Mark Zolinski of the Toronto Star: (Going off Cox’s piece yesterday about trading Phil Kessel) Kessel might be used as part of a Rick Nash package or a 1st round pick. Gord Stellick thinks Kessel has good value. Bill Watters thinks it would be difficult to get equal value for what they gave up for him, 2 1st round picks and 2nd.
“To get the value already invested in the acquisition would not be a realistic consideration,” Watters said.
“This player (Kessel) is considered (by the Leafs) to be a franchise player and there’s not a team in the NHL, I think, that would give up a similar player for him … so you’re making a sideways deal at best.”
One GM of a non playoff team:
“What would I give up for him? … I’m not giving up my best players for him, I can tell you that, and I’m not giving up my first-rounder, my best young player, if that’s what you are getting at,” he said.
“To be perfectly honest, and I don’t mean this in any way, shape or form as disrespect (to the Leafs), but I don’t think (Kessel) is a player most teams need on their roster.”
Another GM,
“could see possibly a team in need of goal scoring … inquiring about (Kessel). You have to think it’s going to take a player and a first-rounder, at least, I think, that’s where an offer would start.
But “you can look at a team like … maybe San Jose, if they don’t make the playoffs and they start thinking they need a change. Kessel goes there and gives them 30 goals … who knows.”
Another league insider,
“Is he the type of player Randy Carlyle will put up with? Well I can tell you whether he is or not, Randy better get used to playing him 20 minutes a night because I don’t see him going anywhere. And I don’t know if the market for a Phil Kessel is big enough right now to warrant a deal, there would have to be something pretty magical coming back there for (Burke).
“I know that Brian wanted a lot for players he tried to trade (this season). So you have to figure he’d want a lot for Kessel. … But do you give up two players, a first-round pick, and another pick … that to me is a ransom and I don’t think it gets done.
“But he’s one of the Leafs’ best players and to me, cap is not an issue here … the cap may go up close to $70 million (U.S.) this summer (in the new CBA), so there’s room if a team wants him.”
