Phil Kessel

[oakl0008]

Bustahiems, you have a good point there. That does clarify draeko17's question. I heard that they couldn't negotiate after July for some reason? Not sure.

A lot of people confuse not being able to officially sign a contract with not being able to negotiate one. As long as Kessel is under contract to the Leafs, they're free to negotiate with him as much as they like. The caveat is that they can't officially sign him to anything until the final year of his contract begins. That happens at the beginning of July (that's when the league year officially begins and contracts officially roll over). There are no restrictions on a date past which they can no longer negotiate - unless he becomes a member of another team.

Thanks for clarifying that Bustaheims. Knowing that, we'll have to wait and see if it will at least be opened up for discussion at that time.

 

[bustaheims]

Thanks for clarifying that Bustaheims. Knowing that, we'll have to wait and see if it will at least be opened up for discussion at that time.

It wouldn't surprise me if Nonis has already approached Kessel's agent about the subject.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Kessel seems like he wants to stay in TO. Although was it two years ago that he was frustrated and said if I don't belong her then thats fine. or something like that?

 

[Corn Flake]

Kessel seems like he wants to stay in TO. Although was it two years ago that he was frustrated and said if I don't belong her then thats fine. or something like that?

Yes he did but that was two years ago when this team was at rock bottom and he was being criticized from every angle possible. He was a 60 point winger considered one dimensional and who shrunk in big games. "The trade" was being brought up what felt like any time his name was mentioned. 

Everything has changed since then and the guy must know that the fans love him now.  The "THANK YOU KESSEL" chant in game 3 right at the start would give any player goose bumps.

He had a fantastic post season, the team is on the right track and he is right at the core of that success as a legit top end offensive player.  I think he personally exorcised every hockey demon that had been lurking in that 7 game series. He scored a ton against his former team, he even took down Chara, and the fan base and management recognized all of it.

He can be the next Mats Sundin of this town, or very very close to it if he remains.

 

[proteus2000]

Kessel is definitely the most important skater on this team. He improved his backcheck immensely to compliment his offensive game. He will make $7 mil and deserve it. Hopefully Bozak signs for $5 mil or less, and we can roll two dangerous top lines with Kessel-Bozak-JVR and Lupul-Kadri-Frattin/whoever else deserves this spot.

 

[Kin]

So GM Nonis gives praise to Kessel's performance in the playoffs, but isn't urgent to re-sign him this year as he has one year left on his contract.  ???

Let's not forget that it's a negotiation, regardless of what Nonis wants. Even if he's desperate to have Kessel back and will offer the moon to him it's not something you say.

 

[Rebel_1812]

I don't like how the media keeps reporting how kessel is good friends with bozak.  As if we couldn't have one with out the other.  Doesn't kessel have other friends?

 

[Peter D.]

With all these deals being agreed to in principle before signing off on July 5th (Malkin, Couture, Voynov), it'd be great if we could hear this type of news with Kessel soon.

 

[drummond]

With all these deals being agreed to in principle before signing off on July 5th (Malkin, Couture, Voynov), it'd be great if we could hear this type of news with Kessel soon.

I am hoping for the same. Seeing Nonis resigned Colton Orr got me a little bit worried as all the other GM started resigning from their key player and not from the least important guy.

 

[Britishbulldog]

With all these deals being agreed to in principle before signing off on July 5th (Malkin, Couture, Voynov), it'd be great if we could hear this type of news with Kessel soon.

Me too.  I am hoping to hear Kessel signed for a 8 year, 56 MIL deal and Phaneuf signed to a 8 year, 48 MIL deal.

 

[Kin]

With all these deals being agreed to in principle before signing off on July 5th (Malkin, Couture, Voynov), it'd be great if we could hear this type of news with Kessel soon.

I think it should be kept in mind, though, that Kessel is in a fairly different situation than most of the deals we've seen signed. Most of the deals we've seen are either deals signed by RFA's(Couture, Voynov), so there's no real mystery as to who they'll sign with, or they're deals signed by guys who signed previous deals where they were already at the level of play where they're perceived to be now(Malkin, Datsyuk). Kessel, a pending UFA who's due a fairly substantial raise, probably has more to work out/decide than any of those guys do.

 

[Corn Flake]

With all these deals being agreed to in principle before signing off on July 5th (Malkin, Couture, Voynov), it'd be great if we could hear this type of news with Kessel soon.

I am hoping for the same. Seeing Nonis resigned Colton Orr got me a little bit worried as all the other GM started resigning from their key player and not from the least important guy.

I can't imagine they told Kessel to sit quiet and wait while they put all efforts into securing Orr to a new deal.

 

[Leafaholic99]

I'd be very happy with an eight year deal signed by Kessel, give him a nice signing bonus as well. What's the stipulation on signing bonuses?

 

[bustaheims]

jonasTSN1050: Nonis said Leafs haven't moved along very far with any of their UFAs or RFAs.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd be very happy with an eight year deal signed by Kessel, give him a nice signing bonus as well. What's the stipulation on signing bonuses?

There's no stipulations specifically towards them (as far as I know). It's more that the variance between money paid out to players in any year of their contract is limited. In theory, a player could receive every cent above the league minimum as a signing bonus - but, all that means, is that they'd get all that cash at the beginning of July every year instead of spread out over the season.

 

[Zee]

It's time to talk a Kessel extension.

Top 10 in scoring the past 2 seasons, 4 goals in 7 playoff games...what's he worth?  $7M+ I'd say easily.  Will the Leafs pony up the cash?

 

[ZBBM]

It's time to talk a Kessel extension.

Top 10 in scoring the past 2 seasons, 4 goals in 7 playoff games...what's he worth?  $7M+ I'd say easily.  Will the Leafs pony up the cash?

Let's see how he does out of the gate this fall.  If he keeps going like he did at the end of the season/playoffs, then you pay him whatever he wants, I guess.  If not, then you have some room to cut a better deal.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Pay Phil

 

[princedpw]

It's time to talk a Kessel extension.

Top 10 in scoring the past 2 seasons, 4 goals in 7 playoff games...what's he worth?  $7M+ I'd say easily.  Will the Leafs pony up the cash?

Let's see how he does out of the gate this fall.  If he keeps going like he did at the end of the season/playoffs, then you pay him whatever he wants, I guess.  If not, then you have some room to cut a better deal.

I don't think this is the right way to go.  I prefer to negotiate now with lots of time and no pressure.  If we want to keep Phil and he wants to stay, we want to come to a friendly, amicable agreement well ahead of time and outside of media scrutiny (if possible) for eveyone's sake all around.  I don't think observing Phil play for an extra month or two in the fall is necessary or even helpful when it comes to deciding how valuable he is -- a month or two is a small sample size that doesn't say much when weighted against the rest of his career to date.  The leafs management should be aware of what he's worth.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

Yep, get your chequebook out this summer please Leafs management.