My Take on the Conclusion of the Kessel Saga

What Brian Burke wants, Brian Burke usually gets.

The Leafs General Manager was finally able to obtain the 21 year-old restricted free agent from the B's, sending a first rounder in 2010, a second rounder in 2010, and a first rounder in 2011. The Leafs then signed Kessel to a monster 5 year, $27 million contract.

At the end of the day, I like the deal for both sides.

The Leafs get a 21 year-old sniper who scored 36 goals and 60 points in 70 games in '08-'09. He is a guaranteed top line winger with fifty goal potential.

The Bruins acquire three excellent picks, and nip a potential issue in the butt well before the regular season gets under way.

In what amounted to be a cold war of sorts, both Burke and Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli were able to use some tactical maneuvers to try to gain the upper edge.

Here's the series of events:

- Burke publicly admits interest in Kessel.
- Burke tells Chiarelli that he is going to re-acquire his 2010 2nd rounder, meaning he has the necessary picks to send Kessel an offer sheet.
- Burke re-acquires his 2010 2nd rounder.
- Chiarelli publicly states he has the go-ahead from ownership to match any offer sheet for Kessel, meaning he'll want a higher return than the probable 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks the Bruins would be entitled to if the Leafs were to sign Kessel to a top flight RFA offer sheet.

Some people have said Burke should've just sent the offer sheet, so as not to give up multiple first round picks. That would be a risky move on Burke's part. He knows Chiarelli can match the offer, which would result in Kessel being a Bruin for the year, since the RFA rules stipulate that if an offer sheet is matched, that player cannot be moved for that season. I honestly do believe Chiarelli wasn't bluffing, and barring a ludicrous offer would match the deal, despite the cap ramifications. Kessel is side-lined until November at the earliest, and the B's would have the time up until his return to the line-up to find a way to get under the cap. Chiarelli is a talented GM who could've found a way to make it work, as the Bruins have a lot of desireable assets they could've shifted around.

Burke went about this very well. He applied a lot of pressure on Chiarelli while still being upfront about everything. GM relationships are very important going forward, and he definitely didn't make any enemies while still getting what he wanted.

On the whole, Burke has done a spectacular job since taking over in Toronto. He's built from the net out, obtaining highly sought-after Swedish goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, and then beefing up the blue with the additions of Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, and Garnet Exelby. He's also re-stocked the pipe-line with the likes of Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, and Christian Hanson. The next step is the offense, and Kessel is a great start.

I believe two factors played into Burke's belief that he could sacrifice two first rounders. First, the Leafs shouldn't be a lottery team. That means the picks will probably not be as high as they have selected in the last two drafts - an assessment I agree with. The second factor is Burke's moves this summer. He's already added a slew of prospects into the system, easing any concerns about moving what should eventually be two quality prospects.

Those two first rounders could be busts or they could be stars.

But Phil Kessel is a sure-fire bet.

News & Notes from the Flyers/Maple Leafs Pre-season Tilt

Here's my take on some of the more notable prospects who took part in the Flyers/Maple Leafs pre-season contest tonight.

Nazem Kadri (TOR) - The slick center was very impressive tonight. Playing on a line with Niklas Hagman and Lee Stempniak, Kadri was able to show off all the tools in his offensive arsenal. It's clear the kid has great hands, vision, wheels, and offensive instincts - all of which were on display as he scored his first goal of the pre-season. After taking a pass from Tomas Kaberle in his own zone, Kadri was able to skate with speed through the neutral zone, dish the puck over to Hagman, cut behind him, receieve a drop pass, and then rip a shot in off of the far post. What I liked most about Kadri was his compete level - he fought hard for 50%-50% pucks all night against older, stronger players. I don't think he's quite NHL ready just yet, but he should be ready in '10'-11

Tyler Bozak (TOR) - Coming off scoring what has to be the goal of the pre-season last night versus the B's, the young two-way pivot continued to show his ability to play in all three zones tonight. The most likeable part of Bozak's game is his poise - he's a very "weighty" player with the puck, a great sign for a young player playing at a new level. He was pretty solid playing on the point with Tomas Kaberle on the power-play, aside from one turnover to Mike Richards (who it should be noted, made a play to intercept a Bozak pass that very few other players would be able to make). The guy has the wheels and smarts to be an excellent third line center with some second line potential. I'm confident he could play in the NHL this year.

