Phil Kessel

[drummond]

Here is a bold prediction - 11 goals, once he gets one he wll be unstoppable.

 

[caver]

I am not really concerned about anything that happens this season. I will be more invested when the next full season begins.

See you next season TMO.  ;D ;D

 

[Kin]

For what it's worth Darren Dreger was just on TSN saying that Nonis is apparently listening to trade offers for Kessel even though no deal is in the works or appears imminent.

 

[ZBBM]

For what it's worth Darren Dreger was just on TSN saying that Nonis is apparently listening to trade offers for Kessel even though no deal is in the works or appears imminent.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.  Well, except sometimes a pile of leafs will smolder for days without catching.

 

[Redleaf]

For what it's worth Darren Dreger was just on TSN saying that Nonis is apparently listening to trade offers for Kessel even though no deal is in the works or appears imminent.

2 things.

-Which GM could say he was doing his job if he wasn't 'listening' to offers for any and all of his players whenever they are made?

-The offers Nonis is getting for Kessel are probably all lowball offers from GMs trying to capitalize on his goalscoring slump.

 

[Kin]

-Which GM could say he was doing his job if he wasn't 'listening' to offers for any and all of his players whenever they are made?

I think it'd be pretty common. I don't think, for instance, you could ever get Ray Shero to say that he was listening to offers for Crosby or Malkin.

Regardless, the impression I got from Dreger is that this is somewhat more involved than you seem to be saying.

-The offers Nonis is getting for Kessel are probably all lowball offers from GMs trying to capitalize on his goalscoring slump.

For what it's worth, Dreger went out of his way to specifically say that this wasn't related to Kessel's slump.

The segment is up at tsn.ca if anyone's interested.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Yes, and as we all know, Brett Hull also never experienced a slump.

Don't be ridiculous. After all, there's only so much a player can do to avoid black cats, stepping on cracks in the sidewalk, referring to The Scottish Play by name or setting sail on Candlemas Day. The difference though is that Hull managed to ameliorate all of these gaffes by making the appropriate sacrifices at the altars of Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos which, of course, allowed him to once again find the back of the net.

So really, what we should be asking ourselves is why Kessel hasn't consulted the relevant oracles and procured the three requisite white doves.

While that's adorable and all, you seem to be under the impression that I think there's some kind of cosmic force maligning Kessel.  I haven't suggested there's some kind of bad juju following Kessel.  He's simply had a significant number of "almost goals" that simply haven't gone in.  My only explanation (if there's even anything to be explained) is that slumps happen, and your explanation is... well, I'm sure you have an explanation that's something other than "your explanation's silly".

Good players get a significant number of chances, and some of them go in, and many don't.  Like PG implies, scoring goals goes pretty much hand in hand with hitting lots of posts.  Kessel's been getting good chances at a rate that to me is pretty typical for him, including his share of posts, etc.  However, for so many close calls and near misses, by typical variance several should have already gone in.  None have gone in, thems the breaks.  He needs to score, for himself and for the team, and I'm sure he will.  Faith in the player or in the Flying Spaghetti Monster has nothing to do with it, it's faith in the odds at this point.

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: On Leafs moving Kessel... RT @DarrenDreger: "Possibility" but no fire sale. Frankly, doubt it happens this season.

 

[Zee]

mirtle: On Leafs moving Kessel... RT @DarrenDreger: "Possibility" but no fire sale. Frankly, doubt it happens this season.

Heard Nonis's brother in law on the radio this morning saying the Leafs would only move Kessel if it were a slam-dunk for Toronto.  They would expect a top 6 forward (or top D) back + a high draft pick.

 

[bustaheims]

-The offers Nonis is getting for Kessel are probably all lowball offers from GMs trying to capitalize on his goalscoring slump.

As fans, we tend to over-estimate the impact of a slump on a player's trade value. His value hasn't dropped to the Leafs because of his slump and other GMs know that. If any of them are making lowball offers because of it, then they're probably Garth Snow.

 

[Peter D.]

Heard Nonis's brother in law on the radio this morning saying the Leafs would only move Kessel if it were a slam-dunk for Toronto.  They would expect a top 6 forward (or top D) back + a high draft pick.

Thinking about this, especially considering the expected price, I wonder just how many teams would actually be a good trading partner for Toronto.  The only team that jumps out that could offer a top forward or D and a high pick right now is Colorado.  Beyond that expected price, how many other teams would be willing to give up the assets Toronto is looking for and spend the cash needed to re-sign him?

To me it seems that the market for him may not be that big.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

My guess is, Phil signs in Toronto long term at a good price.

 

[Corn Flake]

mirtle: On Leafs moving Kessel... RT @DarrenDreger: "Possibility" but no fire sale. Frankly, doubt it happens this season.

Heard Nonis's brother in law on the radio this morning saying the Leafs would only move Kessel if it were a slam-dunk for Toronto.  They would expect a top 6 forward (or top D) back + a high draft pick.

O'Rielly + Avs 1st for Kessel. 

Duchene is playing so well right now the Avs could be inclined to pull the trigger on something like this.  Leafs would get that 1st line centre "potential" player and possibly another top 5 pick.

Just a thought.

 

[Zee]

My guess is, Phil signs in Toronto long term at a good price.

It's as good a guess as any.  If he really likes playing with Lupul he knows that Lupes is around for a few years anyway.  My guess is, if the Leafs are in and around a playoff spot when the trade deadline comes around we keep him.  If it's obvious that the Leafs won't make the playoffs we deal him to a playoff team looking for more scoring.

 

[Peter D.]

O'Rielly + Avs 1st for Kessel. 

This is the exact deal that jumped out at me I was alluding to above.

 

[maplesyrup]

O'Rielly + Avs 1st for Kessel. 

This is the exact deal that jumped out at me I was alluding to above.

Lupul / O'Rielly / Perry 

 

[Zee]

Why is everyone so high on O'Reilly?  He has fewer career points than Bozak.

 

[bustaheims]

Why is everyone so high on O'Reilly?  He has fewer career points than Bozak.

I don't get it either. He's had one season where he's looked like more than a 3rd liner (while getting the most ice time per game out of all the forwards on his team), and now he's being touted as a potential 1st line centre? Sorry, but, I just don't see it. Good 2nd line centre? Sure, I can see that, but, realistically, I think he's a 2nd/3rd line tweener on a contending team.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Why is everyone so high on O'Reilly?  He has fewer career points than Bozak.

I don't get it either. He's had one season where he's looked like more than a 3rd liner (while getting the most ice time per game out of all the forwards on his team), and now he's being touted as a potential 1st line centre? Sorry, but, I just don't see it. Good 2nd line centre? Sure, I can see that, but, realistically, I think he's a 2nd/3rd line tweener on a contending team.

I agree completely.

 

[Redleaf]

Why is everyone so high on O'Reilly?  He has fewer career points than Bozak.

He's only 22, and is already a great 2 way player, with an impressive offensive upside, and leadership abilities. Something the Leafs could use a lot more of.

I'd trade Kessel for O'Reilly if the trade also included a top 5 pick.