Phil Kessel

[ZBBM]

I don't know how a guy who has finished inside the top 8 in league scoring in back to back seasons wouldn't be considered to be one of the top 20 players in the league.

THN had him 45th or something.  FWIW, which may not be much I realize.  But I don't think he's top 20.

This player poll conducted by the hockey news has him voted 16th by his peers

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/45156-THNs-Top-50-NHLers-as-voted-by-the-players-3531.html

Are you saying they know more than I do?  That their opinion is worth more than mine??

Yes, the results of a poll of 5 players on each NHL team, players who play against him, is worth more than the opinion of one hockey fan, IMO of course.

Sadness.  Sadness and a sense of abandonment are what I feel now.

 

[Leafaholic99]

When does Kessel's limited trade clause kick in? Did it when free agency opens up? Not that I am suggesting we trade him, I want him re-signed for 8 years, we need him here to be apart of a cup run.

But if half way through the season, negotiations aren't going good, or there is a sign he doesn't want to re-sign here, Nonis has to entertain offers for him and his limited NTC may become an important part of a potential trade.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

When does Kessel's limited trade clause kick in? Did it when free agency opens up? Not that I am suggesting we trade him, I want him re-signed for 8 years, we need him here to be apart of a cup run.

But if half way through the season, negotiations aren't going good, or there is a sign he doesn't want to re-sign here, Nonis has to entertain offers for him and his limited NTC may become an important part of a potential trade.

According to Capgeek, it kicked in this season. Likely on July 1st/5th.

 

[Frank E]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Sportsnet just reported that Kessel hasn't talked contract with the Leafs, and has no intention of negotiating during the regular season.

Now I'm no alarmist, and I certainly wouldn't put a ton of faith in discerning what the situation is based on one tiny media report like this...but this doesn't look too good right now.

Aren't most $8 million dollar guys already re-signed to big deals by the time their window opens if they were wanting to stay?

 

[Bill_Berg]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Sportsnet just reported that Kessel hasn't talked contract with the Leafs, and has no intention of negotiating during the regular season.

Now I'm no alarmist, and I certainly wouldn't put a ton of faith in discerning what the situation is based on one tiny media report like this...but this doesn't look too good right now.

Aren't most $8 million dollar guys already re-signed to big deals by the time their window opens if they were wanting to stay?

And now we see the real reason Bozak was picked over Grabo. Maybe, but it does seem to fit.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Sportsnet just reported that Kessel hasn't talked contract with the Leafs, and has no intention of negotiating during the regular season.

Now I'm no alarmist, and I certainly wouldn't put a ton of faith in discerning what the situation is based on one tiny media report like this...but this doesn't look too good right now.

Aren't most $8 million dollar guys already re-signed to big deals by the time their window opens if they were wanting to stay?

Honestly, I wouldn't read too much into it. A lot of players say they won't negotiate extensions during the season, and, inevitably, a number of them do. If Kessel wants to stay in Toronto, and most indications seem to point towards that being the case, they'll get something done between now and July 1st, 2014. All it really means is that nothing is imminent on that front. I'm sure, despite Kessel's remarks, the Leafs have at least touched base with his agent in terms of negotiating an extension. Things just clearly haven't gone far down that road yet, and this might just be Kessel's way of trying to jumpstart things.

 

[Jalili]

It makes sense for Kessel to wait.

He'll want to know a few things before he signs an extension, like whether the Leafs are really a playoff-caliber team, whether the salary cap actually goes up as much as predicted, and so on.

 

[Kin]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Sportsnet just reported that Kessel hasn't talked contract with the Leafs, and has no intention of negotiating during the regular season.

Now I'm no alarmist, and I certainly wouldn't put a ton of faith in discerning what the situation is based on one tiny media report like this...but this doesn't look too good right now.

Aren't most $8 million dollar guys already re-signed to big deals by the time their window opens if they were wanting to stay?

I think this is a fairly unique case, though, in that what happens to the cap is so up in the air that if Kessel is looking to negotiate his "worth" as being a percentage of the cap then he's got reason to wait, as do the Leafs. If I'm the Leafs and I know that the cap is hitting 73 million or 75 million I'm not quite as worried about giving Kessel that extra 500k.

 

[princedpw]

It makes sense for Kessel to wait.

He'll want to know a few things before he signs an extension, like whether the Leafs are really a playoff-caliber team, whether the salary cap actually goes up as much as predicted, and so on.

I would definitely sign now if I were Kessel.  Any player can suffer a devastating injury.  Why risk $60+ million over some minor variation in the final number depending or where the cap goes or how you play?

 

[princedpw]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Sportsnet just reported that Kessel hasn't talked contract with the Leafs, and has no intention of negotiating during the regular season.

Now I'm no alarmist, and I certainly wouldn't put a ton of faith in discerning what the situation is based on one tiny media report like this...but this doesn't look too good right now.

Aren't most $8 million dollar guys already re-signed to big deals by the time their window opens if they were wanting to stay?

I think this is a fairly unique case, though, in that what happens to the cap is so up in the air that if Kessel is looking to negotiate his "worth" as being a percentage of the cap then he's got reason to wait, as do the Leafs. If I'm the Leafs and I know that the cap is hitting 73 million or 75 million I'm not quite as worried about giving Kessel that extra 500k.

