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Phil Kessel: The Mock Trades Roundtable

By Tim Chiasson |
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Feb 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (81) carries the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Will Phil Kessel be traded at the NHL Draft? Where will he go?

Those are two questions that have been following the Toronto Maple Leafs and Phil Kessel around for weeks.

There have been several different rumors surrounding the superstar winger’s fate in the NHL but there has been no trade as of yet.

In this week’s roundtable we’re each going to trade Phil Kessel.

Scroll through the slideshow to take a look at where we sent him and why. Put your trade proposals in the comment section below.

Next: David Chernish

Feb 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) during their game against the Winnipeg Jets at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Jets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

David Chernish

I trade Phil Kessel and Matt Finn to the rumored Carolina Hurricanes for injury riddled Alex Semin and their 5th overall draft.

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It’s the perfect scenery for Kessel because he is given a play-maker in Eric Staal/Jeff Skinner and is in a low profile hockey town with less media. The reasoning we get Semin back is because we won’t have to retain as much – if any – of Kessel’s salary for the remainder of his contract.

The other player who has been rumored is Jeff Skinner – but the Leafs would have to give up one of their top prospects or a draft pick, which I would not pull the trigger on due to Skinner’s injury history.

The best thing about that trade would be the Leafs pick 4th and 5th overall – meaning a combination of Marner/Hanifin , Strome/Provorov or vice versa. That way, Leafs management stocks the cupboard with two top prospect players.

The Hurricanes may ask for a roster player as well, which if he is the right guy, like a Booth type of player, I would deal him too. Only time will tell, but I believe that is one of the better scenarios for trading Phil Kessel. You only trade him if you get a top 10 prospect – whether it’s in this year’s draft or last years.

Next: Robb Ellis

Jan 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Robb Ellis

Let me preface this by saying that I hate trade speculation created for the purpose of discussion. I can only take so many “we’ll throw in Tyler Biggs to sweeten the pot” type posts! Anyways, with that being said, here are my thoughts.

As I have written in several of my articles here at EIL, I believe that the Leafs are trying to “load up” on picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. At worst, I think they’d like to have two picks in the top 10 allowing them to choose a forward and a defenseman.

The trade partners are there. Florida is interested and hold the 11th overall pick. Philly holds the #7 pick and always seem to have their nose in there when a big name goes on the market. Another recent rumor had the Devils, who hold the 6th pick, inquiring about Kessel.

Two picks in the Top 10 of the deepest draft in years? What could be better than that? How about two picks in the TOP 5? It could happen if the Leafs can complete a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

To Carolina- F- Phil Kessel

To Toronto- F- Jeff Skinner, 5th overall pick (2015), F- Brock McGinn

You’re probably surprised to see Alexander Semin’s name missing from this trade. The Leafs should not be interested in taking back 31-year old players with three years of $7 mil from anybody in exchange for one of the truly elite scorers in this league. Instead, we see Jeff Skinner as the salary dump needed to make this work for the Canes.

At 23, Skinner is still young and if he is able to regain his 30-goal form then this he will be a great fit in the Leafs rebuild. He is not cheap at $6 mil per season and is signed through 2019. My only concern is that he suffered a concussion at the beginning of last season which can cause long term issues. (See Eric Lindros, Brett Lindros, Marc Savard)

Of course, the key to this deal is the #5 pick and it would allow the Leafs to get a forward (Strome or Marner) AND a defenseman (Hanifin or Provorov) in Friday’s draft. Or, how about Hanifin AND Provorov joining Morgan Rielly on the Leafs blueline for the next ten years?

I would also try to pry 21-year old forward Brock McGinn out of the Canes due to Skinner’s recent concussion as noted above but that is not a deal breaker by any means. I would be more than happy to do the deal without McGinn involved.

