The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded right wing Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Details to follow.
Phil Kessel dealt to the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN reports the Leafs send Kessel, Tyler Biggs, Tim Erixon and a second round pick to the Penguins for center Nick Spaling, Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington plus a first round pick and a third round pick in 2016. The Leafs are eating $1.25 million per season of Kessel’s salary.
It’s interesting the Penguins didn’t have to give up one of their good young blueliners (Olli Maatta, Derrick Pouliot) in return. They’re getting one of the NHL’s top offensive players in Kessel. He should end up skating alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. Either way, he’s finally playing alongside the first-line center he’s been lacking for years. If Kessel meshes well with either guy, he’ll be a significant addition to their offensive attack.
Kessel’s still carrying a large cap hit for the Penguins, which could create issues for them going forward. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Penguins attempt to shed some salary this summer.
The Leafs rebuild now begins in earnest, giving up a proven scorer for a checking-line center in Spaling plus two promising young players and a first rounder. As much as Kessel was derided for indifferent play and seeming unwillingness to play a two-way style, he was the Leafs top scorer for six straight years. That’s a lot of offense to lose, and it won’t be easily replaced. Kapanen has promise but he’s obviously not ready yet. This puts more pressure on James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul to pick up the load. Perhaps the Leafs will add another scorer via free agency or another trade.
We are still waiting for how much salary was retained but George, what do you think?
15% or 1.25 mill per
Well, I’m holding my assessment until yogi fills me in on what aspect of the deal was “huge” for the Leafs – since they had to retain a good annual cap chunk for the next 7 years. But on the surface, it doesn’t look like anyone is coming in to make up for Kessel’s “30 to 40 goals a year” any time soon. Unless they think it’s Parenteau!
Couple of days back you said he would never be traded George the Leafs would be paying him the whole contract.
I said he would never be traded for the returns some thought the Leafs would – should – get and that ANY deal involving him was going to involve retained money. I also said – more than once – please God let him be dealt so we could hear the frikken end of Phil Kessel. Yogi, in misreading one of my posts where I QUOTED what Lyle put in his opening blurb mentioning one of Lebrun’s statements, called me – in effect – ridiculous, presumably for even thinking that the Leafs would retain money.
@George can you at least let the season start before you write everybody off. Considering Kessel wasn`t going to make life easier by changing any teams on his list or expand it in anyway. Toronto didn`t to that bad, they got more than most of you leaf haters said they would and the prospects aren`t as bad as you think. Rutherford suckered Shanny on the 15%, rookie mistake. Other than that all I can say to you George is move along TROLL.
I have as much right to an opinion in here as you do Yogi – and you can bet I’ll be answering each and every asinine trade proposal put forth by the Leafs faithful. And for your information a cyber ” roll” is someone who visits sites that are exclusive to one faction. Last I looked, this wasn’t a Leafs-only site. You don’t like that, well shove it where your proctologist does his best work. And by the way, we’re still waiting to hear what “huge” returns the Leafs got in exchange for retaining $1,250,000 a year for the next 7 years.
Makes sense Pens to have a sniper but they are not built any better for the playoffs than they were a month ago
Kessel has 13 goals and 21 points in 22 playoff games plaaying with Bozak….
This makes the Penguins more dangerous and better for the playoffs, though, yes, i agree they need some more changes to be a legitimate contender. Still too soft.
I think this is a good deal for both teams leafs get real good young prospects and get a 1st and 3rd pitts last years first in Kappanen, Harrington who was solid on the WJC and projects to be a top 4 wont be a top 2 but very solid. and only retained 1.25 mil while not taking any bad contracts. pitts gets a 35 goal score might now be a 40+ goal plus they get one of Burke huge misses 1st rd picks in Biggs and tim erixon who is a 7th dman. Awin win for both teams.
