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Originally Posted by BigTuna
Like who? Right now they'd get a mid first rounder for Phil Kessel and Kapanen (First Rounder) is playing great on the Marlies. AND Harrington, who also is promising and playing well. And Kessel has been a massive bust in Pittsburgh for whatever reason. But to you that's giving him away? Right now the Leafs win that trade.
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I'd argue it doesn't matter that the Leafs are winning it now, at the time it wasn't forseeable they'd win it and they gave him away. Kapanen is small but skilled and has shown nothing at the NHL level. Harrington? Let me know when he does anything in the majors. The Leafs gave away a 40 goal scorer because he was perceived to be a bad teammate. It hasn't worked out yet in Pittsburgh, but his elite goalscoring didn't grow on trees. The organization really handled the PR side of things well through selling the "cancer in the locker room" angle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigTuna
There are execs being quoted in the papers that they can't believe the Leafs did not retain any money. And you're trying to say they gave Dion away? Now you're upping his value after the trade. Where were these thoughts of Dion having "Decent Value" before this trade?
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I guess you don't remember last year when Dion was at a lower point and guys like Bob MacKenzie saying that despite all of us thinking Phaneuf's contract was untradable, there were several teams who would take him in a hockey deal? Again, the Leafs PR team working OT and the fan base licking it up. The Leafs dumped a contract but got nothing in return.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigTuna
You're wrong, finding anyone to pick-up a big contract is very difficult. The Clarkson dump was a miracle.
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I'd fully agree the Clarkson one was a miracle. He didn't deserve it to begin with and dealing that was a total dump. The guy had no value and wasn't a reclamation project. It's a different situation though. Kessel was a 40 goal scorer with a perceived attitude. Phaneuf is a #2-3 d-man overpaid by a couple million. Phaneuf has an upside if put in the right situation. If he's paired with a responsible two way d-man I do think he could be effective, and I think that's what Ottawa's banking on.