2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Parallex

So... can I get a summation of what all this Kessel stuff is about?

In regards to Phil Kessel here's what I think... Phil Kessel is 27 (turning 28 in October) has a 8M cap hit and is signed for 7 more years (with a NTC). That's a lot of moolah for one guy, but some guys are worth that so is Phil Kessel one of those guys?

Standard Stats: Consistent 30 goal scorer, probably averages 0.8PPG. Excellent in this era.

Possession Stats: Not so good, negative shot attempt differential, slightly negative shot attempts in terms of on/off ice but pretty close to neutral (team wasn't better with him on the ice as opposed to off the ice in that regard).

Non-stat notables:Close your eyes and think of a generic athlete... does that athlete physically resemble Phil Kessel? I'm guessing unless you love professional bowling (and you consider it an athletic endeavor) then the answer is "no". That matters because how many guys that aren't in great shape age well? The answer is "not many" and that puts significantly more risk on the back-end of that contract. He also has a standoffish personality so he can't really be "the guy" in a hockey market. My personal observation was also that he contributed to the thick atmosphere of "I don't give a crap" that came off the Leafs late last year... the fans in your building paid (a lot) of good money to watch you play I really hated seeing a bunch of guys essentually paid to put on a show half-assing it out there.

So then who is ideally "the market" for Phil Kessel? A non-hockey market, where there are already guys that drive play but lack a sniper, that has both money and cap space, that is in win now mode (and unconcerned about the back half of his contract), that he will accept a trade to. I don't think that team exists... still 30 goals is 30 goals so someone will want him but I think Leaf fans had best start to accept that what that someone will give up for him isn't what their hopes and dreams are made of.

If I were the Leafs, I would propose a Kessel for Semin swap.

effectively it is similar to the Horton-Clarkson deal. Leafs take on a truly untradeable asset and the Canes get a player (warts and all). Carolina might be a good spot of Kessel so he can escape the media spotlight.

Leafs certainly have the financial resources to buy out Semin and make him go away.

Otherwise, yes, I will concede that Kessels contract makes him difficult to move.

[heep223]

I thought buy outs were over?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by heep223

I thought buy outs were over?

Compliance buyouts are over. Normal buyouts are still possible.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by heep223

I thought buy outs were over?

compliance buyouts are over. Teams can still buyout players/contracts I believe.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by TOfan

If I were the Leafs, I would propose a Kessel for Semin swap.

effectively it is similar to the Horton-Clarkson deal. Leafs take on a truly untradeable asset and the Canes get a player (warts and all). Carolina might be a good spot of Kessel so he can escape the media spotlight.

Leafs certainly have the financial resources to buy out Semin and make him go away.

Otherwise, yes, I will concede that Kessels contract makes him difficult to move.

The list of teams Kessel submitted was essentially done in a way so he wouldn't be moved from Toronto.

They were like the top 8 teams in the league. You think he would accept a trade to Carolina?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TOfan

If I were the Leafs, I would propose a Kessel for Semin swap.

effectively it is similar to the Horton-Clarkson deal. Leafs take on a truly untradeable asset and the Canes get a player (warts and all). Carolina might be a good spot of Kessel so he can escape the media spotlight.

Leafs certainly have the financial resources to buy out Semin and make him go away.

Otherwise, yes, I will concede that Kessels contract makes him difficult to move.

So after 20 or so rude, condescending, and immature posts full of hyperbole, insults, inaccuracies, and goalpost-moving inconsistencies, you come out and flatly admit yourself what everyone has been saying to you all along.

You're a credit to your fanbase.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Weitz

The list of teams Kessel submitted was essentially done in a way so he wouldn't be moved from Toronto.

They were like the top 8 teams in the league. You think he would accept a trade to Carolina?

why not? as Elliot Fredman has said 'no trade clauses aren't worth the paper they're printed on.'

If I were Phil, I would consider it.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So after 20 or so rude, condescending, and immature posts full of hyperbole, insults, inaccuracies, and goalpost-moving inconsistencies, you come out and flatly admit yourself what everyone has been saying to you all along.

You're a credit to your fanbase.

Big Tuna must be proud.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by TOfan

why not? as Elliot Fredman has said 'no trade clauses aren't worth the paper they're printed on.'

If I were Phil, I would consider it.

Well Fredman should remind himself of another prolific Toronto scorer named Mats Sundin.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by TOfan

why not? as Elliot Fredman has said 'no trade clauses aren't worth the paper they're printed on.'

If I were Phil, I would consider it.

Fredman?

NTC's pretty much mean that you can't just trade a player anywhere, the player has a large say in where he goes. Kessel can't really pick the exact team he'll go to but he can pick a bunch of teams he's willing to go to and subsequently teams he's not willing to go to. I doubt he'd want to go to Carolilna and I doubt the canes would want to pay him.

You're not Kessel though and by the looks of things, Carolina isn't really a highly preferred destination for players who aren't Staals.

