The playoffs haven't even started and Leafs fans are checking out already.

But, it turned out alright in the end.The Leafs have Kasperi Kapanen and Frederik Andersen left over as part of the trade, which isn’t too bad, all things considered.Trading Kessel also made the Leafs really bad, which led to them finishing last and drafting Auston Matthews.

Yohe reports that It seems that this combination of factors as well as Kessel's declining performance in his final season is what motivated the Penguins to finally pull the trigger on the deal. Public opinion of the Phil Kessel trade has swung back and forth dramatically over the years. There was however also the matter of Kessel reportedly demanding a trade, something Kessel himself has denied, and it sounds like there was in fact truth to that claim.

Phil 'the Thrill' Kessel is a quiet guy who loves to golf, fish, and play poker when he's not busy playing hockey. The real reason behind the Kessel trade. Dealing a 22-year-old potential superstar, fresh off of a 36-goal season, initially received a lukewarm reception. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like.Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices.Powered by Minute Media © 2020 All Rights Reserved.Two Very Important Bubble Players For the Toronto Maple LeafsPhil Kessel Will Haunt Toronto Maple Leafs Until 2022

While not part of the trade tree, Matthews would not have been a member of the Leafs if they decided to keep Kessel for the remainder of his contract.Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Toronto Maple Leafs and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more.Your privacy is safe with us. But, what the Toronto Maple Leafs gave up were two cornerstone pieces that are producing at high levels in the NHL today and will for years to come. TORONTO, ON - MARCH 23: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 23, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. © Attraction Web Inc. - No copy of the content is permitted. The Wild defeated the Leafs 2-1.

Bruins’ president Cam Neely is NOT happy with his superstar sniper. Although the Penguins did not get a big return they did save a big chunk of cap space and watched as Kessel's declined seemingly continued in Arizona after he left. Faced with a trade request, and stari Makes you wonder why a prolific goal-scorer like Kessel, gets moved so much. Toronto Maple Leafs and the Phil Kessel Trade Tree. Steve Dangle walks you through one of the most complicated trade trees in NHL history. Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Phil Kessel has popped up in the latest NHL trade rumors. It’s gotta sting that much more knowing that Seguin and Hamilton are GTA boys.Moving on to the end of the Kessel experiment, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided that it was time to part ways with the polarizing player.The Penguins were looking for a top-six forward, and they got that in Kessel who helped them win a Stanley Cup in the process.In return the Toronto Maple Leafs got Kapanen who we are seeing is a key piece to the   team today and helping them to become a Stanley Cup contender.James Greenway is still part of the organization but is yet to sign an ELC.Nick Spaling was used in a trade made with the San Jose Sharks to bring in picks, Scott Harrington was used in a deal with the Blue Jackets to bring in Kerby Rychel who is no longer with the team.Rychel was sent to the Canadiens at the 2018 deadline as part of a package to bring in The most intriguing and best part of business from the Kessel trade was by far getting that 1st rd pick from the penguins.

Faced with a trade request, and stari It was one of the more controversial moments in recent Penguins history, one made all the more controversial given the … Don Cherry supporters out in full force! Those four seasons produced two championships, 130 goals … The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday in a trade involving six players and draft picks.. Kessel…

It begins back in 2009 when the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins. It all began with one of the uglier trades now looking back at it as the years have gone by. It has been one year since the dramatic trade that sent Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel out of Pittsburgh and shipped him off to Glendale where he has since been a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

That pick which turned out to be Sam Steel was traded with a 2017 2nd rd pick to the Anaheim Ducks for the current Toronto Maple Leafs fan favorite, Freddy Andersen.If you look solely at the past, bringing in Kessel was a big mistake. His difficulties with the coach, his lackadaisical approach to the game, his requests for a trade, and perhaps most of all his decline in performance created the perfect storm for Kessel to be traded.Fans will look back fondly on his time with the Penguins, but I don't think very many will argue the merits of this trade in the long run.