- Bob McKenzie: The Maple Leafs and Phil Kessel deal could get done as early as today. Both sides working towards that.
- Darren Dreger: Neither the Maple Leafs nor Kessel agents are commenting on the speculation. Sense is that there could be news today.
- Bob McKenzie: McKenzie expects the deal could be for $8 million a season, give or take $500,000 and for seven or eight years. Kessel’s productivity over the years shows that he could be looking for as much as $8.5 million or in the Claude Giroux range, $8.275 million.
- Damian Cox: Reported last week that they were working on a deal. The deal will be expensive, but they couldn’t have this hanging over the team all year.
- Bob McKenzie: The Leafs wanted to see how eager Kessel was to remain with the Maple Leafs. If he did, they figured the money would sort itself out.
- Bob McKenzie: The bottom line was, if they want to re-sign him, if would cost between $7.5 and $8.5 million a season or he would go to unrestricted free agency.
What do you think Kessel SHOULD get? What do you think he WILL get? (state if you are a Leafs fan or not)
- VIDEO: Talk on Kessel’s new deal. As well as Henrik and Daniel Sedin. For the Sedin’s, could be in the $7.5 million a year range for four to five years. There are no talks between the Penguins and Ilya Bryzgalov. This could be the last year that NHL players go to the Olympics.