Suggesting some moves for the Lightning, speculation over a possible return of Phil Kessel to the Bruins and the type of player the Flames could pursue.
Suggested moves for the Lightning.
ESPN.COM: In the aftermath of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, Craig Custance listed three keys to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offseason. First, of course, is re-signing captain Steven Stamkos, who is a year away from unrestricted free agency. Custance speculates it could be an eight-year deal worth $11 million annually. He also recommends the Lightning give backup Andrej Vasilevskij more playing time. The sooner Vasilevskij proves himself as a starter, the sooner GM Steve Yzerman can at least consider trading Ben Bishop, who’s making nearly $6 million per season, while the Bolts have several young stars due significant raises in the next two years. Custance also believes there’s a case to be made for trading defenseman Matt Carle, though his contract ($5.5 million annually through 2017-18) won’t be easy to move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Re-signing Stamkos will eat up a significant chunk of long-term cap space for the Lightning, who must re-sign Vasilevskij, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn, Jonathan Drouin and Cedric Paquette within the next two seasons, with the biggest hit coming in 2017. They could trade Stamkos but that’s highly unlikely to happen. Some of his critics will point to his goalless performance in the Cup Final as reason to move him, but his GM is Steve Yzerman, who went through his own share of postseason disappointment in his playing career before winning three championships. I doubt Yzerman will use Stamkos’ Cup Final scoring drought against him. If Vasilevskij proves himself as a starter next season, perhaps moving Bishop is the way to go. Moving Carle is another option. As Custance points out, it won’t be easy but it’s also not impossible. Perhaps teams with cap space seeking blueline depth could be willing to take him on.
Latest on the Bruins.
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty noted a recent report from TSN’s Bob McKenzie in which the Boston Bruins were among the preferred trade destinations for Toronto Maple Leafs winger (and former Bruin) Phil Kessel. Haggerty considers the pros and cons of a possible return to Boston for Kessel.
NBC SPORTS: Jason Brough also noted the report on Kessel’s trade list, but also pointed out the winger could still block a trade if he prefers to remain with the Maple Leafs.
BOSTON HERALD: Steve Conroy recently examined the options facing the Bruins regarding restricted free agent defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who could receive an offer sheet from a rival club. Among the options to avoid that possibility is trading him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While it’s interesting that Kessel included Boston on his list of trade destinations, his $8 million annual salary likely prevents a return to the cap-strapped Bruins. Given the Bruins desire to play a physical style, I don’t think Kessel would fit into that game plan. As for Hamilton, the Bruins can avoid an offer sheet by re-signing him before July 1. We must also remember that, just because Hamilton can receive an offer sheet, it doesn’t mean he’ll sign it. I’ll be very surprised if the Bruins trade Hamilton simply to avoid the possibility of an offer sheet.
Latest on the Flames.
SPORTSNET 960 (VIA TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Elliotte Friedman reports the Calgary Flames could seek a physical scoring forward like Boston’s Milan Lucic or St. Louis’ David Backes. Friedman also said the Flames won’t be pursuing Toronto’s Phil Kessel. He also doesn’t see the Flames pursuing a smallish forward like Carolina’s Jeff Skinner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames have considerable cap space and are expected to pursue a trade this summer. Adding someone like Lucic or Backes could be a good fit, but the Flames must also ensure they don’t take on a player carrying too much salary as they’ve got to re-sign Mark Giordano, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan within the next year. I also doubt they’ll pursue someone who has only a year left on their contract and is a year away from UFA status like Lucic or Backes.
I’m surprised the Bruins still subscribe to their playing style, as their team appears to be aging faster from the wear and tear.
I said many times this season the Flames should trade Gio and I stand by that. He will be 33 by the time his new contract kicks in and wont be worth what they end up paying him in 3 years. With his low cap hit for next season and a bunch of teams strapped for cap room I dont think his value will ever be higher and they should move him. They did fine without him and this team seems to be Monahan’s now anyway. They will still have plenty of vets around so no I am not worried they end up like the Oilers.