Viktor Stahlberg (TOR) - Although he wasn't able to make his mark offensively tonight, I also liked what I saw out of Viktor Stahlberg. The Vermont alum has a nice combination of size, skill, and speed - man this guy can skate. I liked his effort on the forecheck, and he proved he is a serviceable defensive player, fairing well on the penalty kill. Will he make the team? I'm not sure. The Leafs have a log-jam up front, and unless he earns a top six spot, I think he might be better served logging big minutes with the Marlies.

Christian Hanson (TOR) - Hanson, too, had a solid outing. I really liked the way Hanson was able to utilize his size, which was illustrated when he went to the net, stopped, and banged home his own rebound in the third period. He also seems to have good wheels for a big guy. I saw some Eric Fehr in Hanson, although he definitely doesn't have the same offensive upside. If he continues to use his size like he did tonight, he could be a useful third line winger who can spot in on one of the top two lines.

James van Riemsdyk (PHI) - Philly's top prospect, playing on a line with Jeff Carter and Aaron Asham, had a fairly uneventful outing. He made a few nifty passes in the offensive zone, but didn't have a really good scoring chance. I took a lot away from his performance tonight, though. I've seen JVR play a lot, and one thing I can say is his positional play and board play is much improved - great news for Flyer fans. I wouldn't be too concerned with seeing JVR's offensive exploits in the pre-season, since he's a talented enough player where you know he'll get his chances. We know the kid has the offensive skills, but the real question he needs to answer is is he strong enough, both mentally and physically, to play at the NHL level and win 50%-50% puck battles? From what I saw tonight, I think he's improved significantly, but he still has a ways to go. On Kadri's goal, he was caught flat-footed in the neutral zone and wasn't able to slow Kadri down at all. I've heard through the grapevine he's looking good to make the Flyers out of camp, but I wonder if he wouldn't be better served going the Claude Giroux route - let him strut his stuff at the AHL level and then call him up later in the season. The main thing I'll take away from JVR's performance tonight is that he is working hard on his strength, board, and positional play. If he does that, and focuses on constantly competing hard, he's skilled enough where the rest should fall into place.

Five Guys I'll be Watching as Training Camps Unfold

5. Michael Del Zotto (NYR-D)
Drafted: '08 NYR 1st Round (20th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - London Knights/Oshawa Generals (OHL)
- The young London Knight makes a great first pass and knows how to run a power-play. He looked sharp in the Rangers' first pre-season game, both taking the body and moving the puck. However, he was at fault for the first goal against for the Blueshirts. John Tortarella has already stated he'd like to keep two young defensemen on the squad, which will likely mean two of Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti, Corey Potter or Mike Sauer. Only 19, Del Zotto will find himself playing under the bright lights of MSG or back under the control of the Hunter Brothers in '09-'10.

4. Matt Duchene (COL-C)
Drafted: '09 COL 1st Round (3rd Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
- Will Matt Duchene follow the lead of the 1st (John Tavares) and 2nd (Victor Hedman) overall selections in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft into the big leagues? Like Del Zotto, Duchene will find himself either staying with Colorado or back in the OHL. While there's certainly no rush for Colorado to thrust him into the NHL, there is certainly plenty of room for the nifty centerman. It used to be Sakic and Forsberg down the middle for the Avs. Will this year's edition of the Avalanche feature Stastny and Duchene? I'd guess yes.

