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The Toronto Maple Leafs GM acquired winger Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins on Friday in a mega deal that had been rumored for months.
The Leafs sent two first-round draft picks and a second-round draft pick to the Bruins for the high-scoring winger. The 21-year-old Kessel, a restricted free agent, signed a five-year, $27 million deal with the Leafs.
The Leafs and Bruins talked about a Kessel deal on the eve of the NHL entry draft in Montreal in June. But the trade, which featured Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle going to Boston, fell apart over a miscommunication when each team thought it was getting a first-round pick in addition. The Bruins were no longer interested in Kaberle after signing Derek Morris in July.
But Burke, his team in desperate need offense at the forward position, renewed his interest in Kessel late in the summer.
Boston tried to re-sign the 36-goal winger, but a contract offer believed to be in the ballpark of the four-year, $16 million Jordan Staal signed with Pittsburgh was apparently rejected in July. That's where the story gets interesting.
The Kessel camp asked for a trade at that point. Kessel's agent Wade Arnott vehemently denies that.
One fact neither camp disputes is Kessel and Boston coach Claude Julien didn't see eye to eye and it contributed to the player's exit. Julien stresses a defense-first system.
The Leafs sent two first-round draft picks and a second-round draft pick to the Bruins for the high-scoring winger. The 21-year-old Kessel, a restricted free agent, signed a five-year, $27 million deal with the Leafs.
The Leafs and Bruins talked about a Kessel deal on the eve of the NHL entry draft in Montreal in June. But the trade, which featured Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle going to Boston, fell apart over a miscommunication when each team thought it was getting a first-round pick in addition. The Bruins were no longer interested in Kaberle after signing Derek Morris in July.
But Burke, his team in desperate need offense at the forward position, renewed his interest in Kessel late in the summer.
Boston tried to re-sign the 36-goal winger, but a contract offer believed to be in the ballpark of the four-year, $16 million Jordan Staal signed with Pittsburgh was apparently rejected in July. That's where the story gets interesting.
The Kessel camp asked for a trade at that point. Kessel's agent Wade Arnott vehemently denies that.
One fact neither camp disputes is Kessel and Boston coach Claude Julien didn't see eye to eye and it contributed to the player's exit. Julien stresses a defense-first system.