Once Toronto finds a deal they like I don’t think it will be an issue for Kessel to wave his no trade. I think he will be just as happy to move on as the Leafs will be.
It’s starting to seem like goalies are a dime a dozen minus a select few, makes no sense paying Bishop almost $6 million a year. If you can move that contract I think you do it period. I am still holding out hope Stamkos wants to play somewhere in Canada and doesn’t resign this summer.
no offense but whats with people!!!!
isn’t the point of playing / watching hockey is to have fun and / or win a stanley cup
trade bishop and lundqvist because of $ after almost winning the cup in 10= years!!!
for what?
to suck for ten years?
to trade/rebuild the whole team because of no goalie (ex. pay stamakos 11 mil and miss playoffs = toronto)?
to try to get a young better cheaper goalie? (what planet)
Do you realize that was bishops 1st playoff appearance and went to the finals?
in 2 years with the TB he is 50 w – 20 l or something
no offense, but maybe all this salary cap no-nesense is making people forget hockey.
so sick of money and peoples mindset that it comes 1st
sorry lol
I seen this on a Flyer Blog. Would the Flyers trade the #7 overall to Tampa for Drouin. Or from the other side would Tampa consider tading him for the #7. Would they move him for #3 or #4 or #5 etc. What would it take.
For all the cap reasons Lyle listed and the way the Lightning are built I think it would be madness to trade a kid who just turned 20 and put up 30 points as a rookie in the NHL,unless it was for atleast 2 decent picks or 1 very good pick (like top 5) and 1 very good prospect on an ELC. They shouldnt be looking to add anything with salary and term right now imo.
I’m not to sure. Drouin hasn’t been stellar and tended to be on the ice for a goals against. 6 of them I think. If the kid can’t score he better find his defensive game. The Lightnings management of Drouin has also been well documented. I would not be surprised if Drouin is moved.
I agree jeff…drouins name was only mentioned when he didn’t pick up a check or a giveaway wouldn’t surprise me if he is moved also talk about him not being happy with playing time
The kid is what 20 yrs old ? He had his good and bad moments but there is way too much potential in him to give up on him this early. He was playing against the Stanley Cup champions so yes they could expose him, Like the Bolts did to TVR.
Give him a chance.
Ummm remember when Stamkos was run through the ringer by Rick Tochett for pretty much the same things as Drouin? I do. Drouin does not get traded. Not even a possibility.
Joe Thornton had 7 points in 55 games as a rookie.
Drouin hasn’t just been handed the keys to the castle like some other stud prospects with their respective NHL teams.
Yzerman is using the Detroit model to some extent. Yzerman returned Drouin to junior for his final year, then sent him down briefly to Syracuse to start the season; I’m shocked Yzerman brought him back before January to be honest. Drouin is having to earn his opportunities & learn to play responsible hockey. He’s currently very 1 dimensional.
Drouin essentially played as a 3rd line LW that was spotted on the top 2 lines briefly as injuries dictated. He barely got 2nd line power play time until Connolly was traded. Putting up 4 goals & 32 points in 70 games, +3 are pretty impressive #’s considering the quantity & quality of ice time he has received to date.
Drouin is a stud in the making but he is going to have to earn his playing time. Thank God he’s angry, I’d be angry to. Now he should learn from the experience & work harder to earn his opportunities. Neither Yzerman & or Cooper are just going to give it to him & this is a far better way to develop players than to just keep entitling them, which for these types of players has been happening most of their lives.
did some not see Drouin play with the puck last night?
He has to be close to untouchable with his Kane like potential
I’m not saying they should or would trade the kid. All I am saying after reading everyone on this page say the kid can’t be moved, or won’t be moved and is viewed as generational. Is that I am not to sure and I state why. I guess the rest of you are positive he won’t be moved. I’m ok with that. However I my crystal ball is fogged up and I can see reason’s they may move him.
tb is gonna have to decide sooner than later they kucherov palat Johnson all gonna get big raises I don’t think he will get moved yet but someone is gonna especially after stamkos signs for over 10
Stamkos should be taking Drouin under his wing. that’s what needs to happen in Tampa, if Stamkos is going to be there long term.
