With the NHL Trade deadline less than a month away, the rumors have started to circulate about potential trade targets for other team. Among the major teams involved every year in trade rumors are the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Perhaps no other topic is hotter in Toronto than the potential of moving the under-performing Phil Kessel. According to Kevin Dupont of the Boston Globe, "Meanwhile, rumors persist in Toronto that general manager Dave Nonismay unload Kessel (4-12-16 in his first 22 games) prior to the April 3 trade deadline. In three-plus seasons, the ex-Bruin has convinced many up there that he's neither a leader nor core performer. Add him to a deep lineup with a coach who emphasizes offense (say, the Blackhawks, or maybe Canucks or Ducks), and he could be that 60-, 70- or even 80-point guy who helps deliver a Stanley Cup."
Kessel was brought into Toronto in 2009 after coming off a 36 goal season in Toronto. In exchange for him, former Toronto general manager Brian Burke traded away Toronto's first round pick in 2010 and first round pick in 2011 to the Bruins. Boston subsequently selected Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton with those picks.
That trade has maligned Kessel's tenure in Toronto despite solid offensive numbers. In his three seasons with Toronto Kessel has scored 55, 64, and 82 points. He got off to a tough start in 2012-13, but has tallied 20 points in 25 games; he is the second leading scorer on the team. In the three seasons with Toronto, he has never scored less than 30 goals.
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