Speculation: Kessel's Future?

[ForSpareParts*]

Now that Burke is gone, the team doesn't exactly owe anything to Kessel. It's evident that you cannot build a team around him. Yes he is a good player, but like anyone he can be moved.

What do you think will happen? Can you see the Leafs moving him before the trade deadline (2014).

Click to read more...

 

[DD03]

Kessel is staying.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

No. Don't want him going anywhere.

 

[The CyNick]

Anything is possible

 

[contour]

Fire Kessel

 

[janesy12]

Kessel is going nowhere.
You don't trade a PPG player and one of the best pure snipers in the league because the GM who traded for him is now fired.

 

[Darch]

Kessel is staying.

Kessel SHOULD stay is more accurate. What happens...well...who knows?

 

[JMcLeaf]

Kessel is staying.

I thought Burke was too

but yeah I think Kessel is safe for now

 

[ForSpareParts*]

Kessel is staying.

People used to say that "Burke is staying".

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Hopefully we can trade him for something you can actually build a team around.

 

[stakesishigh]

If we don't keep Kessel, we're so unbelievably screwed.

 

[DD03]

Kessel is staying because you won't get enough for him in terms of value to this franchise. It's not like we are going to get another player that we can build around.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

For the time being, he'll be staying in Toronto.

I think there is a much greater chance however that he won't be a Leaf beyond his current contract though.

 

[indigobuffalo]

Kessel is an integral part of a successful team. Trading him for 1C is a lateral move. Means we'd ha e a star C with no pass options. Look at Sundin era. If you think finding/drafting an elite sniper like Kessel is any easier than a 1C then history would like to punch you in the face, am "imma let him".

 

[ForSpareParts*]

Kessel is an integral part of a successful team. Trading him for 1C is a lateral move. Means we'd ha e a star C with no pass options. Look at Sundin era. If you think finding/drafting an elite sniper like Kessel is any easier than a 1C then history would like to punch you in the face, am "imma let him".

Kessel is a great player, but why isn't he the face of our franchise. He doesn't do enough to be an elite NHLer. He's a good sniper, but he just doesn't bring it all.

 

[DaveT83*]

He's gone. 100% gone.

Never fit in - never will.

 

[JEI]

Nonis has a huge part in Phaneuf's deal, not sure about Kessel..

Whether or not that plays a factor I'm not sure. But both are UFA's after next season. Maybe Nonis tries to flip Kessel for a #1 center while Kessel has term? Hoping JVR and Kulemin bounce back? We have more winger depth than center depth...

 

[Canadian Game]

After watching Sportsnet at noon it, it got me wondering more about Phaneuf rather than Kessel. Burke tried to make both f them public figures and faces of the team. But Phaneuf was the main guy that he tried groming for the media and then really threw him to the fish once he made Phaneuf captain. In reality, Kessel and Phaneuf are not those kinds of people. They are a little more reserved and humble and you can see soe of the awkwardness in them when they are being interviewed. With Phaneuf's big contract and the stockpile of dmen, I have to wonder what his future holds when we have a glaring need for a top centre and startin goalie.

 

[I Believe]

He was brought in to be a sniper, and he's going to be let go because he's a sniper?
He's done exactly what he was advertised to do, certainly hope we keep him.

 

[achtungbaby]

Kessel is staying.

According to you, Burke wasn't going anywhere as well. I think I'll wait and see what happens.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

He's gone. 100% gone.

Never fit in - never will.

Seriously? Our top scorer/point getter never fit in ?

U can't be serious

 

[TootooTrain]

He's gone. 100% gone.

Never fit in - never will.

The only reason he didn't "fit in" was because of Burke's persona of having rough and tough team models. Now that Nonis is in control, he might have a slightly different philsophy.

Don't be crazy. ANY team would want a 25 year old consecutive 30 goal scorer.

 

[achtungbaby]

Kessel is staying because you won't get enough for him in terms of value to this franchise. It's not like we are going to get another player that we can build around.

We couldn't build around Kessel, what do mean 'get another player to build around'?

 

[JSBach]

How are we going to get a player that we can build around for a player that we "can't" without giving up too much?

 

[Mess]

Now that Burke is gone, the team doesn't exactly owe anything to Kessel. It's evident that you cannot build a team around him. Yes he is a good player, but like anyone he can be moved.

What do you think will happen? Can you see the Leafs moving him before the trade deadline (2014).

The best thing that can come out as the fallout from the Burke firing is that now ties to Kessel are severed as well in the process of loyalty and admission of a huge mistake made at an extremely high cost .

Nonis hopefully : can turn a negative trade into a positive by using Kessel (with all his limitations and flaws) into solid better future building blocks and addressing team needs and desires for success.