Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
There goes a great young player and scorer.
Phil Kessel, 21, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two first-round picks (2010, 2011) and a second-rounder in 2010.
Kessel then immediately signed a 5-year, $27 million dollar contract with the Leafs.
So who got the better deal?
Well, obviously, right now, the Leafs. They got a proven scorer that potted 36 goals with 24 assists last season. Plus he's so young at 21 with tremendous upside.
But you know the Bruins weren't going to pay him over $5 million a season. Can you really blame them?
Granted, I love Kessel's speed and scoring ability, but the one knock on him is he doesn't play very big, he's not real physical and he doesn't like to play defense. You could say he's all offense and no defense.
Well, in coach Claude Julien's system, you must play defense and Kessel didn't buy into that philosophy.
So, in the end, he had to go.
Can't argue with getting two first-rounders, but who knows what the Bruins will get with those picks. Plus, the Bruins didn't handcuff themselves financially, and that's not always a bad thing. Kessel will have a tremendous career, but it won't be for the Boston Bruins.