Now wouldn’t be the time to trade Drouin, I believe his value has hit a low with Coopers comments and the reports that Drouin says he’s not happy. I would also add that TB needs to add some grit, as often as I seen bishop run or banged into by the hawks and how little they did about it and the Lighting didn’t come close to crashing the net and too rarely did they drive to the net.
See if I can get everyone goin… How’s about Stamkos, crushed because of the loss last night, sit’s on TB’s contract offers to see how this off season goes. Ends up taking a hometown discount and signs with The Leafs?
Discuss…lol
I think they should bring up Drouin to play left wing and have Killorn at Centre with Stamkos on the right wing or try Drouin on right wing with Stamkos at Centre. Move Filpula back with Callaghan and Pacquette. This adds more skill and speed to play with Stamkos and Killorn, and upgrades the third line at the same time.
If Stamkos is taking a discount (which I doubt he will) it will be with Tampa Bay. Bolts’ lineup poised to go on a run of it’s own – look in their eyes last night resembles the look in the Oilers’ eyes after losing the ’83 SCF.
After drafting Drouin 3rd overall just 2 years ago and ahead of guys like Monahan, Jones, Nurse,Domi etc., they should now deal him for a 7th pick? Sheesh.
somebody yesterday made a case that the value of a player has no correlation with what number he was drafted at. I guess it depends on what school of thought you attend.
I thought my point was obvious. They drafted him 2 years ago at # 3 overall and so have invested 2 years more worth of “development” in a 20 y/o. In all likelihood, aAnyone they got at # 7 (IFF that Pha possibility was followed through) would not be entering their line-up as a regular for at least 2 more years, at which point Drouin would be in the 4th year – and doing who knows what somewhere else. Does the name Seguin ring a bell? Hell, just look at Hoffman in Ottawa – drafted a number of years ago and only now developing into a serious goal scorer (27 this past season). And he was a 6th round pick.
Sheesh-I didn’t realize you were a experienced scout that can declare so confidently that Drouin projects ahead of Strome, Marner, Hannifan,Provorov etc.
Your point was made clearly. I pretty sure the other argument was made soundly yesterday. I was just pointing it out.
Sheesh right back at ya. How do YOU know he doesn’t? What do you base YOUR expert opinion on?
If necessary, Carle can disappear for draft choices in a salary dump. Less is more, with Nesterov, Witkowski, Keokoek, and DeAngelis all in the pipeline with proven NHL ability in the first three. Two capable goalies at Syracuse suggest that Bishop is a one-more-year guy, although a decent entry contract for Vasi might stretch that out. Stamkos, Hedman, & the triplets will test Yzerman’s abilities to convince players that its’ worth something to play on a good team; low taxes and a player friendly press and fan base don’t hurt. Moving Drouin not in the cards, as Steve Y thinks he is a generational talent. He slots to replace Flippula and dish to Stamkos,who might get 60 in that environment.
Going to be very hard for the Bruins to move Lucic with his pending UFA after next season. Sweeney and Cam are on the same page as. what they want from this Bruins team going forward Fast skating hard checking and tough D. That’s what they want we will see if that’s what they get. Lot of work to do this offseason.
I would think any team trading for Lucic would only do so if he agreed to a contract extension prior to the trade. By the way, if Boston wants to play a fast, hard-hitting style, why would they trade Lucic?
Because he is slow. Fast, hard hitting and tough d. They had two of them elements but always lacked the speed. That’s how the Winnipeg Jets are built. Better goaltending the jets will be a tough team to beat there is a changing of the guard in the West.
I agree about the jets and lucic caper lucics speed really showed last year not only when trying to forcheck but keeping up with his quicker linemates on the rush
Good article by Travis Yost on TSN’s site today about how Lucic’s stats have basically fallen off a cliff over the past three years and how the B’s are a better possession team without him.
He still has lots of value (big, mean, scores some) but I think it certainly makes him tradeable.
trading lucic would cause the teams “heart” to fade for all thats worth.
