Friedman: Flames a good fit for Kessel?

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by 868904

Hey BigTuna, if Kessel is so good why do all Leaf fans and Leaf media want to trade him?

Another great question! Why did the Flames want to trade Iginla? Kipper? Boumeester?

Btw most people and media suggested we trade Iginla couple years before we traded him.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Another great question! Why did the Flames want to trade Iginla? Kipper? Boumeester?

Btw most people and media suggested we trade Iginla couple years before we traded him.

Well yeah because Iginla (suggestions of trading him really didn't come until he was in his 30's) and Kipper were both post apex players who are the type of players you move from in a rebuild. Kessel is in his prime and the reason the Flames moved Boumeester is the same reason the Leafs are trying to move Kessel. Guy isn't a leader or a player you can count on to carry a team. Not the type of player you want around in a rebuild.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Another great question! Why did the Flames want to trade Iginla? Kipper? Boumeester?

Btw most people and media suggested we trade Iginla couple years before we traded him.

Flames fans wanted to trade Iginla and Bouwmeester because they were not good nor worth their salary anymore.

Same with Kessel. So why should the Flames trade for Kessel?

I didn't hear any Flames fans trying to trade Iginla or Kipper between 2004 and 2007 when they were in their prime. Kessel is in his prime right now, so why do Leaf fans all want him traded? He's young enough to still be a good player when all the "great young Leaf prospects" are ready. So why do they all want him traded?

[kehatch]

Not wanting Kessel is understandable. Not wanting Kessel the way most people here don't want Kessel is silly.

His fitness issues are urban legend. I think his supposed character issues are as well. And even if they aren't, Burke knows the guy better then most, meaning we don't need to worry about the Flames making a trade if they are true.

He is one of the leagues top goal scorers period. With Bozak as a centre.

I don't want him because of what he will cost. I think he is 30 before we are in our prime. And I think we are too early in our rebuild to go after a player like this.

But he isn't the horrible creature people are portraying him as.

[King Theo]

I would not want Kessel on this team. Just say No!

[Vinny01]

most Leaf fans I have talked to or read about online have crazy expectations on a return for Phil. Some Leaf fans say they need Bennett from Calgary, Jones from Nashville, Huberdeau from Florida and in most cases they want a + attached to those young players.

Kessel will get a package of a 1st, decent prospect, and likely a cap dump from a team. I also think the first is more likely to be a late one so Calgarys and Floridas would not be in the mix

[Lanny_McDonald]

Friedman did NOT say Kessel was a good fit for the Flames. He wondered aloud if the Flames, because of Burke being here, would have interest in Kessel. He did not reason beyond that nor speak to the likelihood of the Flames wanting to trade for Kessel. Because of where the Flames are in their rebuild and the acquisition cost associated with Kessel, the odds of going after him are almost nil. Treliving suggested that the idea of going after a big ticket contract for another future gain is a dead concept because of the salary challenges he sees three years out. That should kill any thoughts of the Flames dealing for a guy with 7 years and $8M per season left on his deal. Kessel to the Flames makes no sense.

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well yeah because Iginla (suggestions of trading him really didn't come until he was in his 30's) and Kipper were both post apex players who are the type of players you move from in a rebuild. Kessel is in his prime and the reason the Flames moved Boumeester is the same reason the Leafs are trying to move Kessel. Guy isn't a leader or a player you can count on to carry a team. Not the type of player you want around in a rebuild.

Very few single players can consistently "carry a team" in hockey. This isn't basketball. Have you been watching the Stanley Cup Finals? Stamkos, Toews, Kane have all had off games. But Kessel definitely has the ability to be a game changer.

But the Leafs have no use for him right now. They will likely a be very bad team for the next few seasons, so it makes sense to trade him now when he is in his prime. Why keep him on the team? If they can trade him now it can push the rebuild forward quicker.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

Very few single players can consistently "carry a team" in hockey. This isn't basketball. Have you been watching the Stanley Cup Finals? Stamkos, Toews, Kane have all had off games. But Kessel definitely has the ability to be a game changer.

But the Leafs have no use for him right now. They will likely a be very bad team for the next few seasons, so it makes sense to trade him now when he is in his prime. Why keep him on the team? If they can trade him now it can push the rebuild forward quicker.

By that logic the Flames should have traded Gio in 2013 because why would a 29 year old be around for a 4-5 year rebuild?

The Leafs do not see Kessel as a player that can transition to the next era of Leafa hockey because he is not a leader on anything outside the scoreboard. Kessel is paid to be a franchise talent not just a leading scorer. He lacks the intangibles that all pkayers making $8M should have.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

But the Leafs have no use for him right now. They will likely a be very bad team for the next few seasons, so it makes sense to trade him now when he is in his prime. Why keep him on the team? If they can trade him now it can push the rebuild forward quicker.

If one rebuilding team has no use for him, then neither does another. And that is why you are seeing lopsided trade proposals. The only way acquiring Kessel makes any sense is if we fleece Toronto.

