Phil Kessel

[TML fan]

While that's a fair point, the impression I get from the majority of the people who want to trade Kessel is that they're not considering the return either, they just want him off the team for whatever reason.

That's not the impression I get but regardless two wrongs in this case don't make a right. I think there's a legitimate discussion about whether or not Kessel should be on the team going forward.

Absolutely.  Hooray that Phil's a pure sniper and he's done that.  He and his line are also atrocious defensively so the net result is, arguably (and reasonably so), negative.

If you give up less goals, but you score less goals, isn't the net result also negative? Also, better goaltending will make up for a lot of deficiencies.

Wouldn't it be easier to just get better defensive players to play on his line? He's already proven he can perform with scrubs. Can't we find some scrubs who happen to be awesome defensively?

I really don't see how Nash or Parise make this team better without Kessel. Nash to me is pretty much the same player but with the intangibles. Parise I can see the argument for, but he's 4 years older. I don't think he really fits into any long term plans better than Kessel does.

It would have to be a pretty unbelievable deal. I mean, if Carolina called up and offered Eric Staal and Cam Ward, I'm taking it. I'm not taking draft picks for him. If Kessel is under contract 3 years ago, I don't think Boston does either.

As an aside, if the Leafs get the 1st overall pick this year, would you trade it for Jeff Skinner? Would Carolina?

 

[Oracle]

I'm not sure why so many people are keen to trade Kessel when he's arguably the only Leaf who's done what he was payed to do this year, besides Lupul and possibly Grabo. I don't buy this notion of him not being a player you "build your team around". Why would you build your team around any player? A team is a mesh, not a hub and spoke. Kessel has a role, and that's to score goals, he's a sniper, period. So he can't dig in corners, who cares, corner diggers are a dime a dozen....players who can finish, like Kessel, are the rarity. Last I checked he was tied for 4th in scoring. I call that mission accomplished. He's a keeper.

I'm not so sure why so many people discuss the possibility of trading a player without even considering the return.

Well sure, if you can get 5 bucks for a toonie, go for it. How much time have you spent discussing the possibility of getting 5 bucks for a toonie?

 

[Tigger]

Wouldn't it be easier to just get better defensive players to play on his line? He's already proven he can perform with scrubs. Can't we find some scrubs who happen to be awesome defensively?

I made a suggestion to that effect OTOS, in the before time...

He does play pretty fair with Lupul so maybe just a really good defensive centre for them?

Also, yeah, a Parise or Nash would be great if the Leafs also had Kessel to play on a different line. For me though, trading Kessel totally depends on the return at this point, he's a young elite scorer, keeping him is ok too right now barring some real young gold coming back. He's not getting traded just because he might not fit into the future, somehow.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

At best Kessel is a complimentary player. Lupul seems to be able to elevate Kessel's game - not the other way around.

I'm going to need some stats that show Kessel's production has significantly been altered with Lupul's absence.

 

[dappleganger]

At best Kessel is a complimentary player. Lupul seems to be able to elevate Kessel's game - not the other way around.

I'm going to need some stats that show Kessel's production has significantly been altered with Lupul's absence.

Wait, wait wait.... I got a better one. Lupul's career high for points was what before being paired with Kessel?

I know, Lupul was carrying Kessel's dead weight all season and it caused him to have a sore shoulder.

Why can't we be happy that we found two players who complimented each other?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

If the fifth leading scorer in the NHL is a complementary player at best, I shudder to think what he is at worst!

No, not "complementary", he called him complimentary, as in, Kessel freely praises other people.  Quite the compliment.

 

[AvroArrow]

Guaranteed at least 1 PPG this season, as he sits with 82 points and 1 game to go.  Quite an excellent season for Kessel, production wise.  Props to him.

 

[maplesyrup]

Big time props! I think he's shown he doesn't necessarily need premier line-mates to produce but man, o', man, it would sure be nice to have (in addition to Lupul) another threat to keep opposing lines on their toes.     