3. Evgeny Grachev (NYR-LW)
Drafted: '08 NYR 3rd Round (75th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
- The most improved player in the Rangers' organization had a great first season in North America. He proved to be one of the elite players in the OHL, taking home Rookie of the Year honors playing alongside the previously mentioned Duchene. This year Grachev will find himself honing his skills with either the Rangers or the Hartford Wolfpack, the club's AHL affiliate. If the Ranger's first pre-season game was any indication, the hulking Russian badly wants to stay with the big club. Grachev hounded the puck and killed penalties all night, and was easily one of the better Rangers players on the ice. If Brandon Dubinsky continues to hold out, Grachev's chances only improve, as the Rangers will be looking for offense any way they can get it.

2. John Carlson (Was-D)
Drafted: '08 WAS 1st Round (27th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - London Knights (OHL)
- John Carlson has all the tools to be an NHL stud on the blue line. Blessed with great size and a howitzer of a shot, Carlson seems to be NHL ready. In last year's camp, the young rearguard wowed the Washington staff as an 18 year-old, staying with the team all the way until the end of camp. The one problem for Carlson may be the amount of defenseman in the Caps' system. Their AHL affiliate is stacked, with defensemen such as Karl Alzner ready to make the jump. Like Del Zotto and Duchene, it's NHL or OHL for Carlson. He has already made the jump from junior hockey in New Jersey, to the USHL, to the OHL in three consecutive years. A jump to the NHL in year four would be impressive.

1. Nathan Gerbe (Buf-LW)
Drafted: '05 BUF 5th Round (142th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Portland Pirates (AHL)
- Nathan Gerbe has been told he's too small his entire life. Listed at 5'6'' (...yeah right, and Marty St. Louis is 5'8''), Gerbe makes up for what he lacks in height through tremendous skill, smarts, and work ethic. I say height, and not size, because this guy is jacked. Odds are if you come across Gerbe, he's either staying after practice working on his shot or getting a lift in at the gym. He had a fairly dissapointing ten game stint with Buffalo in '08-'09 last season - but that will only increase his drive. With injuries to Paul Guastad and Adam Mair, Gerbe's attempt to make the Sabres got a nice lift. I expected him to make the team before these injuries, and I certainly expect him to make it now. If the '08-'09 AHL Rookie of the Year lines up on the wing with Derek Roy or Tim Connolly, I think the Sabres will be pleased with the results this time around.

Top 10: Bounce Back Seasons

Slumps. Injuries. The wrong linemates. The wrong coach. The wrong system.

There's several reasons a player can have a down year. But the big question looming for these players and their teams is, can they bounce back?

Here's ten guys I think will.

10. Scott Gomez (C-MTL)
'08-'09 stat-line: 77 gp, 16 g, 42 a, 58 pts, -2
- In the three seasons before last, the speedy Gomez averaged .91 points per game. Last year he came in at lowly .75 points per game, his lowest since the '02-'03 season. There were a handful of reasons - a high ankle sprain, a bad offensive team, no linemates, and one of the worst power-plays I have ever seen. Expect "Gomer" to jump back up to around a point per game, due in large part to former linemate Brian Gionta and ex-Calgary sniper Mike Cammalleri flanking him on the wings. This line may be small in stature, but I think they will really click. Gomez knows how to play in a defensive system from his Devils days, so don't expect that to hold him back. And let's be honest, could Montreal possibly be worse offensively than the Rangers of last season? I think not.

9. Peter Mueller (RW-PHO)
'08-'09 stat-line: 72 gp, 13 g, 23 a, 36 pts, -7
- The 'Yotes were expecting big things from Peter Mueller in his sophomore season. Unfortunately for Gretzky's squad, the sophmore slump hit Mueller - and hard. Not only did Mueller's point total drop by 18, but his assertiveness all over the ice took a nose dive. Many nights I found myself checking the box-score to see if he was even in the line-up. Phoenix fans (if there are any) shouldn't be too concerned. Many times a young player needs to take a step back before taking two steps forward. Expect Mueller's dissapointing sophomore campaign to fuel his fire for the '09-'10 season. A likely coaching change will only help. No offense to "The Great One," but he's no Scotty Bowman. I'd pencil Mueller in for 20+ goals and around 55-60 points.