And then you might as well add chara and co. to the rumor mill and say rebuild
I don’t see Lucic being moved but if he were the fact he’s a UFA in 1 year wouldn’t be a huge impediment. Boston could sign & trade with Lucic’s consent. He could be traded & signed or the team acquiring him could add futures to the deal based on if he resigns later with them.
I see Boston getting Lucic signed to about a 5 year deal in or around 7 million for 5 years but not until after January. More money than his stats from last season may warrant but lets not forget he played the majority of the year with out his C & when Krejci played he was far from 100%. Lucic also looked very good playing with Spooner & Pastrnak. 2 players that can out right fly. Granted he looked like Dave Andreychuk, Ray Sheppard or Luc Robitaille, ha-ha, 3 great players who’s skating was also not to NHL standards.
Goal scoring is down in the NHL & what goals that are being scored are being spread out over a greater # of players as more & more teams are rolling 4 lines more consistently or working to balance out ice time via specialty teams. These players see PP time, these players see SH time.
Not a single NHL player topped 90 points this season! 1 50 goal scorer! It only took 64 points to make the top 30 scorers in the NHL this season.
Boston’s offense went from being #1 in 2013-14 at 3.15 goals per game to 22nd at 2.55 GPG. Losing Krejci accounts for a significant portion of that lost offense but losing Iginla also took some solid goal scoring out of the line up. Factor in Smith regressing as sophomore which is very common for numerous players, some questionable deployment by Julien both in personal decisions & ice time & a D that was hit hard by injuries & this is what you get.
All are fixable & I’m expecting to see a playoff contender again in Boston next season & a soft contender for the cup. TB, NYR, NYI & Was have all passed Boston but Boston should be able to compete with Clb, Pit, Flo, Ott & Mtl. The race for the final 4 playoff spots in the East is going to exciting & tight, especially due to the way the NHL hands out loser points.
Rumor has it that he is looking for a 6 year contract in the 7 mil range. That’s too much term for a physical player of his age, and a little pricey. As much as Edmonton needs a player like Lucic, I would stay far far away if the rumours of his contract demands are true .
That’s probably what Boston will pay him if required. I assume they would like to pay less but I assume they sign that deal.
I like Lucic but he’s a second line guy not top line and he should be paid 5-6 million tops if he wants more I would trade him now. Krejci should be moved also getting older and should not have been resigned. Erikson and Kelly also must go. After last season a semi rebuild is needed. Get some younger legs. Let’s build around Hamilton,Bergeron,Pasternak,Rask and I like Marchand.
Move Chara and Siedenberg if possible also
good viewpoint.
in todays nhl cap system most teams realize & have to make that crucial decision (exp vs future / playoffs vs no playoffs) and try to transition at the perfect time, which is a crap shoot.
The problem is, as with trading a player for a prospect,…what happens if the team collapses and the player doesn’t work out? DO you wan’t to even take that risk?
I’d suggest that the smart thing would not to full or semi-rebuild until you miss the playoffs consistently (3 years; maybe 2 yrs nowadays). Same goes for anything (development, trades, salary vs player)
Bruins missed last year only; if they make it they are instantly a contender.
I’d suggest that if bruins trade lucic / chara, it will most likely occur next year (UFA status), which coincidently is the time to get best value for RFA plus their value only goes up since they missed playoffs this year.
so I don’t think they trade chara or lucic unless Taylor Hall is offered or something that negates the above points
I recently suggested the Bolts trade Stamkos to Tronna, mostly due to their future contracts for other players. It will be very, very difficult to keep the core of this team together when you are paying 1 player over $10Mil/season. Stamkos is a great player and good guy.
Is he worth the money? What if he cashed in one 2-3 of his 20 scoring chances in the SCL? Can’t blame one guy, but it is certain the outcome would have been different in at least 1 games had he cashed in the back of the net. Big decision for Stevie.
Bolts not close to the Cup without Stamkos.
2013 Cup Krejci had zero goals. 2010 Giroux had 2 and Carter zero against Chicago.
Give the Blackhawks some credit shutting down the opposing team.
