Quote:
Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen
Last year Kessel was 7th overall in scoring.
Over the last 2 years combined he is 8th in scoring.
Over the last 3 years combined he is 15th in scoring.
Over the last 4 years combined he is 14th in scoring.
Over the last 5 years combined he is 11th in scoring.
Over the last 6 years combined he is 9th in scoring.
Over the last 7 years combined he is 8th in scoring.
Over the last 8 years combined he is 6th in scoring.
His worst season in recent years was 59 points in 82 games. That was still good for 11th in right-winger scoring according to NHL.com (66 points would have been good for 4th). Otherwise he's been in the top 10 RW since 2009-2010 season where he missed several games. Maybe most importantly, his 54 points in 61 playoff games is only behind Crosby in the last 3 playoffs.
Without getting into a debate about what elite is, he's 30 years old on an amazing contract, produces in the playoffs, is a right-winger who shoots right, and has been a top 10 producer in the league for a decade now. I'd give up a hell of a lot. If Brodie+Bennett is the foundation, there's no way I would say no. I'd throw in the 2019 first even if they didn't ask because I don't think my conscious would let me rip of a contemporary so badly.
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Brodie- Bennett is obviously not enough for Kessel as you point out. Adding the first is probably fair value since as per your analysis, Kessel really has been consistently excellent. I’m just not sure that’s something this team should be doing.
And really Pitt likely has little interest in Brodie Bennett as two foundational pieces. One sure thing for two question marks.