As the Kessel pursuit wound on my position was that two first round picks was too much to give up for Kessel and I would not have pulled the trigger. Fortunately for Leaf fans Burke is running the team, not me.
Burke set his sights on Kessel back during the draft and yesterday he got his man. He played tough with Boston and paid a fair price, though slightly less than what the compensation would have been had he signed Kessel to a $5.4 million offer sheet. By letting Kessel go to RFA status the Bruins lost control of him, and where he would be traded. As an RFA Burke was allowed to talk to Kessel and to let him know what the Leafs would pay. The Bruins did not want to trade him within the division especially for only futures, but Kessel was not going to sign with any other team. The Bruins hands were tied and Burke got him for basic CBA mandated compensation without having to play the offer sheet card.
Are two first round picks too much for Kessel? As I look at it this morning I think not. Toronto should be a middle of the pack team the next two years and the drafts coming up are not projected to be deep. This year, Peter Holland and Nick Leddy were picked in the middle of the first round. I’d rather have Kessel as a 22 year old fixture on my top line then gamble on prospects like Holland and Leddy who are still years away from establishing what type of players they will turn out to be.
This move also sets the immediate direction of the team. Fans and players can eliminate the loser mentality of wondering if the team should tank the season for a better first round pick next year. Those days are gone. Burke is about winning and the players better get on board and realize that the culture of this team has changed. Burke will be bold and play hard to make his team better. That is the mentality that he wants to see on the ice and throughout the organization.
Kessel’s start with the Leafs may be slower then fans might hope. The team does not have a true number one center for him to play with. At the latest this will be addressed next summer when several Leaf contracts expire and they can go after a playmaking center. If things break right, this might not be necessary and the answer might come from within. I would not be surprised to see Bozak given a shot at that role as the season moves on. For the future a top line of Bozak, Kessel and Stalberg could be in the cards for 2010/11. By then, or the following year, Kadri should have filled out and be ready to step in as the skilled number two center.
In addition to having some excess defense to trade, this growth from within likely signals the end to Leafs like Stajan, Ponikarovsky and Stempniak. All three will move down to third line status for next year, and all three will be too expensive for those roles. The scenario with these players should play out like it did for Moore last year and Burke will look to convert some of these assets into draft picks.
Burke has given a clear signal as to the direction of this team. The time for excuses is over and the time to compete is now.
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I like the trade. Burke is a media contradiction so I don't pay much attention to his constant philosophical ranting about accumulating draft picks. His success has always come from trading players. When you don't have them, then the draft picks are on the table. Ironically he's correct about the draft picks but the record has shown his success has come utilizing other means.
ReplyDeleteSo does mean that a good sized contract has to be dumped at some point this year?
ReplyDeleteAlso I don't know why GMs do not want to use the RFA route. If I went to my boss and said I bought some equipment for $10,000 more than I had to and my reason was I did not want to hurt the salesman's feelings then I may not have a job. Front end the offer and send a third instead of a first.
The Leafs are at the cap now and do plan on trading atleast one of the excess defensemen. They'd love to move Finger and his contract but I don't see any takers. Look for something more along the lines of trading White or Van Ryn once he is healthy.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with the simple RFA route is that the other team can match your offer so you are not guaranteed the player.
Boston could not carry this salary, nor would they want to. I think this is more a case of Toronto paying for Burke's comments from a few years ago. It is a big jump from a 3rd to a 1st rounder.
ReplyDeleteI think with this salary on the books it will be the defenceman with the bigger salary that will be traded. And maybe one or two of the middle salary fowards may end up on the Bell road to the ex.