Now I see a lot of people are getting ticked off cause they didn’t get Maata or puliout and Brandon sutter. that was never going to happen Pitts doesn’t have much on D and those guys are the best of a suspect D which would have left them with nothin had they traded those guys. great trade leafs. Pitts Cup board is completely bare as of now. That’s it we cleaned them out lol they now have a small window to win now before they cut bait. The leafs with Kessel list of teams he submitted I think got the best return you could get and Hey its Kessel if he plays like he did at the end this year we could have two shot at Austin Mathews. im happy good return for the leafs
The Leafs only made the playoffs once since he was there, so how the heck could he of played that many games with Bozak? Kessel started his career in Boston, and played playoff games with them
When was Bozak with the Bruins? 9 of his playoff goals and 6 of his assists came with Boston. 4 and 2 with the Leafs in 7 games,
Got a little excited but for his limited playoff action he has produced. Can’t argue that.
not a huge return but imo getting him out of the locker room was key for the rebuild. interested to hear what shticky and durt have to say? and how they like there crow rare or well done? lol they had to eat salary it was pretty much a given
Here’s an example of one of our debates big bear.
I said “Gudbranson, a 1st and Boyes for all of Kessel’s contract.”
You said “Kessel for Bolland and something less than Gudbranson.”
So yes I would say they got slightly less than I thought, but they clearly got closer to my package than yours. So who should eat crow?
the main argument was the salary being retained! your word ” no chance the leafs retain salary on kessel I cant wait till the trade happens and you have to eat crow bigbear” the trade package I said was similar to kessle,seguin or spezza and you came back with carter and I don’t remember the other ones but I was way closer with the Kessler comparison and they still ate salary
Just because you were right about the Leafs retaining salary doesn’t mean you were right about his value Big bear. You’ve always under rated his trade value, at least I can admit when I was wrong.
how did I underrate his trade value I thought they were gonna get more than what they got! Kessler got bonino atleast that kapenan does not look good lots of people saying 3rd line at best and Harrington had an off year this year not saying he wont be good but we didn’t even get a true nhler? spaling I guess but you pick up 10 of him for 1million as a ufa
kassian to the habs he will help adds some size to the forward crew
Hornswaggle would add size the the Habs !
Kassian will think he is in Gullivers Travels !
Interesting how the Kassian – Hodgson deal worked out for no one.
How many teams has Erixon now played for ?
I dont like retaining salary but in this deal I am okay with it. Its only 1.25 mil and most teams have a contract or two on the books.( Semin etc )
Kessels skill, his scoring will be missed but his attitude wont be. I know there was talk of him going to the fitness Guru ( Gary Roberts ) but we all know that once Babcock gave it to him on the bench it wasnt going to work. So why wait as that scenerio was coming.
I like the move. Could they has gotten more if they held onto him ? Maybe but this is pretty good.
Now what’s Pittsburgh going to do ??
I’ll be the first one to eat it on this…after Shanny and co. Sadly I think the Leafs gave up on this one. Pittsburgh gets another offensive weapon that really didn’t cost them anything. Leafs get younger, but I can’t see anyway in which the Leafs come out looking like the winners on this one (par for the course I guess).
Honestly didn’t think the leafs would hold salary. They return is so so at best, Harrington might pan out to be a top 4, from what I read that Kappnen kids development has stalled and getting a 1st and 3rd while giving up a second and some bottom prospects isnt to bad.
Let me be the first to say it, I thought the Leafs could have got more. I wonder if maybe Kessel wouldnt expand his list.
The Pens are in rough shape if they don’t win a cup in the next 2-3 years.
That’s not a good return.. For Kessel
But it’s what you had to take!! Now you can move on from that dog and pony show
Pitts gave: Harrington (2nd round), kapenen (1st round),
Spaling, 1st and 3rd
Kapenen and Biggs are both late 1st rounders.. So they Essentially cancel each other out
Pittsburgh’s first round pick in 2016 will be late.. And Toronto’s second round pick in 2016 will be early
( probably within 10 spots of each other)… So A little gain there
Essentially it is Harrington, plus a third round pick and move up around 10 spots in the 2016 draft.. Not a great return!!
