Finally, again.
It’s done. The Boston Bruins have traded Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bob McKenzie over at TSN was all over this one.
To Toronto
Phil Kessel is now a Toronto Maple Leaf
- Phil Kessel (signed for $27 Million over 5 years)
To Boston
- 1st Round draft pick (2010)
- 2nd Round draft pick (2010)
- 1st Round draft pick (2011)
Just a few things to say about this, from both perspectives.
Good for Toronto:
I like that Brian Burke went and found a young star for the Leafs. Kessel might be the best player in the NHL under 23 or 24 that didn’t have a long term contract in place (prior to tonight’s new contract). This is a nice addition to the free agents the Leafs signed this summer (Mike Komisarek, Garnet Exelby, Francois Beauchemin, Kyle Bozak, Jonas Gustavsson and others).
I didn’t understand why Burke was willing to pay so much for Kessel until his press conference. I like his points about picking up quality players like Gustavsson, Bozak, etc… and them being the equivalent depth the Leafs would get from the draft. I think that’s justified. Is it risky? Absolutely. Is it reckless? I don’t think so. There’s only one problem I have with it…
Good for Boston:
The price was steep and the obvious reason the Bruins were willing to part with a great player like Kessel is because of the depth this team has (seemingly out of nowhere, might I add). Peter Chiarelli has done a great job building this team from the ground up. The issue with this trade is it potentially establishes the Boston Bruins as a power-house team for years and years to come. The Bruins now have 4 first round picks over the next two drafts. Add a solid core of Marc Savard, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Tim Thomas, Milan Lucic (and others) to developing prospects and future 1st round draft picks and that could make for a bad combination for Leafs and Ottawa Senators fans who’ll have to see the Bruins 6 times a year, every year.
It’ll be interesting to see who wins this trade in the end. Funny thing is, neither team is immediately better. The draft picks will obviously take time and Kessel’s off-season shoulder surgery has him out until November.
Stay classy, Phil Kessel.
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Agreed that it’s a pretty solid move on Burke’s part to get an above average, young player who’s no stranger to putting biscuit in basket. But man two first rounders? That’s probably a little tough for Leaf fans to swallow I’d imagine. Especially considering there is a good chance this years pick will probably fall within the top 10.
I guess we’ll finally see just how much of Kessel’s success was attributed to gift wrapped passes from Marc Savard.
You need only look at Kessel’s numbers from his 1st and 2nd years with the Bruins. I realize there were other things going on, but having Lucic and Savard on your line doesn’t hurt your offensive numbers.