Here's how you trade Kessel....

[Supernova]

So, Mckenzie reported that Kessel has listed his LNTC teams. Most of those teams can't afford Kessel, or division rivals like Montreal and then theres Minnesota.

Most say that he listed the teams that he did because he is smart and wants to stay in Toronto. He signed an 8 year contract to play here.

So? Most agree that going forward Kessel won't be part of this rebuild. Babcock only mentioned Phaneuf as a player he would like to keep.

So how does Shanny/Hunter move a guy like that for a nice return? Simple, you trade Bozak first. Bozak is Kessel's best friend. (edited inappropriate comment - cw)

Trade his friend to Florida, Columbus, Philly, Carolin and Kessel is sure to follow.

When you want to trade a guy like that, take away his reasons for staying in Toronto.

Who agrees with this strategy.

 

[Tigger]

The point is that the chicken crossed the road. Who cares why? The end of crossing the road justifies whatever motive there was...

 

[Kin]

Leaving aside everything else that doesn't make sense in this suggestion, why would you trade Bozak first? Why wouldn't you just package them?

 

[Average Joes]

Supernova, can I suggest editing your post regarding the special friendship that you clearly made in jest.     

For the topic at hand what team can take on both in terms of cap hit or budget? 

 

[louisstamos]

Yeah, even if a team has tons of cap space, I'm not sure there are a lot of, if any, teams that are willing to trade for both Bozak AND Kessel.

 

[Supernova]

Leaving aside everything else that doesn't make sense in this suggestion, why would you trade Bozak first? Why wouldn't you just package them?

Ummm, yea, sorry about making some of you feel icky.

As for packaging both, just doesn't make sense. Most teams can barely afford Kessel but there are not a lot of other teams on his list.

I commend him for wanting to stay in Toronto, but he is not part of the rebuild.

My point is, in order to expand on his list, he has to be motivated. Players are not robots and are emotional, like the rest of us, in their decision making.

If there is no Bozak, then expanding his list is the only other option (well, other than staying put). As for teams that we would like to see him go like Carolina, Columbus, Philly etc, a package including both Bozak and Kessel, we would need to take back a dump of some sort. (hope I can say "dump") lol.

 

[Can8899]

Regarding the Flyers, can they trade Pronger?  His cap hit is high but salary very low. 

Perhaps that could be helpful to the Flyers and could avoid the Leafs retaining salary. 

To PHI:  Kessel
To Tor:  Couturier, 1st Rounder, Pronger's Cap hit

 

[Highlander]

You can say dump, there is one over on the 4th line.

 

[Supernova]

Regarding the Flyers, can they trade Pronger?  His cap hit is high but salary very low. 

Perhaps that could be helpful to the Flyers and could avoid the Leafs retaining salary. 

To PHI:  Kessel
To Tor:  Couturier, 1st Rounder, Pronger's Cap hit

Probably similar to the Horton deal. I would be happy with your package, but want another piece if we include the Pronger hit. At least another 1st or a second and a fourth. With that Pronger dump, then the Flyers could take Bozak and still be under the cap.

To Flyers:
Kessel
Bozak

To Toronto
Couturier
1st round pick 2015
2nd and fourth 2016 or Anthony Stolarz.
Pronger cap trade

 

[Kin]

As for packaging both, just doesn't make sense. Most teams can barely afford Kessel but there are not a lot of other teams on his list.

I commend him for wanting to stay in Toronto, but he is not part of the rebuild.

My point is, in order to expand on his list, he has to be motivated. Players are not robots and are emotional, like the rest of us, in their decision making.

If there is no Bozak, then expanding his list is the only other option (well, other than staying put). As for teams that we would like to see him go like Carolina, Columbus, Philly etc, a package including both Bozak and Kessel, we would need to take back a dump of some sort. (hope I can say "dump") lol.

Right, well, that's a little clearer as to what you meant.

Anyways, I think there are a couple issues there but I don't fundamentally disagree. The Leafs might be able to leverage Kessel into expanding where he's willing to go by means of dealing away other members of the team and making it clear to him that if he stays, he's going to be in a pretty bad situation. I don't buy that it has a ton to do with Bozak particularly(while emotions do factor into decision making, I think when it comes to the kind of career decision accepting a trade would be for Kessel most people tend to use their head and not their hearts) but it will definitely alter the landscape in Toronto and make Kessel re-evaluate whether he wants to stay if a lot of the guys here get dealt.

That said I think there's a bit of a flawed assumption here regarding Bozak. The Leafs shouldn't be trading Bozak as a means to motivate Kessel, they should be trading Bozak because they don't really need Bozak. I'd really hope that they were looking to move him regardless. The problem is that moving Bozak and his salary is going to be difficult. So I don't know that you can hold off on dealing Kessel until that's done as the best time to deal Bozak might be after free agency starts and some team is looking for center depth.

Ideally you want to trade Kessel pre-draft so I hope they make it clear to him that the Leafs team he would come back to in September will look very different than the one that limped their way out of the season.

 

[Frank E]

I'm pretty sure the vultures are circling around the Leafs right now, and whatever they get for Kessel or Phaneuf, or Bozak, will be the best deal that the Leafs could muster up.

I guess that's a pretty obvious statement, but I'm quite prepared to be underwhelmed by the returns.  It's not like we're dealing with guys that only have a year or 2 to go on their contracts.

I'm more interested in the market value of Kadri or JVR.

 

[herman]

After reading Bob McKenzie's report, I was pleased to see my trade proposal for Kessel (and Polak) to Minnesota (Vanek/Zucker/Niederreiter/1st rounder) had legs. Then the oafs on Leafs Lunch suggested something similar and now I don't know what to feel.