8. Tomas Kaberle (D-TOR)
'08-'09 stat-line: 57 gp, 4 g, 27 a, 31 pts, -8
Tomas Kaberle's '08-'09 season was filled with drama. His name was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons...and constantly. Trade rumors, first, and then an injury. But those times have came and passed. Kaberle is still wearing the maple leaf on the front of his sweater, and will anchor a much improved Toronto defense. Coach Wilson has already came out and stated they expect 27-28 minutes a night from the Czech defender. The additions to the blue-line will allow Kaberle to stretch his legs offensively, much the way we've seen in the past when he's put up consecutive seasons of 67, 58, and 53 points. Expect Kaberle to get back to the 50 point plateau in '09-'10.

7. Erik Johnson (D-STL)
'08-'09 stat-line: 0 gp, 0 g, 0 a, 0 pts, +/-0
- When reflecting on the Blues emergence into the playoffs last season, it's easy to forget they were missing the 2006 NHL Draft's #1 Selection. Erik Johnson did not play in '08-'09, thanks to a freak accident on the golf course. Those damned golf carts will get you every time. Johnson had an excellent rookie season in '07-'08, notching 33 points in 69 games played. Johnson will be a star - that much is for sure. If he can work his way onto the Blues' top power-play unit, which he should, the big totals will be there. For '09-'10 I'd expect anywhere from 40 to 55 points from the young rearguard, who should log around 19-23 minutes a game - and possibly more as the season progresses. The only thing that can slow this kid down is injuries.

6. Brent Burns (D-MIN)
'08-'09 stat-line: 59 gp, 8 g, 19 a, 27 pts, -7
- After breaking out in '07-'08 and registering 15 goals and 43 points, last season was one to forget for Brent Burns. A defensive system. An undiagnosed concussion. What a head-ache (zing!). There's a number of reasons to expect big things from #8 this year. A new coach. A system that preaches attacking. More firepower up front in the form of Martin Havlat (and possibly Petr Sykora) - remember Marian Gaborik only played 17 games last season. Not to mention, Burns will be trying to play his way onto the Canadian Olympic team. Expect Burns to log more minutes than he has prior in his young career. Don't forget that Burns, not Mike Green, won the award for best defenseman at the '08 IIHF Worlds. '09-'10 will be a good one for the Ajax, Ontario native.

5. Carey Price
'08-'09 stat-line: 23-16-10, .905 SV%, 2.83 GAA, 1 so
-Big things were expected from Carey Price in '08-'09. Coming off a splendid rookie season in which Montreal advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, big things were expected not only from Price, but the Canadiens as a whole. However, it wasn't to be for Price or the Canadiens. Much of the criticism was directed to the young man inbetween the pipes. Perhaps too much was expected of the Hab's tender, who turned just 21 during the season. Critics said he wasn't in shape, had a poor attitude, enjoyed the Montreal night-life too much, and that he needed to stop acting his age. They were probably right. I expect last year to serve as a wake-up call for Price, who will now be in a more defensive-savy Jacques Martin system, which should help tremendously. Carey Price is destined to be a top five goalie in this league. Will next year be the season? I'm not quite sure, but the key to Montreal's future should be a top ten goalie, atleast, in '09-'10.

4. Jason Spezza
'08-'09 stat-line: 82 gp, 32 g, 41 a, 73 pts, -14
- Jason Spezza came into the '08-'09 season with a few things on his mind. For one, he wanted to play 82 games, being limited to an average of just 71 games in the previous three years. And two, he wanted to improve his defensive game, and become a better all-around player in the process. Well, he managed to play in 82 games...but the results weren't what you'd expect. Spezza only notched 73 points. Taking his average stats from the previous three seasons, Spezza's point totals, pro-rated for an 82 game season, should have been at 105 points. Not only did he underperform offensively, but his defensive game didn't improve. If anything, it got worse. Even though Spezza will be without Heatley this year, guys like Alexei Kovalev, Milan Michalek, and Sens' Captain Daniel Alfredsson will provide Spezza with suitable wingers. Who knows, maybe Spezza can even resurrect Jonathon Cheechoo the way Joe Thornton did in '06-'07. Do you think Spezza will want to prove Hockey Canada wrong for not putting him on its initial try-out list for Team Canada's camp? I do. Expect Spezza to register 90+ points, while also improving his dismal defensive play.

