Bob McKenzie on TSN: McKenzie on Phil Kessel’s eight team trade list and if any of them would be interested in trading for him.
“I’m not sure if any of them necessarily would be. Most of them are “capped out,” McKenzie said, noting the existing salary obligations of teams like Chicago, Los Angeles and the New York Rangers. “I don’t think the Leafs are trading Phil Kessel to the Montreal Canadiens.”
“I think the list was ostensibly put together probably to places that: A) He would be prepared to play if he had to, and B) places that are salary capped out… I think that the list – for the most part – was designed to make his modified no-trade as close to a full no-trade as possible.”
Randy Miller: (answering question) The chances of the Flyers trading for Phil Kessel are zero percent.
Dennis Bernstein: (answering question) Favorite to land Kessel would be Nashville. Favorite to land Dion Phaneuf would be Dallas. Leafs would likely have to retain some salary if those are the two landing spots.
Platinum Seat Ghosts: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 on who the Maple Leafs could draft at No. 4.
“Well it’s an interesting one and we’re really educated guessing here, that’s what we’re doing. Some believe that because Mike Babcock is always influenced by good defence that maybe Hanifin is the guy that he’s looking at. Can’t be 100% convinced of that. There are a lot people out there that believe that the Arizona Coyotes will likely take Dylan Strome so now there’s Mitch Marner and there’s the obvious connection to Mark Hunter. For me, it’ll likely come down to Hanifin or Mitch Marner but that’s not an entire lock. I think you’re going to have probably 2 or 3 players that are in that mix but what do the Maple Leafs need more? Do they need that forward or do they need a good young defenceman that might be very good 5 years or more from now. That’s where the internal discussions get real interesting and y’know Mike Babcock is going to have a strong opinion but at the end of the day, he’s going to do what’s best for the Toronto Maple Leafs and if it’s Mitch Marner who’s the better player available then that’s the player the Leafs would likely draft”
