Kessel was 8th in scoring last year. He was 6th the year before. His next contract could be for north of $8M a season. Getzlaf/Perry will be tossed around as comparison. If he signs for under $7.5M/per I'll be shocked.darren wrote:I realize that it's de rigueur around here to hate the leaves and all their works, but this trade provides further evidence of what is already clear: Phil Kessel is better than Tyler Seguin. Hamilton might still end up tipping the scales but on the whole that trade is not as bad as it is made out to be.Blob Mckenzie wrote:I take Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton 11 times out of 10 over Phill Kessel. Not to mention Kessel is a UFA while the other two are cost controlled for the next several years.darren wrote: I guess people can stop ragging on the leaves for the Kessel trade now.
Seguin makes 5.7m (in Sedin territory)... not sure how that is "cost controlled". Kessel's next contract won't be much higher than that, if at all. That's first line money and Seguin has yet to show he's a first line player. The Bruins aren't exactly loaded with scorers, yet Seguin still can't assert himself as part of the core? Kessel has proven to be a first liner, in spades. Look at the numbers... regular season, playoffs (4G against Boston, or 4x as many goals as Seguin managed in 1/3 the games).
Of course he's a better player than Tyler Seguin. He's also older. Over his first three seasons Kessel scored at a .41, .45 and .85 PPG pace. Seguin has done .30, .42 and .66 PPG. They could be very similar production-wise, if Seguin ever puts hockey first. Hamilton adds value to the B's side of the trade. Kessel might be the best player available at the time, but I think their franchise would be better off with Seguin/Hamilton/Knight. Especially when Kessel leaves as a UFA or gets his big raise.