[Trade] Kessel ,Biggs, & Erixon to Pens for Spaling, Kapenen, Harrington and 2 picks

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

So Kapenen a top 5 prospect in the world now! Right?

In fairness to BigTuna, that was a surprisingly honest post for him (other than the Kessel comment).

And I agree that Kapanen is the key - they need him to become a top 6 player or this trade was a Kessel cap dump.

[sureLoss]

So Flames equivalent?

Raymond (closest thing I think the Flames have to Spaling)
Klimchuk (although some will say Kapanen has more upside)
Wotherspoon
2016 1st
2016 3rd

and Flames had to likely add more because they were most likely asking for more salary retention

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

So Flames equivalent?

Raymond (closest thing I think the Flames have to Spaling)
Klimchuk (although some will say Kapanen has more upside)
Wotherspoon
2016 1st
2016 3rd

That's probably a pretty good equivalent.

And let's keep in mind, Toronto gives up a 2nd, a couple lower-end prospects, and eats $1.2M.

Edit: maybe more like Poirier than Klimchuk - probably somewhere between the two

Edit2: Harrington isn't worth Wotherspoon, so let's stick with Klimchuk

[Enoch Root]

By the way, based on draft asset value tables, if you take the lottery-protected first, minus a second, plus a third, it works out to be the equivalent of about an early 2nd - somewhere around 33-35th overall.

So the deal is essentially: Kapanen + Harrington + early 2nd for Kessel - $1.2M retained.

[Go_Flames4ever]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Conditions on the picks

So if the Pens miss the playoffs this coming season and make it in 2016-17 the Leafs get the Pens' first rounder in 2017 and give their second rounder. The Leafs will most likely be a basement team in 2016-17. If Pittsburg makes it to the cup final in those playoffs, then it'll essentially be Toronto getting the 29th overall pick and Pittsburg getting the 31-33ish pick. That is some shrewd condition on the Pens' part.

[sharkov]

We can finally stop seeing those "where is Phil Kessel going?" headlines on TSN

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sharkov

We can finally stop seeing those "where is Phil Kessel going?" headlines on TSN

Now it will be "where is Dion Phaneuf going?".

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

So Kapenen a top 5 prospect in the world now! Right?

"Big Upside Prospect" does not equal top 5 in the world.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

Said it before I'll say it again. Phil Kessel is criminally underrated.

By fans or the hockey world? I think the majority of fans around the NHL would concede that he's a good goal scorer with a bad contract. And the trade today shows what he and his contract are worth. He's good enough where a team like the Pens wanted to acquire him, but his contract was bad enough where the Leafs had to eat some of it. It is what it is.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by pylon

Well, Leafs and Penguins management seem to disagree. And unless you know something they dont, I'll go with the fact he is in fact over rated. The things that sucks most about this trade, is we will no longer get to see you blindly pump Kessels tires. It is extremely funny to us.

He's been the NHL's most criticized and laughed at player the past 6 years. He gets zero compliments. He is not overrated.

The criticism should stop now though.

[Enoch Root]

I am starting to think that BigTuna IS Phil Kessel!

BigTuna.... Phil Kessel... BIG tuna....

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

He's been the NHL's most criticized and laughed at player the past 6 years. He gets zero compliments. He is not overrated.

The criticism should stop now though.

Well yes, as a natural function of going to Crosby and Malkin from Bozak and ??? he probably will be viewed more favourably.

[Resolute 14]

Kessel has the same problem in Pittsburgh that he had in Toronto: He's still a one-dimensional winger paid like a franchise centre.

[FlamesAddiction]

It's funny how Kessel looks like he could be Crosby's dad.

I actually like Kessel. He seems like a good guy. It's sad that he is never in good shape.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Kessel has the same problem in Pittsburgh that he had in Toronto: He's still a one-dimensional winger paid like a franchise centre.

The starting point for franchise centres is now 10.5 million. He's actually paid like Rick Nash.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's funny how Kessel looks like he could be Crosby's dad.

I actually like Kessel. He seems like a good guy. It's sad that he is never in good shape.

You ever stop to think if he wasn't in good shape he would be a 4th liner or healthy scratch? Look at his numbers. He's in better shape than people think.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Well yes, as a natural function of going to Crosby and Malkin from Bozak and ??? he probably will be viewed more favourably.

I just meant people don't hate Pittsburgh. The criticism will disappear. Just like when Bryan McCabe went to Florida.

[BigTuna]

BTW, for the "Kessel is fat and showed up out-of-shape at training camp" crowd:

https://twitter.com/damospin/status/514197460215160832


Notice so few reported on this? The guy is being screwed by the media.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

I just meant people don't hate Pittsburgh. The criticism will disappear. Just like when Bryan McCabe went to Florida.

I don't hate Toronto. Kessel is still a one dimensional player, whether he plays on Toronto or Pittsburgh. He's great if you have 3-4 players that are as good offensively as him so that he isn't "the guy".

He is this generation's Brett Hull. Was not successful with the Blues at all when he was the guy, but as a depth piece in both Dallas and Detroit, he did find success and won.

[IgiTang]

Kessel is going to rip it up with Crosby, no doubt. Perhaps even a potential rocket Richard contender.

Ray Ferraro said it best about Kessel being a 70' guy and Pittsburgh has the guys to make up for the other 130'.