But they did it.. I was absolutely wrong about that, as I thought it would drag out longer
The return was pretty much bang on what I said it would be!! I’m sure that doesn’t sit well with ( shticky, striker, Dino rondelly)
looks like you boys were very wrong about Kessels value!!!!!!!!!
Reply
I don’t like the return. These seem like low level prospects as far as I know. Unless they have more of a plan wouldn’t it have been better to hold off for a better return? Sort of crazy to me, I know he didn’t play defense but he’s a premier goal scorer in the league. 2 way defenders are much more common than 35/yr goal scorers.
Bad move in my opinion, not enough return.
Not a blockbuster but they did recouperate some assets (2 late 1st picks) and a B prospect, filling positional needs.
Additionally, they gain $5 million; clear alot of negativity and start “new” this year (lupul or phaneuf is next)
Heres an overview of shanny so far:
OUT: kessel + 5 mil + probable lower ranking to kessel winning a few games
IN: organizational overhaul + babcock, marner, kapinen + dermott, harrison + pitts 2016 late first rounder…
not bad all things considered
But that’s exactly what some of us were saying all along – minimal return and the need to hold back cap money – and for that we were called ‘Leafshaters”, idiots, ridiculous and a hoist of other unflattering epithets. Funny how opinions change once the One-Way Wonder has been jettisoned isn’t it?
i dont recall calling anyone those names ever
not my style georgie boy
regarding kessel i may have said hes worth more but later in the year. not now
just saying
Spector’s Hockey retweeted
Bozak Free in 2018 @mlse 3h3 hours ago
Toronto media: “I can’t believe the Leafs got a shitty return on a player we’ve been saying blows for five years”
Kinda fits here really well
HMMMM
Posted a comment but cant find it, tried to repost and couldnt??
That’s because it contained a bad word. 😉
Don’t worry, I approved it.
Okay thanks. I wondered whats up. It made me laugh when I read it on your twitter.
Jeezus some are simple Biggs and Kapanen cancel each other out? How? Biggs will be lucky if he sees an nhl game without paying for a ticket…he is a project that may if he is lucky turn in to a 4th line player…I admit I was wrong with salary but its alot less than taking back a contract like Scuderri or Clowe which I thought was more likely soo. Anyway pretty decent return ends up being a very good prospect a serviceable D man who is still young a contract thats small and over next year…or 2 firsts a second a third and a player…not horrible not great either my main problem withholding salary is thats now 2 contracts they are holding money on and I think it makes it almost impossible to move both Lupul and Bozak…can only hold money on 3 deals
have you been following kapenen shticky? hes not looking very good projected as a 3rd liner at best don’t think the pens had a problem throwing him in the trade! he could turn out better but its not looking good even I thought they could have gotten better than that and they gave up a 2nd??
“I dont think the Pens had a problem throwing him in the deal” Perhaps because they got an 80 point winger to play with Malkin or Crosby? If Phil is so bad and worthless why do the Pens trade for him? Let alone give up 1 of their last decent prospects and 2 picks and realistically send so little salary back? 1.25 is almost nothing when you compare it to a contract like Scuderi Dupuis Kunitz or a couple other contracts that could have comeback…again I think you might get a concussion if you keep patting yourself on the back that hard lol
lol im just glad everyone is starting to realize how little you really know about hockey! your wrong all the time lol how many concussions have you had? lol
I come here to talk hockey I’m not really here for an approval rating. Guess thats the difference between you and me…and Ive had a few Ive actually played the game quite a bit…again another difference between me and you Im betting.
lol well you would be a bad gambler too than cause ive probably played more than you and a lot higher calibre
Thought they would have received a bit better of a return. That said, he had a limited no trade and a significant contract. There’s problem #1 and #2 right out of the gate. After the team including Kessel literally gave up on last season along with salute gate and other notable issues in the press. The Leafs felt they needed to move forward. If you want to be mad at anyone people…blame Burke. Risky trade on a talented player with plenty of question marks surrounding his character. Burke wanted to fast track the team like many previous regimes and let’s just say it didn’t work out. Hind sight is always 20-20 but I think the Leafs were right to move him assuming they continue with a true rebuild.