Getzlaf was held scoreless in the WCF
Hawks are a championship team and it shows. Stammer just had so many chances and he didn’t cash in one one.
Sort of reminds me of Nash.
Can a team such as Toronto in a rebuild afford the asking price it would take to trade for Stamkos? I see Tampa resigning him…he got a taste of being so close to the cup. He won’t see that in Toronto anytime soon if a trade were made. If Drouin starts reaching his potential and Erne could be ready to start his NHL career there are ways Stevie Y can make ends meet cap wise…trade a d-man maybe trade Fiippula to name a couple of moves. He’ll have a chance to see how Chicago does it with Toews and Kane’s new contracts going into effect this year.
TB like all teams facing cap crunches will force their players coming off ELC’s to take 2 to 3 year bridge contracts. It’s the lay of the land, the new business model in the NHL for the vast majority of teams. The player may not like it, even the team may prefer to give them big money sooner but that’s terrible asset management & their hands are tied as they simply don’t have the cap space.
No team wants to lose their best young players after such a short period of time, so the best contract management is after their 3 year ELC expires, they make them sign a 2 or 3 year bridge contract & then after 5 or 6 years from entering the NHL, teams truly get to gauge their full potential so they can make sound decisions on whether to lock them up for 8 years & big money, or move them out.
The way Yzerman has staggered his contracts in TB is a thing of beauty. As these kids come up for renewal, the big contracts to veterans are coming off the books to be replaced by the money due to the kids & with all the kids coming not yet in TB Yzerman will continue to move out assets he doesn’t see as part of his core. Latest example Connolly to Boston for 2 2nd rounders. That was great value.
Players like Drouin will be brought along slowly so by the time his ELC expires he’ll still essentially be a 3rd line LW playing behind Killorn & Palat & have little leverage for the monster contract coming of his ELC. At some point 2 to 3 years from now Yzerman will have to decide on Killorn, Palat & Droiun as his top 2 LW’s but that decision is at least 4 years away. Drouin having 2 years left on his ELC then a 2 year bridge deal. 4 years is a long time & in that time frame, Coburn, Carle, Garrison, Filppula & Boyle all come off the books & TB has the assets now to replace them never mind what other assets are added between now & then.
not only is chicago a dynasty, winning a cup ever other year, which is quit remarkable and probably harder than winning back to back to back (cuz no other teams is better), but they are salary cap genius’ the way they lose players yet still contend / win.
Both a model team and cap crunching machine.
Cream of the crop
whats that 100 cups for Scotty Bowman
“It will be very, very difficult to keep the core of this team together when you are paying 1 player over $10Mil/season.”
So, they should let the Leafs skewer whatever core they are trying to build by trading for (with assets I presume) a guy expected to demand $11 mil a season? Don’t see any logic in that.
George. That’s the new NHL.
The cap will continue to increase. Maybe not as significantly annually as after the 2004 lock out but each year you can add some where between 2 to 5 million.
Expansion is coming, granted that doesn’t count against the revenue that the cap is determined from but what do you think the remaining 30 teams that get to share in that wealth are going to do with 40 to 50 million dollars each? I think most are going to spend it. Not all at once but over a period of years.
Stamkos will get 9 to 10 million per season on an 8 year deal. Might he accept Getzlaf; 8.25, Perry; 8.625, money as a home town discount as they did? No I don’t think so but TB can absorb the 10 million hit comfortably. It’s only 2.5 million more against the cap than he’s making now.
No professional sport has more room for growth than hockey currently in North America or the world for that matter. New revenue streams are coming on line rapidly. The growth of youth minor hockey in the US is staggering. The state of California had almost as many 1st time players sign up to play last season as in all of Canada! That’s 1 state. What does that tell you about the popularity; future earnings potential, of NHL hockey moving forward?
LOL. If I ask you the time will you be telling me how to build a watch? I’m well aware of all that you write – some of us DO pay attention you know – but that has nothing to do with my point that trading away Stamkos because of what his cap hit is going to do to the TB core makes no sense if that same cap hit has the same effect on a building Leafs core.
