LEAFS GET KESSEL

I am trying to explain the business side of the NHL that motivated the trade to my 4 year old who is in tears now that his favorite player is no longer a Bruin.

Oh shit, I hope the Leafs wound up keeping Kaberle and the trade is just over draft picks.

2 first rounders and 1 second rounder, we don't want Kaberle

a 1st and 2nd round pick plus a year later first round pick?

I'd rather they had kaberle. Kessel is 21 so thats not so bad but the leafs needed rebuilding and giving up first round picks in 2 successful years isn't the way to do it, especially for somebody coming off surgery.

Man I read that "Leafs get Kesler" and just about crapped myself. Waitaminnit, I DID crap myself!

So a normal friday night then?

Great deal! You get a young impact player in Kessel and you only give up potential. This really is an example of building through the draft. Good on Burke.

I think it's a good deal for the Leafs. He's 21, his health issues long gone and he's a natural sniper.

Giving up picks is ok, as Burke has a ton of players left to deal for picks if need be. Their back-end is deep.

I don't know man. Generally when you rebuild a team it means you suck for 2-3 years and earn high draft picks. yes draft picks are an unknown potential but the Leafs have bad luck picking up great players who became only marginal players.

Hasn't that been the Leaf problem for awhile, in that they try and rebuild to quickly and fail?

I don't know man. Generally when you rebuild a team it means you suck for 2-3 years and earn high draft picks. yes draft picks are an unknown potential but the Leafs have bad luck picking up great players who became only marginal players.

Hasn't that been the Leaf problem for awhile, in that they try and rebuild to quickly and fail?

Leafs have never done a rebuilding like this in the last 20-25 years.

They have 2-3 top notch picks/prospects in Schenn, Kadri and Bozack. Add to that their killer defence and now Kessel....I'd say it's an excellent work in progress.

Tons of speed and skill. It's been a LONG time since we've seen anything like this in Toronto.

I don't know man. Generally when you rebuild a team it means you suck for 2-3 years and earn high draft picks. yes draft picks are an unknown potential but the Leafs have bad luck picking up great players who became only marginal players.

Hasn't that been the Leaf problem for awhile, in that they try and rebuild to quickly and fail?

This is rebuilding - he's not a 35 year old free agent and this isn't a draft pick for veteran deal (a la Owen Nolan). This is swapping potential for a young player - with a good pedigree and 36 goal season - and the Leafs keep emerging players like Schenn and can still use Kaberle for trade bait.

Take a look at the previous drafts and it's a gamble at the best of times. Any idiot can draft a Crosby or Ovechkin.

Leafs desperately need scoring and here's a young player that fits the bill. There's very little risk here.

Thats was my point that they haven't done a big rebuilding. My concern is that its too fast. The Leafs have been burned before giving up draft picks. Kessels 21 years though means its a far cry from trading draft picks for a 30 year old though.

Its been a bane of the Leafs in that for years they either just made the playoffs or just missed meaning they get mid range picks.

Didn't the Penguins bottom out to the point of nearly losing the franchise and then win the cup some few years later?

So a normal friday night then?

Bastard.

I don't know man. Generally when you rebuild a team it means you suck for 2-3 years and earn high draft picks. yes draft picks are an unknown potential but the Leafs have bad luck picking up great players who became only marginal players.

Hasn't that been the Leaf problem for awhile, in that they try and rebuild to quickly and fail?

This is rebuilding - he's not a 35 year old free agent and this isn't a draft pick for veteran deal (a la Owen Nolan). This is swapping potential for a young player - with a good pedigree and 36 goal season - and the Leafs keep emerging players like Schenn and can still use Kaberle for trade bait.

Take a look at the previous drafts and it's a gamble at the best of times. Any idiot can draft a Crosby or Ovechkin.

Leafs desperately need scoring and here's a young player that fits the bill. There's very little risk here.

No doubt his tender youth makes things much much better. He had a great year with Boston but he is also still a risk right, especially since we don't get him till Nov because of RC surgery.

Call me paranoid but I hate giving away high draft picks like that.