Too Much for Kessel?

[YogiStewart]

Another Day, Another Loss.

Kessel is gonna be chilling in re-hab, sure bet he doesnt want to return fast....

Leafs were not 1 more player away from competing (via Kessel)

We just lack skill on this team, one player won't change that for this year.

hence the problem.
any other teams stepping up to bat to trade for Kessel? didn't sound like it.

seems like Burke was indeed convinced that Kessel would get them into the playoffs this year and that, come next year, him and some of the young talent and some new editions (via free agency or one-sided salary trades) would make them real competitive.

i personally wasn't sold on this team. their forwards are probably in the bottom quarter talent-wise. not one skilled forward that would make another team's top 2 lines (except for Kessel). and the D, for some reason, is looking really, really horrible.

so far - and its still early, but early indicators are showing - looks like Burke's D-first and truculence plan is failing badly.

[Habibi]

Now, despite people worrying already that the Leafs will be the worst team in the NHL, I don't think they will and I think the pick won't even be top 5. Next year's pick will be even worse as there will be more improvements made in the summer.

Former Toronto hockey junkie that slipped off the train a few years after the lockout season chiming in to laugh.

I was skeptical of this trade when they made it. Kessel is a good player. I used to be really high on him when he first came into the league. I drafted him on my hockey pool team his first two years in the league. I like him. But what we gave up seemed then, and doubly so now, a bit much. Especially when this year's pick had potential, and was our fallback out. They might just dent the legendary Toronto fan's zerg loyalty if they fail historically without that pick as the silver lining. There is literally nothing to cheer for. Toronto fans can cheer for anything. It's well proven they can cheer for their team to lose, for draft position. This year there will be nothing. Just bitterness. I love it.

Also, I read that the actual compensation we would have had to give up, if we signed him to a contract, was actually two 1st rounders and a 3rd rounder. I think the only reason Burke didn't do that is because he would have come off like a hypocrite after all the things he said about Kevin Lowe.

Same old Leafs. They talk a lot about building from within and blah blah blah. It's all ****. The media, the fan base and the management - all three are problems, and all three are why this team just isn't going anywhere unless they luck out and go Ricky Martin on us for a one year wonder.

I'm going to follow the Leafs again this season, because it makes me happy when they lose. Can you really argue that it's not what they deserve?

[Crowned]

Another Day, Another Loss.

Kessel is gonna be chilling in re-hab, sure bet he doesnt want to return fast....

Leafs were not 1 more player away from competing (via Kessel)

We just lack skill on this team, one player won't change that for this year.

hence the problem.
any other teams stepping up to bat to trade for Kessel? didn't sound like it.

seems like Burke was indeed convinced that Kessel would get them into the playoffs this year and that, come next year, him and some of the young talent and some new editions (via free agency or one-sided salary trades) would make them real competitive.

i personally wasn't sold on this team. their forwards are probably in the bottom quarter talent-wise. not one skilled forward that would make another team's top 2 lines (except for Kessel). and the D, for some reason, is looking really, really horrible.

so far - and its still early, but early indicators are showing - looks like Burke's D-first and truculence plan is failing badly.

You're making it sound like the Leafs were the only interested team in one of the league's elite young players. You tell me, do YOU think teams inquired about Kessel? Why wouldn't they?

[jumanok]

arrgghhhhhhh, 0-7! ohhh sorry 0-6-1..let's see what the monster can do next week.

[GswStorm3]

Burke gave up way too much.

[albedo]

You jokers, calling it with 70 games to go, like Hall is already a Bruin.

So many people talking crap about Kessel like he isn't someone scouts have been salivating over for since he was a young teen. He turned 22 last month and he's already a goddamn sniper.

He scored 6 goals in 11 playoff games last year. Oh right, that was all thanks to Savard, right? I guess that's why Kovalchuk's been garbage since he left Atlanta.

He's gonna to score like a mother, he's gonna win shootouts by himself, and he'll be so much better than 16th and 20th picks. Hall won't fall that far, you British meatballs made of pork belly and offal.

[_venom_]

Well Kessel played his first game tonight and he was really impressive imo. His release is lightning quick and he knows how to get his shots. He's going to feast on Kaberle's passes on the powerplay once he gets into shape. I mean he could have easily had 2-3 goals tonight with some of his chances, but Nittimaki played really well.

And the Leafs continue to outplay teams and lose. Seriously, this team could easily be .500 with the way they've played but they can't catch a break. They always seem to miss a great chance to score and then it goes the other way and a bounce goes against them into the net. Gustavsson continues his solid play though.

Oh and please get May Stajan off this team. I'm so tired of watching this guy trip over his own feet anytime he gets a semi-decent scoring chance. Seriously, he must be the clumsiest hockey player ever.

[The Duke]

I mean he could have easily had 2-3 goals tonight with some of his chances, but Nittimaki played really well

This essentially still translates to... zero goals last nite.... lets not gloss over everything...