Would the Canes bite? I don’t know but if there is interest in Kessel on the part of Carolina, then I would be on the phone with Ron Francis right now.  There hasn’t been post-season action in Raleigh since 2009. Bringing in a top player like Kessel might be just what the Hurricanes need to regenerate some interest in the fledgling franchise. If Francis still won’t bite, we can always “throw in Tyler Biggs to sweeten the pot” right?

Next: Tim Chiasson

Nov 15, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) before a game against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Chiasson

A Kessel to Florida trade without Jonathan Huberdeau – crazy, I know.

The Florida Panthers weren’t on Phil Kessel’s last rumored acceptance list, but I’d be willing to be that he wouldn’t mind heading to sunny Florida if he had the chance.

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In this deal the Leafs get a solid, young, top-four defender in Dimitri Kulikov and a good young forward in Vincent Trochek. Both of the players are possession savvy – keeping in line with the Toronto Maple Leafs new theme.

The Leafs also pick up the Panthers 11th overall selection this year as well as a 2nd round pick in next year’s draft. Rather than obtain Huberdeau, I opted to get Trochek and an additional pick. I think both pieces fit better than Huberdeau does. Toronto already has a Huberdeau – his name is Nazem Kadri.

Zero salary retained by the Maple Leafs in this deal because, well, they don’t have to. Brian Campbell will be off the books for Florida next year so they can use Kessel as an offensive weapon and salary cap bump all rolled into one beautiful package.

Kulikov (24) and Trochek (21) are at the right age for acquisition and the Leafs would get another valuable young player with the 11th overall pick. The Panthers get an elite goal scorer to play in the top-six and push for the playoff spot they look to be headed for already in 2015-2016.

The deal nets Toronto just over $3M in cap space gains.

Next: Torrin Batchelor

Torrin Batchelor

Now to get to the age old, will be talked to death until the moment he gets moved and then over-analyzed to death for years afterwards… What is Phil Kessel worth?

What do you pay for a 6 time 30+ goal scorer, and only player to finish in the top 10 of scoring for 3 straight seasons…. before last season. What do you pay for an apparent locker room malcontent and player who avoids the gym like the plague?

Those are all questions we will answer here today, including where oh where will Phil Kessel land?

Leafs nation will see Phil Kessel and John Tavares finally get to play together… on the Brooklyn Islanders.

Anders Lee, Ryan Strome, Griffin Reinhart, Michael Grabner, NYI 1st 2016

For

Phil Kessel

I might be asking for a tad too much with Strome and Reinhart here, but Phil Kessel will sell tickets and help get John Tavares from star level to superstar level. The Islanders get ticket sales, a big splash and hopefully interest spike in their new Brooklyn market and a true offensive talent to ride shotgun with Tavares.

Michael Grabner by the end of the season was rarely used, and often healthy scratched. He only has a cap hit of 3M next season before becoming a UFA, but his actual salary is 5M. The Islanders although wanting to be aggressive, can’t really afford to pay someone 5M to be a 14th skater.

Meanwhile the Leafs get a MASSIVE head start on their rebuild. Ryan Strome is the No.1 C the Leafs haven’t had since Sundin, for now he can share the role and duties with Nazem Kadri.

Add in power winger Anders Lee capable of playing on any of the top 3 lines and Griffin Reinhart who can step onto the Leafs blue line immediately as well, but would be better served with another year in the AHL.

Griffin will eventually become an excellent addition to Rielly, Gardiner, Percy and Loov on the Leafs blue line of tomorrow. Michael Grabner adds an element of pure speed and defensive acumen to the Leafs middle 6 forwards, he is also deadly on the PK.

The Islanders will be a deep playoff threat with Kessel – assuming they also add another d-man and a more capable backup for Halak. With this in mind, and the fact that their 2015 1st round pick went to Buffalo in the ill-advised Thomas Vanek deal, more compensation is needed as future 1sts aren’t worth a whole lot. This is where the Leafs can get away with asking for Lee, Strome AND Reinhart.

Leaf fans should be chanting Garth Snow’s name come draft day!

Next: Leafs Rumors: Bozak, Bernier

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