There is absolutely no way the Leafs move Kessel for that type of return. They dealt two #1 picks to bring in Kessel who was by far their best player last season (and put up impressive numbers on an inept team).
I imagine they'll lock up Kessel and build the team around him and Phaneuf. Those two are their building blocks, and they're both entering their prime. Kessel is 25 and locked up for another two years. I'm sure they will work on a max length extension at the end of this season.
If the Leafs were to consider moving Kessel, they're going to ask for Dustin Brown or Mike Richards as a starting point. The Kings aren't going to do that.
By two years you mean this 48 game season and next season.
You may be right but I don't see it as being so much of a definite thing as you do. The Leafs want need JB and have little depth up the middle along with other issues. Nonis is the polar opposite of Burke and is looking to rebuild the Leafs based around developing the talented kids that they have and adding to them to build the core that it will take to become a legitimate contender again.
Kessel will be 27 at the end of his contract and the Leafs will still be rebuilding, do you think he will want to stay in TO hoping that the rebuild will get him a shot at the cup?
Maybe I guess but I can't see Kessel being willing to lock up long term for a rebuild that will take him past his prime contract year (typically at or around 28yo).
I see him wanting to at the very least test free agency. I don't see the Leafs wanting to get back another player who will be likely to want to leave during their rebuild but I guess that depends on how much of a rebuild they do. Of course then they also risk losing PK for nothing and that would be a true disaster.
I believe that Nonis is going to take the young talent that the Leafs currently possess and spend the next two seasons (or more) developing a core to build a team around. The Leafs do have a few talented kids (very few) that should be the start of a rebuild but they haven't anyone in their system who is a legitimate #1 center (highest draft pick they can get this year will solve that problem, several great kids in the top ten) but it will take time for him to develop. They don't have a legitimate #1 starting goaltending candidate in their system either and they lack depth on D and in the rest of the prospect pool.
They need allot and getting a return of talented young players is what I believe they will be looking to do though, as I have said they will have plenty to chose from if/when they put PK on offer.
I just don't see them trying to build around PK when their needs are so many. Moving him to address their needs with high end young talented players/picks will get them to the promised land much faster then continuing to do the sort of half tailed semi rebuilds that they have been for the past 10 plus years.
I mean we watched our Kings do exactly what the Leafs have been doing with the exact same results until we decided to quit messing around and actually build a contender. Nonis is a smart guy and a good GM and I think he will do the same thing.
We may not be the perfect fit but I don't see them keeping Kessel nor do I see them wanting another 28+ year old player to be used as the core of their team (basing that on it taking at least 2 to 3yrs for the Leafs to become competitive if not longer).
I see them rebuilding around what they already have and then adding the best young talent and high end prospect that they can get which imo should take them about 3/4 more seasons to accomplish. Kessel will be lost to free agency by then imo.
I think they will deal him soon enough to get back more pieces that will grow with their core to build a legit contender. Lupul is a UFA after this season as is MacA and both of them will be 30ish and looking for big ups (with Lupul likely to get it). That is the Leafs top 2 leaving Kessel alone (unless Bozak and Kulemin are to be considered legitimate top line talent).
Time will tell I guess.
Thanks for the laugh.
