retired by now from obesity even though he's played a gazillion games consecutively at a top-level (outside of the 14/15 Leafs).

Boston moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Toronto moved Kessel for a reason. It wasn't because his individual numbers were crap. Pittsburgh might be moving Kessel for a reason. It isn't because his individual numbers are crap.
There is a pattern here. Strong no

Are you just making random opinions with no context?

Boston moved Kessel because they had NO cap space. They already had stars Savard, Krejci, Lucic, Horton, Chara, AND more locked up and were already at the cap limit when Kessel's contract ended. They had no choice but to either deal him, or one of their already-core players.

Toronto moed Kessel because they had to rebuild. There was absolutely no scenario, NONE, where Toronto rebuilds without moving Kessel. That trade indirectly ended up giving us Matthews (guaranteed last place), Kapanen (in deal) , Andersen (draft pick in the deal traded).

 

[Martin Skoula]

Just for the fun of it I'd want to see what a Marner-Nylander-Kessel line would look like. I'm pretty sure it'd give Babcock a heart attack.

 

[Dionlooksgoodrn]

Just for the fun of it I'd want to see what a Marner-Nylander-Kessel line would look like. I'm pretty sure it'd give Babcock a heart attack.

I think too many people on HF underestimate Bab’s faith in Marner’s defensive play. If our other top forwards with the exception of Kadri had the drive Mitch has backchecking not even the worst Leaf fans on here could chirp. I do understand what you’re trying to say though. That line combo offensively is an absolute nightmare.