Brophy on Leafs: Time to trade Kessel?

Should he stay or should he go?

Almost unbelievably, on a night when 24-year-old Phil Kessel scored to tie his single-season high for goals with his 36th, there are those who think the only way the Leafs make it back to the playoffs — they haven’t played in the post-season since 2003-04 — is to get rid of him. The theory being, he’d fetch a decent return if GM Brian Burke plays his cards right.

One night after the Leafs were beaten to a pulp by the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, they returned home to face a team below them in the standings, the New York Islanders, and blew two one-goal leads in a stinging 5-2 defeat. Neither loss could be pinned on Kessel, although he didn’t play particularly well in either game. In 15:07 of ice time against the Bruins Monday he managed two shots on goal and was minus-2. It was a physical game so he was mostly invisible. Against the Islanders, he scored a highlight-reel goal, but was otherwise undetectable the rest of the night playing 17:41. His goal came on his only registered shot on goal.

The “trade him or keep him” debate is interesting on many levels. On one hand, Kessel has been among the NHL’s top 10 scorers all season and will likely hit the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career. On the other hand, if he doesn’t fit into new coach Randy Carlyle’s scheme, his trade value will never be higher. The guy is, regardless of everything else, a capable goal-scorer.

If you missed his 36th of the season Tuesday night, then you missed a beauty. Standing on his off-wing and poised to shoot, Kessel accepted a picture-perfect pass from centre Tyler Bozak and drilled a one-timer past Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov who came within a whisker of making a miracle save. The shot nailed the net camera and exited the goal quickly. Play continued while a stunned Kessel pointed to the net with a ‘that went in!’ demeanour.

The replay proved him right. Problem is, he got his goal and then disappeared for the rest of the game.

And therein lies the meat of the debate. No one could ever deny Kessel’s scoring ability. It is his bread and butter. When the Leafs were going good this season, he was a big reason why. When things turn sour, Kessel is often nowhere to be found. Given the fact they are about to miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season, for many frustrated Leafs fans that is the overriding factor.

Midway through the first period Tuesday I asked the Twitter world what it thinks; does Kessel fit in with the team moving forward under a physically demanding and defence-first coach like Randy Carlyle, or would the Leafs be better off trading him?

On one hand, he is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and, depending on the team he’s up against, he has a nose for the net. He doesn’t do so well against opposing teams that get physical. He is an underrated passer and seems to be genuinely liked by his teammates. There is a shyness and innocence about Kessel that is curiously appealing.

The flip side is Kessel is easily intimidated. You can’t count the number of times he bursts into the offensive zone at full speed — which is really something to behold — only to lose the puck because he shies away from physical contact. He has not, despite his great scoring ability, learned how to control the puck and pay the price. Never mind what anybody tells you about Kessel having developed greater attention to his defensive play this season; that simply is not the case. He is still a floater who, more often than not comes back slowly looking for the first opportunity to make a quick pivot and head back up ice. In terms of work ethic, he will never be mistaken for Sidney Crosby.

The responses I received on Twitter were predictably divided.

Some Leafs fanatics believe Kessel has made a positive impact this season, is moving in the right direction and should be retained. Here are some examples:

@Wysguy11: 36 goals and counting, I think he fits on any team.

@MapleLeafsHH: Absolutely…the key is to bulk up the players around him to play Carlyle’s style. Every team needs true snipers.

@Raiderfan_NOC: Even on a defence-first team, you need a goal-scorer.

@AnthonyDunkley: On the way to 40+ goals. I know defence is an issue, but that’s almost as good a season as any Leaf in history.

And there are those who believe the Leafs should consider moving him:

@robbyd26: If he plays a well-rounded game, yes. If not, nope…the only way he fits in is if he’s playing with two big skilled forwards.

@Syprarush: Kessel may be used to lure Rick Nash. It’s quite obvious when the going gets tough, Kessel is gone.

@Mikey_Dangles: Not unless he loses 15 pounds of fat and puts on 10 pounds of muscle and realizes the rink doesn’t end at his own blue line.

@divemaster05: Not unless he starts playing both ways.

@damienv17: No, I want him gone so badly.

@Sizzler1900: Nope. Trade him. Value might never be higher.

@92Jays93: I see Kessel as a great centre piece in a big trade — maybe for another forward or maybe for a top goaltender! Why not??

Perhaps the Twitter post that most summed up how Leafs fans are feeling these days was not directed entirely at Kessel.

@smiley99799: Who cares anymore? Do they really think next season will be any different? What we need is an exorcism!

By the way, when I entered the Leafs dressing room after the game — and after the team held a 20-minute closed door summit — Kessel was sitting in his changing area. That, for the record, is rare. Normally you can’t find him after a game. I briefly considered approaching him to ask his opinion on the ‘should he stay or should he go’ debate, but decided it was not the appropriate time.

Besides, I decided, what would he say? Kessel hasn’t said anything meaningful since he arrived in Toronto.