 

[AvroArrow]

Big time props! I think he's shown he doesn't necessarily need premier line-mates to produce but man, o', man, it would sure be nice to have (in addition to Lupul) another threat to keep opposing lines on their toes.   

Put last year's Grabs line with this year's Kessel line... 

 

[maplesyrup]

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere but if Kovalchuk is considered a LW (I don't know if he's been playing RW most of the season) then that makes Kessel the highest scoring RWer in the league - and by quite a large margin. - Hossa is currently 5 points behind.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere but if Kovalchuk is considered a LW (I don't know if he's been playing RW most of the season) then that makes Kessel the highest scoring RWer in the league - and by quite a large margin. - Hossa is currently 5 points behind.

He's still listed as a left-winger, and probably will be since NHL.com doesn't really update those, but Kovalchuk has definitely spent almost all of his time on the right wing this season. Even when he hasn't been on a line with Parise he's been there.

It looks like Neal has also moved to the right wing in Pittsburgh.

 

[Kin]

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere but if Kovalchuk is considered a LW (I don't know if he's been playing RW most of the season) then that makes Kessel the highest scoring RWer in the league - and by quite a large margin. - Hossa is currently 5 points behind.

He's still listed as a left-winger, and probably will be since NHL.com doesn't really update those, but Kovalchuk has definitely spent almost all of his time on the right wing this season. Even when he hasn't been on a line with Parise he's been there.

It looks like Neal has also moved to the right wing in Pittsburgh.

Even then I'm not entirely sure about the significance. As CTB alludes to guys can play either side and it's not like fundamentally different skills are required out of left wingers as opposed to right wingers. Being the highest scoring right winger isn't like being the best hitting shortstop or the best blocking wide receiver.

It's really just a piece of trivia.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere but if Kovalchuk is considered a LW (I don't know if he's been playing RW most of the season) then that makes Kessel the highest scoring RWer in the league - and by quite a large margin. - Hossa is currently 5 points behind.

He's still listed as a left-winger, and probably will be since NHL.com doesn't really update those, but Kovalchuk has definitely spent almost all of his time on the right wing this season. Even when he hasn't been on a line with Parise he's been there.

It looks like Neal has also moved to the right wing in Pittsburgh.

Even then I'm not entirely sure about the significance. As CTB alludes to guys can play either side and it's not like fundamentally different skills are required out of left wingers as opposed to right wingers. Being the highest scoring right winger isn't like being the best hitting shortstop or the best blocking wide receiver.

It's really just a piece of trivia.

True, but it's quite relevant to the end-of-year all-star voting. Kessel has a good shot at being a first or second team all-star, a rarity for Leafs, however much that may matter to a Leaf fan.

 

[Kin]

True, but it's quite relevant to the end-of-year all-star voting. Kessel has a good shot at being a first or second team all-star, a rarity for Leafs, however much that may matter to a Leaf fan.

It'll be interesting to see if it's determined by what position they actually play in which case Kessel's main competition will be Neal and Kovalchuk or if it's determined by what position they're listed at in which case Kessel is probably behind Giroux.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm fairly certain they don't really go by position any more, just 3 forwards.

 

[Kin]

I'm fairly certain they don't really go by position any more, just 3 forwards.

It doesn't look that way. They definitely distinguish centres and wingers and just at a glance it looks like there's always two guys listed at each wing spot.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm fairly certain they don't really go by position any more, just 3 forwards.

Really?  I'd never heard that.  Since when?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm fairly certain they don't really go by position any more, just 3 forwards.

It doesn't look that way. They definitely distinguish centres and wingers and just at a glance it looks like there's always two guys listed at each wing spot.

Yup, it looks like I may have made that one completely up.

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: Kessel has played with a wrist injury "for a while" and will not play at worlds. Had a cortisone shot recently for it.

 

[TML fan]

What an easily intimidated wuss.