Even then, Kessel is not a guy who drives your team to success. He could be a decent complimentary player for a big run, but that would be as a rental, and we are nowhere near that point.

Honestly, the only places Kessel makes sense is in a place like Carolina or Florida - where his goal scoring might be enough to satisfy the locals.

[troutman]

Fill seems to be the exact opposite of the identity Bob is building.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Sure we're in year 2 of re-build but top liners in their don't often become available, they get re-signed even on bad teams. We do have a scoring problem though, against the Ducks we scored 9 in 5 games, 4 of those came in one game. Besides last years top line no one else was a consistent point producer in the reg season. Bennet has the potential but besides that we need to upgrade.

We were even dominated by the Canucks by more then half game most of the games in that series. You can't stay status quo.

If if the roster stayed relatively close to the same it still wouldn't be the same. A full year out of players like Bennett and Ferland will make a difference. I have no problem making moves to upgrade, I just have an issue taking on a monster contract like Kessel's today when it isn't necessary. There will be top line players available in 3 years or so when this team will be closer to a contender. I'd rather see them take on lower risk contracts for now.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Sure we're in year 2 of re-build but top liners in their don't often become available, they get re-signed even on bad teams. We do have a scoring problem though, against the Ducks we scored 9 in 5 games, 4 of those came in one game. Besides last years top line no one else was a consistent point producer in the reg season. Bennet has the potential but besides that we need to upgrade.

Agreed, so I think we should ask around Rick Nash, maybe JVR, Oshie, or someone of that caliber to insert into the lineup.

[Vinny01]

JVR is the one Leaf player I would be fine with the Flames going after. Not at the cost of something like 1st+Porier but if the price was right he would be a better fit than Kessel

[GioforPM]

Besides last years top line no one else was a consistent point producer in the reg season.

The Flames weren't that badly off in the regular season. Jones' 34 points in 67 games is fairly comparable to what (for example) the Ducks' secondary scoring brought. Bouma also had 34 points (compared to the 39 of the 4th highest forward on Ducks). Backlund had 27 in 52 games, which is pretty good.

Sure they were weaker against the Ducks in the POs. But they were missing a healthy Bouma, and Backlund was busy with Getzlaf.

[automaton 3]

The Senators went out and picked up Bobby Ryan after an unexpected playoff year.

It ended up setting back their rebuild. I see this as the same sort of scenario.

Stay the course, continue to build though young players and the draft.

[Mattman]

To the point of saying Hudler wouldn need to go in order to have Kessel (that's if he isn't included in the deal) I say no. Having Hudler on the second line with Kessel on the 1st would bring way better depth than Hudler-Jones as our 1-2.

But that being said I still don't want Kessel on THIS team. Too much risk on a good thing we've got going here.
And if we are really desperate for a top 1-2 RW I say go after the ones on cheaper contracts putting up better numbers than Jones, and on the right side of 30.

[IgiTang]

Bringing in Kessel would destroy any amount of respectability that Burke has rebuilt for himself and would destroy any credibility as a GM that Treliving has built on the coat+tails of Feaster.

Kessel in a Flames Uni, no matter what angle of being acquired, would SRT the Flames back for years, destroy any respect the team has built, snuff out Treliving's GM respectability as being a GM who thinks for himself, and force Burke into an even darker shadow amongst the hockey community.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

The Senators went out and picked up Bobby Ryan after an unexpected playoff year.

It ended up setting back their rebuild. I see this as the same sort of scenario.

Stay the course, continue to build though young players and the draft.

I don't see how that trade ended up setting back the Sens rebuild.

Bobby Ryan is still a better player and bigger contributor than Silfverberg is.

Stefan Noesen has played 1 NHL game for Anaheim, and isn't doing much in the AHL either for that matter.

Nick Ritchie hasn't even turned pro yet.

Maybe a few more years down the road this trade might turn lopsided for Anaheim, but for now the Sens have gotten the better for it, and certainly wouldn't be a better team with Silfverberg instead of Ryan.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I don't see how that trade ended up setting back the Sens rebuild.

Bobby Ryan is still a better player and bigger contributor than Silfverberg is.

Stefan Noesen has played 1 NHL game for Anaheim, and isn't doing much in the AHL either for that matter.

Nick Ritchie hasn't even turned pro yet.

Maybe a few more years down the road this trade might turn lopsided for Anaheim, but for now the Sens have gotten the better for it, and certainly wouldn't be a better team with Silfverberg instead of Ryan.

Really?

Silfverberg is a beast. Yes, Ryan has some hi-lite real goals sure. But Silfverberg is a two-way player with great speed and nice finish.

Ottawa with their first, Silfverberg + Noesen is better than having just Ryan IMO.

The day and age of selling farm for 1 player is over.
This is a 4 line league you have to have depth. 2 major assets and 1 depth player for 1 major asset. Do the math.

That deal hurts the Sens more IMO.