Here we go with the spin-doctoring again.
Wait what? reading all the Leaf fans comments over the last year I thought Kessel was suppose to bring back all these glorious riches? I guess not, apparently the contract was considered a hindrance eh Leafers? Oh and btw, Phaneuf deal will be much, much worse.
I dont mind the deal just dont like the idea of holding salary…really its not the dollar amount.
don’t mind the deal?? lol kapenen should not have been drafted in the first rd hasn’t looked good at all since being drafted so you like kessel and a 2nd for Harrington and a 1st and 3rd?? everyone read how you were talking quit with the spin doctoring shticky! jeezus
Yay BigBear can read…no I dont mind the deal. Dont love it, dont hate it.
This is a joke. Remember that.
“Bigbear. what do you mean? Kapenen is now a leaf so his evaluation is suddenly boosted. You can’t tell us he shouldn’t of been taken in the first round. Now he is a leaf therefore he surely would of been taken ahead of Crosby and McDavid in those years.”
I agree jeff shticky thinks when they put the blue and white on they are way better! hes a know it all tho jeff whatever we say doesn’t matter even when it happens
lol I smellll envy why you keep trolling and mentioning me big bear?
To what degree is it “trolling?” Are you saying this is an exclusive Leafs site? Do you not submit ad hoc comments on what others say?
George…shticky is the biggest troll on here. and shticky why would I envy someone that is wrong all the time?? lol like seriously?
I read Scuderi and Kunitz absolutely refused to go to Toronto.
The amount of salary Toronto is taking back is minimal, I dont like it but its acceptable.
Kap has a shot at the NHL, yes he has regressed but hopefully he improve, he has more skill then Biggs. Biggs cant skate, he may improve but I believe Kap has a better future. Time will tell.
Harrington is going to be a good one. ( dont give me he was drafted in the 2nd rd crap , a lot of good players were )
You cannot win, any deal will be criticized. Could they have done better, yes but it’s done and Im not crazy about it one way or the other. ( Even Grapes said he was surprised Torronna only retained 1.25 ) It’s not a great deal, not a bad one but yes its an OKAY deal.
Exactly
What that Kessel deal says, in LARGE letters, is that Babcock made it clear he didn’t want him around when training camp arrives and so Shanahan was determined to get rid of him one way or another and when all was said and done he took the best offer on the table. which isn’t much. And please don’t start painting a rosier picture of “Kap” than actually exists. He’s a “suspect” more than a “prospect”
All things considered,not a bad return for Kessel; especially considering that Kessel had the Leafs by the short hairs here with only 8 possible trade destinations he would accept a trade to.
Kessel was a critical piece to move out and they did; and I’m not sure having a true GM here,given the limited choice of teams to trade him to, could have done any better than that consortium was able to do.
as a Pens fan im happy with this deal. Toronto did well also. but Pens not having to trade Maatta or Pouliot was incredible. and it seems that a lot of hockey fans think their team would win in the playoffs without 3 of their top 4 dmen. that’s what happened to the Pens and people are just ripping them
Hunwick Arcobello Marinicin Winnik Harrington….Dubas has his analytical fingerprints all over thos team today, all on shorter deals ableto be dealt for picks come deadli e day to add to the 11 or 12 picks they have already next year with their 2 firsts 2 2nds 1 or 2 3rds….te rebuild is looking pretty good so far…weird they ,ay not score as much bit will have the puck a whole lot more.
