LeBrun: Wouldn't surprise if Flames explore Kessel

[codynw]

Flames need to trade for Tyler Seguin, and then trade him for Kessel.

[SuperMatt18]

Once again of course they are looking, if the price is right.

Don't think they move the world for him, but they might look at him and say we give you our first and you don't have to eat any of the contract.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by codynw

Flames need to trade for Tyler Seguin, and then trade him for Kessel.

I might be fine with Just Dougie Hamilton even.

[Bezer]

Please no...

First: As mentioned it would cost way too much for the Flames to acquire him, most likely.

Second: I just don't see him fitting in on this team and with their identity.

Third: If he is such a great player why is T.O. trying to trade him? I suspect the Leafs realize he isn't a player you win with. (save the rebuild excuse, there have been rumors way before the Leafs "decided" to rebuild)

[CliffFletcher]

A lot of teams will be interested in Kessel. Given Burke's history with Kessel and the amount of cap space the Flames have, it's not crazy to think the Flames will be one of those teams.

Having said that, I hope the Flame stay away.

[DiracSpike]

The flames have a lot of things going for them right now but I feel like the thing that gets over looked the most is our cap space. We have the second most and all the other teams around us are either in bad markets or have cheap owners ( looking at you melnyk) while the Flames have shown they will spend to the cap if necessary. Executing on this asset by assisting in a salary dump should net us a nice piece but it has to be done right and we can likely only afford to do it once. I'd like to see the flames use it for a Richards plus toffoli for a late pick type deal but if kessel can be had for cheap it would probably be worth it. With the salary cap likely staying put there might not be a lot of good offers coming toronto's way.

[jg13]

I'd absolutely be open to trading for Phil Kessel assuming the price tag is a good prospect (Granlund, Baertschi), 1st rounder and a 3rd liner. But I'd imagine they're looking for a lot more than that.

[ClassicFlames04]

I am in the camp that hopes the Flames inquire and do so seriously. Perhaps it is blind faith that Burke and the rest of the staff know they can get the most out of a superstar player.

This is overly optimistic and would require a complete buy-in by Kessel. That is a team game and for his contract to be worth it a fitness buy-in as well.

That is a lot of "ifs" but the guy would fill the top RW hole.

In the end I have faith in Treliving & Co. not getting too focused on one guy and making the right deal whatever that may be going forward.

[FlameZilla]

Kessel gets a bad rap. He's the scapegoat for Toronto being No Good. He's not a great interview, so in a city like T.O. he was never going to be a hit off the ice. On the ice is a completely different story.

He's a pure sniper and a natural RW with quite a few years left in his prime. Unlike Evander Kane he's a consistent 30-goal scorer.

I'd take him if he was available for a bargain. Toronto media done a great job bringing his value down pretty low. If they trade him some team will get a bargain.

[David Struch]

I think Calgary could acquire Kessel at a cheaper price than other playoff teams because the Flames have the cap room to take on his full contract while other teams may not be able to or may not be willing to.

2nd, Reinhart & Byron

[transplant99]

Kessel does ONE thing well...score goals. As great of a asset that can be it HAS to come with other intangibles. His skating is pretty good.....and thats about it.

So he is a good skater and a tremendous goal scorer.

What he isnt is way more telling though. He isnt in shape. He isnt very good with the media which will always be a problem in a Canadian market. He is not very good defensively and borders on awful. His attitude is not good as it pertains to changing his game to a team first concept. He is not a "young" guy any longer.

When you factor in his 64 million dollars owed over the next 8 years, the fact the Flames have no issue scoring, and would have to part with assets considered future building blocks....there is only one logical conclusion to be made.

Stay as far away from this guy as is possible.

[killer_carlson]

Anyone have a list of players who have been or were with the team for 8 years or more?


Edit: Here is the list in the history of the franchise. Most of these date back to the 80s, some to the 70s when the team was in Atlanta. If the Flames took a player on with a large 8 year contract you'd be hoping that person joins this list. Is Kessel that guy?

Jarome
Regehr
Joel Otto
Theo Fleury
MacInnis
Peplinski
Suter
Macouan
Tim Hunter
Nieuwendyk
Eric Vail
Mikka
Dan Bouchard
Mike Vernon

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by DJones

Sure they might ask about them. Then when Brad is done laughing offer them Jooris or Granlund.

Granlund or Jooris won't get the job done even with the first found pick.

This is Nonis' job right here in terms of how he kicks off this rebuild of the Leafs.

As it stands to me the flames are a couple of years away from looking for that deal that puts them over the edge and signals an end of the rebuild.

Kick the tires all that you want, but I doubt that there is serious interest in Kessel. He's the wrong guy for the culture here.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Tyler

You guys seriously wouldn't want Phil Kessel on our team? Yalls is cray cray.

If it's strictly a salary dump with some 2nd or 3rd round picks, I'd do this in a heartbeat.

A lazy, one dimensional winger who is notorious for doing his own thing, regardless of the team's needs is not what we need. Yeah, we'd get 30 goals from him. But the other crap marginalizes much of that.

No thanks.

[Miniac]

Kessel lol!!!

[Enoch Root]

I think LeBrun got one thing right: there are two different deals here.

An $8M Kessel is not going to return a 1st + a top prospect plus a good young player.

But a $6M Kessel might.

If Nonis is willing to eat a couple mill, he will probably get the kind of return he is hoping for. But if he's not, an $8M Kessel will probably get him a late 1st, a decent prospect and a middling player.

A $6M Kessel might be something like a Backlund + Baetschi + 1st equivalent (hopefully from a different team).

An $8M Kessel might get a Jankowski + Jooris + 1st type return (hopefully from a different team)

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

A $6M Kessel might be something like a Backlund + Baetschi + 1st equivalent (hopefully from a different team).

Honestly, we get hosed on that one.

[Mattman]

I'm calling complete BS on these Flames - Leafs rumours

The analysts are just connecting the dots where there shouldn't be and they think they are being smart about it too.

Just because Brian Burke is our President of Hockey Operations doesn't mean he will be trading for every single player he's been in contact with. Brad Treliving is our GM he makes the final call and I doubt he will trade away the asking price of a 1st, an A prospect and a roster player when just two weeks ago he said "The Flames won't risk the future for rentals" (paraphrasing).

Why do we want a goal scoring RW when Jiri Hudler currently has more points than Phil "The Thrill" Kessel? In fact he'd probably be the roster player going back the other way!

Lebrun, I know it's your job to wreak havoc among fans by spilling BS where there shouldn't, but you're making your self look like an bozo.

Rant over.

[stemit14]

Have to start looking at the kind of players the flames have already and how they need to be complemented by other types of players. Kessel does not fit with the flames core going forward. He's most effective if he is the guy carrying the puck up the ice and into the zone. Problem is... That can be said of Bennett and gaudreau too. And I would rather those be the guys the flames develop their play around instead of kessel.

I think a guy like James Neal is the kind of player that the flames need to complement the gaudreau's and bennetts. Thankfully, I think they have one of those guys in the system already with poirier.

[sharkov]

I don't think Kessel would survive a Hartley style practice let alone training camp