After weeks of speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs were positioning themselves for a big trade, they've reportedly acquired Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a first and second-round pick in 2010, as well as a first-round pick in 2011.
Phil Kessel Traded to Toronto Maple Leafs
It’s a hefty price to pay for Kessel, and Pension Plan Puppets has a good look at this trade from a Toronto perspective:
At the end of the day, Burke didn't have as much leverage as we had hoped and Burke has identified Phil Kessel as an elite offensive talent something that the Leafs have lacked since Mats Sundin was in his prime. Even then, Mats was not really among the league's best scorers and Phil Kessel definitely has that potential. There has already been and will continue to be a lot of hand wringing over the loss of the Leafs' next two first rounders.
Boston fans have to be somewhat relieved about the return for Kessel, but it’s a payment they won’t be able to evaluate for several years to come.
Kessel is a talented offensive player, but in the salary cap era, you just can’t keep everyone. The Bruins obviously felt that there were other players that meant more to the future success of this hockey team.
This is a trade that we won’t be able to fully evaluate for years. Those three picks could turn into three Phil Kessels...or three Johnathan Aitkens.
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