most in common below average nhlers!! lol
Just cant help yourself eh troll hit reply and right there trolling along behind me like a shadow….what in your opinionshould have been done by a rebuilding team sign a bunch of mediocre ufas to longer term bigger money deals…you speakout of both sides of youre mouth. Kessel sucks but the return for him sucks…they need a rebuild but look at all the cheap deals they sugned…back to ignorung the guy who just trolls along behind to argue. Lol
blah blah blah
And normally I wouldnt pat myself on the back quite so much but since ya like bringing up how wrong I am …few weeks back I was talking to Hanson on here about how the Caps should go out and sugn Williams and look at that they dud a week or so ago I mentioned I wouldnt be surprised if Einnik or Franson come back maling those picks free picks aquired in those deals….look at that winnik is a Leaf on another short deal….geee I think ill bring itup for the next 30 posts…get over yourself its pretty hard to be wrong when you talk out both sides of your mouth, and add nothing to a conversation.lol
funny thing is I said the same thing about Williams!! lol and where did you expect winnick or franson to go healthy scratch in playoffs maybe back to a team that finished bottom 5?
shticky saying somebody speaks out of both sides their mouth!! lmao
Just saying what most already figured out about you…
Now what side of your mouth is that? Did you really mean you or me?? You will twist around tomorrow anyways I’ll just wait
Now that Phil the thrill has finally been moved, can the Leafs find takers for Bozak, Lupul or Dion?
Of those 3, Dion should bring the best return; should they decide to he has to go; while the other two are what..3rd..maybe 4th round draft pick options in trades for the Leafs? I say this is where the consortium earns their pay figuring out these 3 players
Those three have virtually no value at the moment. I don’t think they’re going anywhere soon.
I think Dion would be staying anyway….An8ther thing I dont like about the Kessel trade is that when Bozaks numbers crater from not playing with Kessel then what? He is almost impossible to move now, what happens if he puts up 30 points and is a 3rd line center behind Kadri and Holland making over 4 mill? Imo you need to move Bozak ASAP for what ever you can get or you may never get rid of him. Lupul is Lupul Ive said for 2 8r 3 years now he is going to end up being a buy out.
Hey Shticky, I’m tempted to say let Lupul and Bozak play out their contacts if they can’t be moved. I don’t want to be hindered by a buy-out.
I have hope that Bozak can become a more complete player with a culture change. Overpaid yes, but I think there will be about $9M in cap space once Bernier, Kadri and Marincin are re-signed, so we’re not pinched.
In terms of culture change Lupul is the guy I would most like to see moved. But the only way that would happen at the moment would be something along the lines of the Clarkson trade. His value is in the negatives. But hey if he doesn’t respond he can sit in the press box.
They’re still going to try to move Dion maybe this year, maybe next. But they won’t just give him away, nor should they.
Hey Leafs..Eric Fehr..coming off a two year $3 million contract. 29 and affordable..Brendan..U listening? 6’4″, 19 goals, good plugger for a year or two..not worse than Bozak and a lot cheaper too
hahahaa
i tried that too jeff
they dont f’in listen
not great but not bad considering only Pitt too play with. Hey George keep on hating your good at it
I reiterate, I don’t “hate” the Leafs. I am totally ambivalent about a mediocre team. What I don’t like are the asinine trade proposals put forth on a regular basis by their faithful. And even if I did “hate” them, so what? Is that not permissible in your narrow world? Is there only room for Leafs Lovers?
It’s crazy the same jokers who have been trashing Kessel, basically saying he’s untradable now show up here and try to say “i was right”!?! They want to say that Kapanen and Harrington are no good and Biggs was a great prospect we gave up. I just can’t argue with someone of that mentality, it’s really pointless.
I’d have to say I’m happy with the deal. Kessel will probably put up big numbers beside Crosby but it was critical to shake up the culture of the team. We picked up five assets (2 prospects, a 1st, a 3rd and Spaling). We gave up a second but I think we can get that back if we move Spaling at the deadline. Biggs was not one of the better players on the Marlies, let alone a future nhler. Erixon was a spare part acquired off waivers. I’ll trust Hunter and Dubas’ assessment of Kapanen and Harrington. Other sites listed them as 2 of Pitts top 5 prospects entering last season so I’m optimistic.
Retaining 1.25 per year is not ideal, but it shouldn’t hamper the team much moving forward. People will say, “there you go, he’s overpaid” but I don’t think that’s the case, just a necessity to work out a favorable deal with Pittsburgh. The important thing is we can move on and the rebuild is off on the right footing.
