Has the Kessel Trade Backfired Already?

January 19, 2010 – Adam Steevens

We’re guilty of a little Leafs bashing here at The Puck Doctors every once in a while (case in point, Gesner’s post a few months back), but with the Maple Leafs floundering in 14th place in the East, it’s high time to question the thought process behind the Phil Kessel deal. Brian Costello of THN wrote about the trade – and how it could really hurt the organization in the long-run.

“How’s a team supposed to rebuild without young, cheap talent coming down the pipeline? A colleague argued Toronto could afford to give up the valuable first round picks because it had signed Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson as free agents and they are effectively de facto first-rounders. Shame on the person who thinks a rebuilding team can give up any early draft picks.”

Exactly. Keep in mind that the Leafs dealt two first round picks, and one second rounder. For a team that’s clearly in the rebuilding mode, it’s hard to justify Brian Burke’s choice to blow through some of the organization’s future for a quick fix in Kessel. It’s become the signature of his leadership – Burke manages a hockey club like a bull in a china shop. First, he went to the press claiming that he wanted John Tavares in Toronto (a complete impossibility), then the Leafs were too weak for his taste, so he stacked his roster with ‘truculent’ players, only to find his club 28th overall in the league. It’s knee-jerk, reactionary management that the best fans in the NHL shouldn’t have to put up with.

Could Kessel turn into a 50-goal scorer? Sure, but what if he stays this injury prone his entire career? He’s currently producing points at a fairly modest rate (15g, 13a in 38GP), but Kessel was known for his prolonged slumps in Boston. When he gets in a rut while in a Leafs uniform, the crushing pressure of the Toronto media will be all over him. It’s not that Kessel is a bust, it just seems like Burke has put him in a bad situation – as good as he is, Kessel won’t lead this team out of the basement alone.

Now the Leafs don’t even have a first round pick in 2011, and Kessel, while incredibly talented, can’t benefit the organization as much as two solid first rounders could have. There’s no two ways about it – Burke gambled with Toronto’s future, and it could be a long time before the Leafs can return to respectability because of it.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Has the Kessel Trade Backfired Already?”

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[Reply]
Tom Holder on January 20th, 2010 10:58 am
“and Kessel, while incredibly talented, can’t benefit the organization as much as two solid first rounders could have.”
Here’s where I think you go wrong – Kessel is legit, the bird in the hand. There’s no guarantee that you get two solid players out of your first round picks. Wade Belak went 12th overall remember?
I put Kessel into the same group as Kadri, Bozak, Stalberg etc. He’s part of the next generation, he just happens to have some experience and he’s a proven goal scorer. He wasn’t signed to put the Leafs in the playoffs this year, he was signed to keep the Buds in the playoffs for 5 years a little ways down the road.
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Your daddy on March 3rd, 2010 1:23 am
So everyone thinks 2 picks is worth kessel? People have been quick to point out that with Kessel traded from boston, Savard has nobody to pass to?
For kessel, who does he have to play with? He can’t do it all on his own.
Remember a lot of injuries in Boston. Also, the leafs are sitting bottom in the league. This means next season Boston will have 2 young prospects to add in, while the leafs will have shit.
Gonna have to spend some big bucks if the leafs take this road.
[Reply]
bill on June 2nd, 2010 12:06 am
There is no way Burke would have traded for Kessel had he known that Boston would be rewarded with either Seguin or Hall. This Kessel deal smarts even more when you figure that the Bruins get the Leafs 2nd rounder this year plus the Leafs #1 pick in 2011. Ouch! 2011 is looking like another lottery pick for the B’s thanks to the Leafs.
[Reply]
abdul on December 1st, 2010 1:23 am
how do you feel about the trade now! cuz we may be giving up another lottery pick. Toronto’s future is in ruins due to Burkes stupid trade.
how can u rebuild a team without draft picks in the salary cap era! rarely will it pan out.
toronto’s future isnt too bright
[Reply]