I'm fine with players negotiating the limit of what they can get when they negotiate, but it doesn't seem like a smart decision to take any risk with the bulk of the money while waiting.  But of course that's just my personality type.

 

[jdh1]

It makes sense for Kessel to wait.

He'll want to know a few things before he signs an extension, like whether the Leafs are really a playoff-caliber team, whether the salary cap actually goes up as much as predicted, and so on.

I would definitely sign now if I were Kessel.  Any player can suffer a devastating injury.  Why risk $60+ million over some minor variation in the final number depending or where the cap goes or how you play?

They should negotiate now,and make a deal before the season starts.If the cap is 65mil,there's one price,if the cap is 70mil that's another price,if it's 75 mil it's another or any thing in between.The Leafs have to have a deal by the trade deadline in Feb.or risk losing him.If he doesn't sign ,they got to trade him...at least that's the way I see it.

 

[Kin]

I'm fine with players negotiating the limit of what they can get when they negotiate, but it doesn't seem like a smart decision to take any risk with the bulk of the money while waiting.  But of course that's just my personality type.

I probably wouldn't either but I imagine that sort of thought process gets muted somewhat when it's your second big contract as opposed to your first. When you've made 25 million over the last five years like Kessel I don't know if you're going to be as motivated by a fear of a worst case scenario as you might otherwise be.

 

[Frank E]

I'm fine with players negotiating the limit of what they can get when they negotiate, but it doesn't seem like a smart decision to take any risk with the bulk of the money while waiting.  But of course that's just my personality type.

I probably wouldn't either but I imagine that sort of thought process gets muted somewhat when it's your second big contract as opposed to your first. When you've made 25 million over the last five years like Kessel I don't know if you're going to be as motivated by a fear of a worst case scenario as you might otherwise be.

Nothing I'm reading and seeing is saying to me "ya Toronto, I want to stay, so let's get a deal done so that it's not a distraction to me and the team the entire fking year."

Your argument that he'd be less likely to feel any sense of urgency given that he's made a boatload of money over the past 5 years could also be used to argue that he'd be far less likely to be squabbling over $250K-$500K a year on a lifer-length contract.
   

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm fine with players negotiating the limit of what they can get when they negotiate, but it doesn't seem like a smart decision to take any risk with the bulk of the money while waiting.  But of course that's just my personality type.

I probably wouldn't either but I imagine that sort of thought process gets muted somewhat when it's your second big contract as opposed to your first. When you've made 25 million over the last five years like Kessel I don't know if you're going to be as motivated by a fear of a worst case scenario as you might otherwise be.

Nothing I'm reading and seeing is saying to me "ya Toronto, I want to stay, so let's get a deal done so that it's not a distraction to me and the team the entire fking year."

He has said himself that he thinks negotiating during the season would be a distraction, so he's not going to talk contract (with the media either) and if he's waiting to see how the cap shakes out and how his season goes, then all that's really left is after the season.

By all accounts he loves it in Toronto, and waiting to see what the future financial landscape is for his biggest contract I don't think changes that.  His good friend just did the same thing.

 

[Kin]

Nothing I'm reading and seeing is saying to me "ya Toronto, I want to stay, so let's get a deal done so that it's not a distraction to me and the team the entire fking year."

Even  if that were the case, why would you be hearing it? For goodness sakes, the guy is negotiating a contract and you're surprised that he isn't loudly giving away his leverage?

Your argument that he'd be less likely to feel any sense of urgency given that he's made a boatload of money over the past 5 years could also be used to argue that he'd be far less likely to be squabbling over $250K-$500K a year on a lifer-length contract. 

It could. I'm not that naive though.

 

[lamajama]

Could we even entertain the possibility that talks are agreeable and they both know it will get done and all this angst is driven, of course, by the biggest crap-raking sports media in the universe?

Nonis does have a few more priorities right now

 

[Sudafederov]

Boston just doesn't let up do they? (although I have to admit Phil's "Come Hither" look is pretty funny).

http://nesn.com/2013/08/phil-kessels-hilariously-awkward-team-usa-photo-making-its-way-around-internet-photo/

There's a Fabio / Kessel floating around too.

Actually all the Team USA pics are pretty funny, especially Dustin Brown

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/10-most-spectacularly-awkward-u-olympic-glamour-shots-190110715.html

 

[bustaheims]

Boston just doesn't let up do they? (although I have to admit Phil's "Come Hither" look is pretty funny).

http://nesn.com/2013/08/phil-kessels-hilariously-awkward-team-usa-photo-making-its-way-around-internet-photo/

There's a Fabio / Kessel floating around too.

Actually all the Team USA pics are pretty funny, especially Dustin Brown

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/10-most-spectacularly-awkward-u-olympic-glamour-shots-190110715.html

Stastny is my favourite. Also, what's up with those uniforms?

 

[princedpw]

In all fairness, Kessel's photo is pretty hilarious.

 

[Bender]

Boston just doesn't let up do they? (although I have to admit Phil's "Come Hither" look is pretty funny).

http://nesn.com/2013/08/phil-kessels-hilariously-awkward-team-usa-photo-making-its-way-around-internet-photo/

There's a Fabio / Kessel floating around too.

Actually all the Team USA pics are pretty funny, especially Dustin Brown

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/10-most-spectacularly-awkward-u-olympic-glamour-shots-190110715.html

Stastny is my favourite. Also, what's up with those uniforms?

Statsny looks like a Neanderthal.