@ co
How do they get 5 assets??
Your forgetting to minus the assets Toronto gives up which is 3!! (if Spaling is an assets then so is Erxion)
The 1st from Pitts.. Is lottery draft protected
So it will probably be like 10 spots higher than the 2nd round pick the leafs give up(roughly)
You can say Kapenen and Biggs cancel each other out in terms of value(late round draft picks).. Again that’s just roughly
So the trade boils down to..
Harrington/ 3rd / move up 10 spots
Very underwhelming considering all the big moves at the draft..
Hamilton/ Lucic/ Reinhardt!!!
Just to name a few
All going for 1st in the deep draft plus more!!!!
I believe the 2nd rounder will be returning the 2nd we got from Pitt in the Winnik deal. That’s not confirmed but that’s my assumption so not 10 spots lower than the 1st, 30 spots.
I don’t assign much value to Erixon, he was a waiver wire pick-up from last year who is a 6-7 guy on our team, probably won’t last long in Pitt. Biggs was in the final year of his entry level contract and unlikely to get more than a sniff of nhl action, let alone an new contract (he’s below the likes of Carrick and Gauthier on the leafs depth forward list). Basically in the same boat as Brad Ross.
Spaling on the other hand is an established nhler player who can be useful on a good team in a depth roll and probably traded for a decent draft pick tomorrow (decent cap hit) or at the deadline. The fact he is moveable underlines how much cap relief we really got in this deal. That space can useful in acquiring other assets for the rebuild.
The position wasn’t enviable for Shany & Co. It was pretty clear they wanted to move Kessel and there are too many teams up against the cap. I think they’ve hedged their bets pretty well and got some flexibility for future deals.
As far as Kapanen and Harrington go, I’ll trust the Leafs talent evaluators. If Kapanen is a 2nd/3rd line nhler and Harrington a 3-4 defenseman we’ve done well. If not, at least we turn the page and start fresh with Babcock.
Sounds as though you’re gagging on that crow. But I give up trying to argue with someone who adheres to the “my team right or wrong philosophy” and whose main tactic when responding to what others write about a subject of the day is to bring up a name from another team who ISN’T a subject of the day. Sort of the school yard “oh yeah?” approach.
What you’re refering to there, my reference to players on other teams. Those are called facts, statistics, comparables. You should try to make use of those things yourself sometime. We all know your opinions on Kessel, I have to wonder what your opinion on a guy like Bobby Ryan is, 18 Goals, 2nd line player, 7 years at $7.25M, can’t spell intensity? Is he the second worst contract in the League (to Kessel)?
“my team right or wrong philosophy”, indeed.
I would say the deal worked out. Kessel finally gets a Center to play with, and at a cap hit of 6.7 mil for a 30g Scorer on a bad team id say the penguins did well.
As for the leafs, they do well on the idea that they free up 6.7 Mil in cap space, 1.2 mil isn’t as hard a pill to swallow since they’ve been eating contracts as far back as i remember, and they’ve sucked for how far back i remember, and i think they will suck still for a couple years…It only hurts year 5-7 when they start to hopefully be competitive again.
Either way leafs brass added 2 “decent” prospects and a late 1st which is a “decent” prospect. The main point is they add two players under 23 that may or may not be anything. Seems as though they are loading up with as many skilled players which Kapanen is even with some down fall of his game he has skill, Marner, Bracco, Nylander… My guess is they hope to hit a home run with one of these guys turning out like a Pat Kane.
The point in all is Toronto once again add Picks and young players in hopes of turning out better. if you get 20 young guys one of them should eventually turn out. They drafted 7 of their 9 picks on players who were ranked in the top 100 in most analyst rankings which is nice. Not saying these guys turn in to anything but you improve your chances. Also next year they have 11 picks most in the top 90. The team is doing what Shannahan said, load up and hope some pan out. its up to hunter now to pick the right guys. Which we wont see for years.
And as a leaf fan, I’m okay with the trade just because i don’t have to listen to Kessel banter another day in the media related to the leafs.