I don’t think I understand your point. I thought it was that TB can’t pay Stamkos 10 million?
My initial post was directed at 4thHansonbrother – and I began by quoting what he said. My point was, what logic is there in TO taking Stamkos in a trade if what he said about his next contract impacting drastically on the TB core is then simply transferred to the Leafs.
I suggest Toronto because I am not convinced the Leaf Nation is patient enough for a 3-4 year tear down and rebuild. Stammer would help the Leafs now and in the future.
two things
1. stamkos will not be traded unless they miss the playoffs and he wants to move — unlikely
2. if he moves, its at free agency, which doesn’t cost any teams anything besides money
So why would he move? Family / Accomplishments?
Probably not either of money or stardom (he has both)
I personally feel he will be a leafs at some point due to FA (2017) or a trade nearing retirement (lesser value). I don’t think he passes the opportunity to play for the leafs.
The question is Stanley Cup or Leafs; if HE even considers it.
If he doesn’t have a contract early next year…he’s gone
i agree that Winnipeg is loaded with talent. Hopefully Connor Hellebuyck will be ready for 2016-17. he’s gonna be a top 10 goalie imo
As for Stamkos i find it hard to believe TB will ever trade him. They would have to be blown away to move him. Reasonable example could be:
Stamkos to St. Louis for Shattenkirk/Fabbri/1st in 2016??
Oilers should strongly consider taking Carle’s crappy contract as a way to grab Vasilevskiy from TB. I just hope Edmonton would make a package around their 16th pick and not include Darnell Nurse.
I still think Lucic would be a good addition for the Flames. Maybe there is some way they can agree to an extension before the trade is completed. How would he look next to Sam Bennett? 4 years $25M? Not sure what they could trade for him though.
I really don’t see Nurse or Klefbon being traded. As an Oiler fan I am drooling over the player Nurse is going to become. Big, very fast, nasty, and good with the puck.
Throw in one of St Louis forwards like Scwartz and the value would be getting close for Stamkos-although I do feel he is not going to be ever traded.
I assume Kessel put the Bruins and Habs on his list with the belief that the Leafs would never trade him to either club, thereby sneakily upping his no-trade list by two teams.
(Doesn’t mean he won’t be traded there, but it would be less likely than other teams!)
I see bergevin making a big move this draft signed petry and Mitchell and beaulieu already the guy is sneaky lol don’t see a kessel going to montreal but maybe oreilly?
Absolutely, and the odds are pretty good neither team would be interested in him either!
Comment last comment was @ Paddy…
Putting Boston on his “go to” list is Phil’s way of thumbing his nose at both organizations.
Ya that or…he likes playing in a relevant hockey market with a chance to make the playoffs… Bos Mtl NY Pits Min Chi LA Philly, if you took a poll of NHL players 99 of 100 would have that exact same list of preferred landing spots, but Phil is an evil genius thumbing something? lol some just like to pile on. What honestly were you expecting?
Just that, if he’s truly willing to stay in TO and be part of another 3 to 5 years of non-contender hockey, why wouldn’t he consider a team (other than Pha who are hardly going to be contenders with that mess) that is closer to completing a re-build than the leafs?
Oh, and by the way, that “relevant hockey market” in a league of 30 teams betrays a real elitist attitude.
I dont think so…realistic maybe. Also with that list howmany cups or playoff rounds do the Blackhawks Bruins and Kings Penguins Rangers and Mo treal account for over the past decade? Probably a better chance at making the playoffs then some of these teams that you say are just about done their “rebuilding” no? If it was his diabolical plan to choose teams like Boston and M8ntreal because he knows “the Leafs would never trade him to a rival…” how come Ottawa and Buffalo are not on the list or Detroit?…I will bet withLA on the list that means San Jose or Anihiem wouldnt be out of the question for him to waive to go to…you are double talking becaise you dont like the guy making grandios reasons to support your view, again the majority of the league would probably prefer those destinations over Glendale Arizona Ottawa Buffalo Columbus Calgary Edmonton Sunrise which no offense to the residents of those cities dont have the hockeyteams or the city life of the ones mentioned on his list.
