Toronto Maple Leafs: The Phil Kessel Trade Tree

The Kessel trade was one of lofty expectations that was done to bring the Toronto Maple Leafs to the next level

On July 1st 2015 the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade that shifted the direction of the team to one that believed they were contending to one that was going to enter into the realm of rebuilding.

While Kessel was with the Toronto Maple Leafs he did produce well, with his highest point total being 82 points in 82 games in the 2011-2012 season.

That being said it wasn’t always roses with Kessel as he was known to be a sort of an oddball, and that was on display in Toronto as he shied away from media and never really did anything publicly.

And knowing Toronto media, they ate him alive.

That being said he did what he was brought in to do, and that was to produce. Kessel is one of the best players to ever wear the Leafs uniform, and it’s not his fault the trade to bring him in cost the Leafs potentially two hall of famers, and it’s not his fault the team failed to surround him with good players while he was in his prime.

Toronto Maple Leafs and the Phil Kessel Trade Tree

It all began with one of the uglier trades now looking back at it as the years have gone by.

To TOR:  Phil Kessel

To BOS: 2010 1st (Tyler Seguin), 2010 2nd (Jared Knight), 2011 1st (Dougie Hamilton)

Brian Burke pulled the trigger on this deal back on September 18th 2009.

While in Toronto, Kessel did produce. But, what the Toronto Maple Leafs gave up were two cornerstone pieces that are producing at high levels in the NHL today and will for years to come. It’s gotta sting that much more knowing that Seguin and Hamilton are GTA boys.

Moving on to the end of the Kessel experiment, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided that it was time to part ways with the polarizing player.

To TOR: Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling, Scott Harrington, 2016 1st (Sam Steel), 2016 3rd (James Greenway)

To PIT: Phil Kessel, Tim Erixon, Tyler Biggs, 2016 2nd (Kasper Bjorkqvist)

The Penguins were looking for a top-six forward, and they got that in Kessel who helped them win a Stanley Cup in the process.

In return the Toronto Maple Leafs got Kapanen who we are seeing is a key piece to the   team today and helping them to become a Stanley Cup contender.

James Greenway is still part of the organization but is yet to sign an ELC.

Nick Spaling was used in a trade made with the San Jose Sharks to bring in picks, Scott Harrington was used in a deal with the Blue Jackets to bring in Kerby Rychel who is no longer with the team.

Rychel was sent to the Canadiens at the 2018 deadline as part of a package to bring in Tomas Plekanec and prospect Kyle Baun.  Both players left the Leafs organization without compensation, as free agents.

The most intriguing and best part of business from the Kessel trade was by far getting that 1st rd pick from the penguins. That pick which turned out to be Sam Steel was traded with a 2017 2nd rd pick to the Anaheim Ducks for the current Toronto Maple Leafs fan favorite, Freddy Andersen.

If you look solely at the past, bringing in Kessel was a big mistake. But, it turned out alright in the end.

The Leafs have Kasperi Kapanen and Frederik Andersen left over as part of the trade, which isn’t too bad, all things considered.

Trading Kessel also made the Leafs really bad, which led to them finishing last and drafting Auston Matthews.  While not part of the trade tree, Matthews would not have been a member of the Leafs if they decided to keep Kessel for the remainder of his contract.