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bubbsy · 09-06-2013, 02:30 PM

having kessel on the team has not really turned the tide on the leafs team during his tenure there. i still think the leafs would have been a stronger franchise wiht the 2 first round picks. getting 2nd overall, and likely better than 9th overall they got the next year, as they wouldn't have had kessel (they didn't make the playoffs that year either of course).

i know seguin's value has dropped dramatically after this last playoff run, but over the last 2 seasons, he's been a 0.77 points/game player, almost a 30 goal scorer and 70 point getter during the last full nhl season.

There's a luxury in having a top line prospect in an org that has a plethora of veteran top line talent already as the pressure and responsibility can be eased on the youngster. However, i think it can also inhibit large growth as they are not given the opportunity to play the only way they can be successful (as the go-to, top line guys) on the team. Seguin still performed admirably in the situation. I believe Seguin will be just fine and be a top 10 Center in the NHL as early as this coming season.

so i really believe you can compare the leafs today: a team that were the worst statistical team last year despite making the playoffs and a team that is still very much a bubble team at best in the east versus a team with a guy like Seguin hitting his 3rd year in the league and trending towards a top 10 Center in the league, plus another top prospect making their push into the league. At worst hamilton as it stands today, but like i said, without kessel that #9 pick would have likely been a top 5'ish pick (landeskog, huberdeau, larsson, coutourier, scheifele, zibahenjad).

had the leafs/burke been patient in 2009, i believe they would have been in a stronger place today and be in a position to start contending soon, rather than having 1 playoff to show for the kessel trade and lots of questions coming (ie. are they still a playoff team, some big UFA decisions coming like kessel himself, etc).

i am sorry to harp on this, i actually love discussing the kessel trade, as it was such a drastic trade at the time and one that can be debated to no end (which makes it fun).

09-06-2013, 02:30 PM	#577
bubbsy Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Exp:	having kessel on the team has not really turned the tide on the leafs team during his tenure there. i still think the leafs would have been a stronger franchise wiht the 2 first round picks. getting 2nd overall, and likely better than 9th overall they got the next year, as they wouldn't have had kessel (they didn't make the playoffs that year either of course). i know seguin's value has dropped dramatically after this last playoff run, but over the last 2 seasons, he's been a 0.77 points/game player, almost a 30 goal scorer and 70 point getter during the last full nhl season. There's a luxury in having a top line prospect in an org that has a plethora of veteran top line talent already as the pressure and responsibility can be eased on the youngster. However, i think it can also inhibit large growth as they are not given the opportunity to play the only way they can be successful (as the go-to, top line guys) on the team. Seguin still performed admirably in the situation. I believe Seguin will be just fine and be a top 10 Center in the NHL as early as this coming season. so i really believe you can compare the leafs today: a team that were the worst statistical team last year despite making the playoffs and a team that is still very much a bubble team at best in the east versus a team with a guy like Seguin hitting his 3rd year in the league and trending towards a top 10 Center in the league, plus another top prospect making their push into the league. At worst hamilton as it stands today, but like i said, without kessel that #9 pick would have likely been a top 5'ish pick (landeskog, huberdeau, larsson, coutourier, scheifele, zibahenjad). had the leafs/burke been patient in 2009, i believe they would have been in a stronger place today and be in a position to start contending soon, rather than having 1 playoff to show for the kessel trade and lots of questions coming (ie. are they still a playoff team, some big UFA decisions coming like kessel himself, etc). i am sorry to harp on this, i actually love discussing the kessel trade, as it was such a drastic trade at the time and one that can be debated to no end (which makes it fun).