 

[Kin]

After reading Bob McKenzie's report, I was pleased to see my trade proposal for Kessel (and Polak) to Minnesota (Vanek/Zucker/Niederreiter/1st rounder) had legs. Then the oafs on Leafs Lunch suggested something similar and now I don't know what to feel.

That would be an interesting deal because, in a way, you're counting on the Leafs being able to flip Vanek for as much if not more than what they'd be able to flip Polak for at the deadline this year. Despite Vanek's so-so year, I don't think that's a terrible bet.

 

[herman]

After reading Bob McKenzie's report, I was pleased to see my trade proposal for Kessel (and Polak) to Minnesota (Vanek/Zucker/Niederreiter/1st rounder) had legs. Then the oafs on Leafs Lunch suggested something similar and now I don't know what to feel.

That would be an interesting deal because, in a way, you're counting on the Leafs being able to flip Vanek for as much if not more than what they'd be able to flip Polak for at the deadline this year. Despite Vanek's so-so year, I don't think that's a terrible bet.

Absolutely. That's the direction I think the Leafs will be looking when it comes to trades. A high pick, a prospect/project, and whatever evens out the salaries involved. Then the salary dump(s) is rehabbed/spotlighted and moved mid-season for depth picks.

Ideally, the Leafs will nab 2 or more 1st round picks on top of their own and get multiple kicks at the lottery can for Auston Matthews.

 

[Kin]

Absolutely. That's the direction I think the Leafs will be looking when it comes to trades. A high pick, a prospect/project, and whatever evens out the salaries involved. Then the salary dump(s) is rehabbed/spotlighted and moved mid-season for depth picks.

Ideally, the Leafs will nab 2 or more 1st round picks on top of their own and get multiple kicks at the lottery can for Auston Matthews.

Oh. I didn't think you meant having Vanek actually play here. I really don't know how advantageous that would be.

I thought you meant flip Vanek right away.

 

[herman]

Absolutely. That's the direction I think the Leafs will be looking when it comes to trades. A high pick, a prospect/project, and whatever evens out the salaries involved. Then the salary dump(s) is rehabbed/spotlighted and moved mid-season for depth picks.

Ideally, the Leafs will nab 2 or more 1st round picks on top of their own and get multiple kicks at the lottery can for Auston Matthews.

Oh. I didn't think you meant having Vanek actually play here. I really don't know how advantageous that would be.

I thought you meant flip Vanek right away.

Ah. I only thought to keep Vanek around to give our younger players more development time in other leagues. If they do manage to flip players like him right away, I would be pretty okay with that too.

 

[Kin]

Ah. I only thought to keep Vanek around to give our younger players more development time in other leagues. If they do manage to flip players like him right away, I would be pretty okay with that too.

I just think you're playing with fire there. I like the idea of having some placeholder veterans but if the Leafs were to trade for Vanek there's really no debating that after the circumstances of how and why Vanek signed with Minnesota that he'd be pretty bummed to get dealt to a bottom feeder after one year. The idea that he would come in and be super amped to have a big year and increase his value...

The placeholder type guys should probably be the guys who choose to come here on short term deals with an eye towards their next contract. Not mopey guys who want to get the fudge out of Toronto.

 

[herman]

Ah. I only thought to keep Vanek around to give our younger players more development time in other leagues. If they do manage to flip players like him right away, I would be pretty okay with that too.

I just think you're playing with fire there. I like the idea of having some placeholder veterans but if the Leafs were to trade for Vanek there's really no debating that after the circumstances of how and why Vanek signed with Minnesota that he'd be pretty bummed to get dealt to a bottom feeder after one year. The idea that he would come in and be super amped to have a big year and increase his value...

The placeholder type guys should probably be the guys who choose to come here on short term deals with an eye towards their next contract. Not mopey guys who want to get the fudge out of Toronto.

That's a good point that I completely missed. Maybe Buffalo might want Vanek back to shepherd Reinhart/Eichel for a 2nd rd pick and we take Hodgson off their hands.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm pretty sure the vultures are circling around the Leafs right now, and whatever they get for Kessel or Phaneuf, or Bozak, will be the best deal that the Leafs could muster up.

I guess that's a pretty obvious statement, but I'm quite prepared to be underwhelmed by the returns.  It's not like we're dealing with guys that only have a year or 2 to go on their contracts.

I'm more interested in the market value of Kadri or JVR.

That's where I'm at, and it took me awhile to get there. Meaning, I'm now prepared to be underwhelmed by the return but understand that there are limits on the market. I think the return will not be good value, but if it's the best they can get, then they should take it. This team needs to load up on prospects and picks and bottom out in the standings.

 

[herman]

I'm pretty sure the vultures are circling around the Leafs right now, and whatever they get for Kessel or Phaneuf, or Bozak, will be the best deal that the Leafs could muster up.

I guess that's a pretty obvious statement, but I'm quite prepared to be underwhelmed by the returns.  It's not like we're dealing with guys that only have a year or 2 to go on their contracts.

I'm more interested in the market value of Kadri or JVR.

That's where I'm at, and it took me awhile to get there. Meaning, I'm now prepared to be underwhelmed by the return but understand that there are limits on the market. I think the return will not be good value, but if it's the best they can get, then they should take it. This team needs to load up on prospects and picks and bottom out in the standings.

Getting out from under those cap-crippling mega contracts, poor-value contracts, and diminishing-returns contracts is its own reward.