Phil The Thrill Finally Toronto Bound?

Michael Lindow
September 6, 2009.

Will the Leafs once again try to pry Kessel away via a trade, or will Toronto general manager Brian Burke opt instead to extend an offer sheet. The summer months always brings nothing but speculation and ugly trade rumors. Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke acquiring back their second round pick in the 2010 entry draft from the Chicago Black Hawks for a second and a third round pick in 2011 has Leaf fans on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Kessel coming to Toronto. Adding this draft pick gives Toronto its own first, second and third round picks the compensation price for signing a RFA player.

Both the Toronto and Boston media outlets are reporting that this trade is a prelude to an offer sheet for the Bruins star forward Phil Kessel who is coming off a 36-goal campaign and has been at odds with Boston all summer over a new contract. The Bruins would have seven days to decide to accept the offer sheet or match the offer made to Kessel. A similar situation happened with the Andrej Mezaros situation last year. Tampa threats of an offer sheet last year and Ottawacouldn't or wouldn't pay Mezaros eventually dealing him for a first round pick along with Filip Kuba and Alexander Picard.

The chance that you land a player of Kessel’s calibre in this draft is slim at best and at this stage of the Leafs rebuilds (reload?) Burk will be looking for quality over quantity right now. Exactly the player needed for this organization to continue moving forward Kessel is a top line sniper and perennial forty goal scorer with the potential of hitting the high water mark of fifty goals in a season. The likes of which have not been seen in Leafland since Dave Andreychuk scored 53 in the 1993-94 season.

With about six million plus in salary cap room the Leafs are in great shape to make a move of this magnitude, signing Kessel in the $3,923,434 - $5,231,246 would cost Toronto its first, second and third round picks.

OFFER: COMPENSATION
$994,433 or below - None
Over $994,433 to $1,506,716 -Third-round choice
Over $1,506,716 to $3,013,434 - Second-round choice
Over $3,013,434 to $4,520,150 - First-round and third-round choice
Over $4,520,150 to $6,026,867 - First-round, second-round and third-round choice
Over $6,026,867 to $7,533,584 - Two first-round choices, one second- and one third-round choice
Over $7,533,584 - Four first-round choices

This is a move that has to be made.