Again it would bethe same for alot of professions not just hockey. if you were a single 27 year old and a millionare where would you rather work? Southern California or Columbus Ohio? Diabolical Phil
bob Mackenzie just said the same thing that there is definitely a few teams on that list that the leafs wont trade too or just cant fit under the cap
So what? Did he do an interview with Kessel and Phil said I picked those teams because I know Ill stay? The list is places he will go without having to be asked doesnt mean of they ask him he wont consider going somewhere else, of course he is going to pick good teams…the cap is not the players problem. Phil or any other player who has a ntc. Any with a NTC would likely have pretty close to the same list of teams. lol its not because he is being difficult…if he starts turning down trades then maybe he is but his clause was a list of 8 teams amd thats exzactly what he did on that list there are teams that have won 7 cups in the past decade Id say he wants to play on a good team or close to home (Minnesota)…if not yo are going to have to ask about it.
And if he doesnt back check and is such a terrible guy in the locker room why is there any teams that the Leafs wouldnt trade him to? None of your statements dont make any sense. Again Ottawa and Buffalo would be 2 teams almost aslikely for MLSE to not want to deal with much more likely than LA or Minnesota yet they are not on his list? If he was putting teams on his list that the Leafs wouldnt deal with in order to stay i Toronto why are they not on the list. Last summer the Leafs were going to trade Franson to Montreal so I am not sure how unwilling they are to deal with the Habs, they have dealt with the Bruins may times those teams are not out of the ordinary for the Leafs to deal with.
lol did you talk to kessel and he told you those are the places he wants to play?? maybe you know him personally?? lol and are you really comparing franson to the same skill as kessel? we all saw how good franson was on team that didn’t have horrible d! healthy scratch in the playoffs no doubt
My take on Kessels trade list is he knows either they won’t trade with those teams or those teams can afford him. Which in turn means kessel actually has a no trade list of more then 22. The leafs will have to keep him in the loop even more the. With just 8 teams because Phil will actually have to ok the final team. Smart thinking if you ask me.
Agreed Aki, anyone with a half a brain would do the same…sure you can trade me….if you want to trade me with out asking me about it Il go home or to great team…if not you will have to ask me.
You would be an idiot to put “maybe” type teams on your list.
now you agree that he put teams on that he knows the leafs wont trade with?? bi polar much?
Lol! you are a pin head…what was he supposed to do spin a board and throw darts at it? He is going to pick good teams or close to home…if they can or will trade him to his teams its not his concern, He may go somewhere else but he controls it.
so why did you start arguing with George he said the exact same thing?? I hope your dad doesn’t see you calling people names on here!! lol
Sorry what is with your obsession with George, big bear?… nvm lol George was saying Phil was thumbing his or their noses this and that like he is being unreasonable trying to be hard to deal with or malicious by puting Boston on the list…I dont think thats the case at all. I agree with Aki that Kessel
controls where he goes, thats what a ntc is
for of course the teams he put on the list may have some cap issues they are good teams. I dont think there are any diabolical ulterior motives. What was he supposed to do honestly pick a list of 8 cap floor teams or teams that maybe able to make room for a right winger? Its not his job to figure those things out, he is not asking for a trade. They gave him a contract a year ago and now new management is trying to move him, what is soooo unreasonable?
Lars Eller will be traded to Columbus with 2nd round pick 2016 for 2x 2nd round picks 2015. Let see what hapenns!!!
Jiri tlusty is close to sign with Habs. Patrick Sharp should be on his way as well. Deal with Chicago should be done in the next days
wrong with all that! I see bergevin landing ryan orielly !!!
Don’t dislike your idea but I think Colorado is looking for a top 2-3 D-Man established for O Reilly
ya I know I just think bergevin is one of the best gms! I wish the leafs had of got him instead of the habs! lol I still think he is gonna make a big move that surprises everyone at the draft