[thefoss1957]

As the Dogs are about $18.6 million UNDER the Cap floor, I would expect them to be involved in a lot of armchair GM's dream scenarios...

The current rumor de jour in Chicago (aside from Sharp to everywhere!) is Bickell to the Desert for a bag of pucks (as I don't know if Arizona has any non-craptastic and cheap assets to return to Chi)

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

As the Dogs are about $18.6 million UNDER the Cap floor, I would expect them to be involved in a lot of armchair GM's dream scenarios...

The current rumor de jour in Chicago (aside from Sharp to everywhere!) is Bickell to the Desert for a bag of pucks (as I don't know if Arizona has any non-craptastic and cheap assets to return to Chi)

My fingers are crossed that Raymond ends up there.

[Poe969]

I think Raymond would actually be a decent fit in Arizona. I could see Raymond for the third overall pick....we may have to add Hanowski though... (not using green text)

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

My fingers are crossed that Raymond ends up there.

Along with buried players like Reinhart. Not really worried about what we would get back, just need room for new draft pick kids.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So after 20 or so rude, condescending, and immature posts full of hyperbole, insults, inaccuracies, and goalpost-moving inconsistencies, you come out and flatly admit yourself what everyone has been saying to you all along.

You're a credit to your fanbase.

I don't think I'm any of these things you mention. inconsistencies, where?Only point I was making was that Kessel has a lot more value than what is being discussed here, some of these proposals are ridiculous and any reasonable hockey fan would know as much.

the kessel situation plays out one of three ways:

1) they move the contract as I suggested for another contract ie:Semin. buy him out. move on.

2) they make a hockey deal. Kessel for a player, a pick, and a 1st. Boomer suggested a few weeks back Gilles, Backlund, and a 1st while the flames were rumored to be interested. Obviously not going to happen now, but a deal similar to this would certainly interest the Leafs.

3) they keep one of the best goal scorers in the league.

for the record, I'm a flames fan. If you think Flames fans are better/smarter than leafs fans, or anyother fan base, you're sorely mistaken.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I don't think I'm any of these things you mention. inconsistencies, where?Only point I was making was that Kessel has a lot more value than what is being discussed here, some of these proposals are ridiculous and any reasonable hockey fan would know as much.

the kessel situation plays out one of three ways:

1) they move the contract as I suggested for another contract ie:Semin. buy him out. move on.

2) they make a hockey deal. Kessel for a player, a pick, and a 1st. Boomer suggested a few weeks back Gilles, Backlund, and a 1st while the flames were rumored to be interested. Obviously not going to happen now, but a deal similar to this would certainly interest the Leafs.

3) they keep one of the best goal scorers in the league.

for the record, I'm a flames fan. If you think Flames fans are better/smarter than leafs fans, or anyother fan base, you're sorely mistaken.

Every fan base values their players more than other teams. It's just the way she goes.

I for one see Kessel staying in Toronto. If he does move, it will be for less than the leafs would like, but more than what is likely being thrown around here. What is the middle ground? I don't know.

[GreenLantern]

Bickell really cashed in on a great season in 12-13 and an even better playoff run. Was he getting buried in Chicago or was that run just a fluke in a short season?

Bollig vs. Bickell .. 1.25 vs 4 ..

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Along with buried players like Reinhart. Not really worried about what we would get back, just need room for new draft pick kids.

My guess is Van Brabant, Hanowski and Reinhart aren't given qualifying offers and are cut loose July 1st.

[Imported_Aussie]

Raymond to Coyotes for a mid round pick in 2016 - keep stocking the cupboard for future choices/assets to trade. He also comes off the books when they would want to start competing, and as much as they would be a team to throw money at UFAs, they aren't and attractive destination and they would want to avoid too much term on players not worth it.
Raymond also capable of playing in a top 6 role on a weak team - as in he can score goals when force-fed the minutes

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Bickell really cashed in on a great season in 12-13 and an even better playoff run. Was he getting buried in Chicago or was that run just a fluke in a short season?

Bollig vs. Bickell .. 1.25 vs 4 ..

Bickell NEVER impressed me, he has the kind of size that old-school hockey scouts/coaches drool over, but, Bickell was inconsistent in EFFORT...he reminded me of a slightly more physical version of (and excuse me for typing this name!) Rene Bourque.

It was hoped that Bickell would be the muscle on a line with Toews and Kane, but, guys with speed and puck management skills, like Saad, Hossa and Sharp had better chemistry...It was then hoped that he'd use his size to his advantage on the 2nd or 3rd line, but his defensive deficiencies (just not a great back checker) made him less than ideal....It was hoped that he'd settle in as a "net-front-presence" on the PP, and while he was merely OK at screening, he had no hands for finishing, the much smaller, quicker, and grittier Andrew Shaw was FAR superior at the role, and Saad was improving rapidly on the #2PP, so, without the role that made Bickell successful to GET that inflated contract, he really was displaced from being a key guy on the squad...