3. Dion Phaneuf
'08-'09 stat-line: 80 gp, 11 g, 36 a, 14 pts, -11
-If I were to tell you back in September of 2008 that there was a 23 year-old defenseman who had improved his point and +/- totals in his first three seasons, from 49 points and a +5, to 50 points and a +10, to 60 points and a +12, what would you expect in his fourth year? Certainly not a 47 point, -11 showing. Now 24, Phaneuf will try to continue making the strides he had made in his first three years in the NHL. Known for having a large ego, expect Phaneuf to take his '08-'09 performance to heart. He has to be better, and he will be. With the addition of Jay Bouwmeester, there's no reason to expect Phaneuf won't be playing with one of Robyn Regehr, Cory Sarich, or Bouwmeester - all excellent partners. Expect "Double Dion" Phaneuf to get back to his old ways in '09-'10 - putting pucks in the net and banging bodies.

2. Vincent Lecavalier
'08-'09 stat-line: 77 gp, 29 g, 38 a, 67 pts, -9
Outside of Marty St. Louis, positives were hard to come by for the Tampa Bay Lightning in '08-'09. Positives were also hard to come by for team captain Vincent Lecavalier. For starters, Lecavalier was coming off major surgery on his left wrist. He then had to endure a coaching change, an ownership controversy, and daily trade rumors. The big center had averaged 100 pts over the course of the past two seasons. '08-'09 saw Lecavalier register 37 points less than that average, not even hitting the 30 goal mark - something that should be a certainty for a player of Lecavalier's talent. The bottom line is Lecavalier is now 100% healthy, and fully assured that he will be in Tampa Bay for the long haul. While he might not be playing with St. Louis at even strength this season, the Lightning captain will still notch atleast a point per-game, and probably more. A 40+ goals, 50+ assists, 90+ points season should be in the works for the french-canadian center.

1. Dany Heatley
'08-'09 stat-line: 82 gp, 39 g, 33 a, 72 pts, -11
Dany Heatley had been one of the premiere players in the first three seasons after the NHL lock-out. Two 50 goal seasons (and it could've been three had he not been out for 11 games in '07-'08). An average of 1.23 points per-game. +93. A trip to the Stanley Cup Finals...Then there was '08-'09. Heatley's season didn't go as planned, and neither did the Senators, who missed the playoffs for the first time since the '95-'96 campaign. Things will be better for Heatley in '09-'10. After demanding a trade, Heatley will now find himself on Joe Thornton's left wing in San Jose, and on a team that won the President's Trophy in '08-'09. Heatley will be playing for re-newed respect, a spot on Canada's Olympic squad, and a chance to push San Jose towards a long and elusive playoff run. A 45+ goal, 90+ season should be in the cards for San Jose's newest sniper.


Honorable mentions: Paul Stastny (C-Col), Danny Briere (C-PHI), Vesa Toskala (G-TOR), Ed Jovanovski (D-PHO), Lubomir Visnovsky (D-EDM), Olli Jokinen (C-CGY)

Can You Feel It?

That's right. Hockey is in the air.

With the pre-season opening tonight with the Islanders taking on the Canucks, hockey is officially upon us.

And that means I'm back.

Stay tuned as I deliver some pre-season articles, culminating with my '09-'10 season predictions. Whose making the playoffs? Is the Great8 going to take home MVP honors for a third straight season? Will Pittsburgh repeat as Cup Champs?

Up first - bounce back seasons. Whose in store for one?