Maple Leafs trade for Phil Kessel
 

I know next to nothing about this guy, looks like he had a real good season last year, only 21 years old, is he worth 2 first round picks and 2nd rounder? We clearly needed a goal scorer, is he it?

Can't remember who your team is, Rangers? Anyway, Kessel's a very good young player. He had a breakout season last year but on a very talented team. I'm not convinced he's a perrenial 35-40 goal scorer in this league. Time will tell. Having said that, I personally think giving up two #1's and a #2 was too high a price to pay for him and that Brian Burke should try to build the Maple Leafs' farm system before trying to win a Stanley Cup. Because his team, even with Kessel, is not close to being there yet and all he did with this trade is set the franchise back in that area. Burke is yet another hypocrite who cried foul when the "rich" teams were "buying" players. Sitting in Vancouver at the time, he was one of the most vocal whiners. Now he's with one of the richest teams in the NHL and he doles out $27M for 5 years to a player who before last season hadn't scored 20 goals. Sather and the Rangers were also pursuing Kessel but I imagine they backed out when they heard the asking price.

Sather *****ed more than Burke

I'm a Maple Leafs fan.

Yeah I meant to mention him specifically when I said "Burke is yet another hypocrite." :D

Who? :dunno:

He's a goalie with the Bruins. He was a Maple Leafs first round draft pick in '05 before they traded him to Boston for Andrew Raycroft. He's probably trying to compare Raycroft to Kessel.

Kessel is a sick offensive weapon which is something the Leafs lack but they better not be the worst team in the league. They'd lose Taylor Hall, next years first, and a second for Kessel. Huge risk for Toronto but they payoff could be huge.

Kessel is a talented, young player, but if I'm a Leafs fan, that price tag is a bit steep for my liking. I don't think this is the type of move they should be making at with the current state they are in.

Oh I know. I was busting FF2's tiny gonads.

In hijacking news, Gaborik is insane. Too bad he'll be hurt soon.

It's incredible. Gaborik might as well change his last name to "if he can stay healthy" because that tag is affixed to EVERY article I read.

Oh by the way, I meant to mention and I'm not sure if you're aware, but Kessel had off-season shoulder surgery and won't be back until sometime in November. And I'm sure it will take him a while to get back up to his normal level of play. That was another factor that made me feel the Leafs gave up a bit too much.

Columbus got 4 past this scrub last night. The gap is closing.

Are you lost?