I didn’t see much from the Kessel debut, however I did see this:

Don’t know about his shoulder- but welcome back buddy- better keep that head up. From all accounts it sounds like the general consensus was that he by FAR the best forward on the ice for the Maple Leafs and that Matt Stajan shouldn’t be too comfortable with his place alongside Kessel.

Lebrun has as good an overnight review of the game as anyone else I have seen:

“The 22-year-old star winger was downright dynamite Tuesday night in his Maple Leafs debut, dazzling the home fans with his speed and skill and launching 10 shots on goal at the Tampa Bay net, more shots than Lightning stars Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis combined.”

Downright dynamite. I love it. In time a percentage of those will either end up in the net or result in assists for Kessel.

“The former Bruins star did everything but score on this night, launching 19 shots in total toward the net, seven blocked by Lightning players and two missing the net. The puck was following him around all night.

I’m stunned he looked this good after missing all of training camp, preseason and the opening month of the regular season, recovering from shoulder surgery and, oh, playing his first game with a new team and new linemates.

In just one game, you see what kind of dimension Kessel brings to a Leafs lineup essentially devoid of top-six, high-end offensive talent. Tampa’s blueliners were backing up in a hurry when Kessel wheeled out of his zone with the puck. He opens that much ice around him thanks to his sizzling speed.”

Kessel is the offensive threat that the Maple Leafs haven’t had since, well, since ummmm, Doug Gilmour maybe?????

The problem facing Kessel, Brian Burke and Ron Wilson is that there is only one Phil Kessel on the Leafs. This team is now 1-12. So despite what anyone is saying with respect to positive signs, things improving, they can’t hide from that record. They are 1-12. In terms of timing, the schedule is fairly favorable to the buds. They don’t play again until Friday when they travel to Carolina to take on Paul Maurices ever struggling team before taking on the Red Wings at the unfriendly ACC. The Burke’s bunch has 7 games to play before they hit the 20 game plateau, the time when GM’s take stock in what they have and what they need. Right now it is hard to fathom how Burke sees nothing but holes in his lineup. 1-12 speaks volumes and despite what some in the MSM are saying, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a long way to go should they wish to be playing meaningful games after the holidays, let alone be anywhere near a playoff spot.

I have to believe by the way, that barring injury, the Finger experiment is going to come to an end with the Leafs pretty soon. They can’t keep a guy making that much dough with the club and in the press box. It’s too much money to be blowing under the cap to not have him in the minors. If he is not good enough to play with this group as a top performer than he should be down on the farm.

TSM

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Lebrun is here

First it was Stephen Harris in the Boston Herals siting unamed sources closes to the Bruins that something is imminant and now Damien Cox is suggesting that this has to end soon or Burke may pull the offer sheet out of his back pocket”

“In fact, sources indicate that if Kessel isn’t traded in the next 48 hours, the Maple Leafs may be prepared to lay down an offer sheet in order to bring the issue to a conclusion.”

“The Leafs are believed to have offered two first round picks and a second – more than the free agent compensation of a first, second and third – but could amend that to involve young players. Nazem Kadri, however, is out, and probably Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson are too since GM Brian Burke knows future attempts to sign NCAA free agents would be damaged if he dealt either Bozak or Hanson just months after signing them.

Winger Viktor Stalberg or forward Jiri Tlusty are possibles, but the Bruins would likely view either as anything but a guaranteed contributor for this season. Tomas Kaberle, included in trade talks between the two clubs in June, now has an active no-trade clause again.

For the Leafs, waiting much longer carries with it the risk that other teams might suffer injuries and therefore join in the bidding. So the likeliehood is that this weekend will see Kessel either traded or tendered an offer sheet.

Kessel is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and won’t play until mid-November. But he should know the identity of his new team within days.”

Great blog post by Damien. Let the banter continue and the countdown officially begin….

@yyzsportsmedia

You know what I always say, no dumber animal on the planet, collectively speakin then the professional athlete. Add Patrick Kane to the list, potentially.

“Chicago Blackhawk right winger and South Buffalo native Patrick Kane and a relative face robbery and other charges after allegedly assaulting a cab driver and failing to pay their fare after getting a ride from Chippewa Street early this morning. Kane, 20, and James M. Kane, 21, were arrested about 5 a.m. on Eastwood Place, according to Buffalo police reports. The pair allegedly punched the cab driver and grabbed money they had handed him after he told them he didn’t have twenty cents in coins to give them their change, the report said. Their fare was $13.80 and they handed the driver $15, according to a report. The cab driver told police he was punched in the face and head, grabbed by the throat and had his glasses broken during the incident. Both men were charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors.”

That from the Buffalo News

Now, I am sure there is a very good explanation for this. A tad ironic as Kane was honored in his hometown and called a “hero” only hours earlier. More to come…

TSM

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Get this sports fans, you know the sportsnet story earlier today, the one about Burke discussing a potential deal which involved trading Kaberle, Schenn and the #7 pick overall to Tampa for the #2 pick over, the one that Doug MacLean reported? ALL BULLSHIT. Sources close to Sportsnet are telling TSM that Sportsnet knows they’re in hot water over this story. The story was completely FALSE.

Brian Burke had to call Luke Schenn and Tomas Kaberle today to tell them there was nothing to the rumors, while he was spending time with his daughter’s family in Boston and Burke was less then thrilled with how he had to spend his down time….. It is Interesting that Doug MacLean, a former GM is behind this mess.

The Toronto Sun has run a story on the Burke denials:

“And about this request from the Lightning that Burke send defencemen Luke Schenn and Tomas Kaberle and the seventh pick in exchange for the second pick? ‘The concept is absurd,’ Burke said. ‘I have said so to Luke, and am trying to reach Kabba to tell him the same.’ ”

On the apparent email that got sent to MacLean from Burke (recall this from the article “Leafs general manager Brian Burke has confirmed to Sportsnet via e-mail that the Lightning have asked for Toronto defencemen Tomas Kaberle and Luke Schenn along with the team’s No. 7 pick in exchange for Tampa’s No. 2 selection. Burke also said in his e-mail to Sportsnet that Schenn is not going anywhere.”):

“Brian Burke went into quash mode on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs general manager shot down a rumour that he would send the Leafs’ seventh overall pick in the NHL entry draft next month to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second pick overall and right winger Ryan Malone. The catch is Malone is under contract through the 2014-15 season at a salary cap hit of $4.5-million US for each of the next six years. ‘I have no comment,’ Burke said. ‘It certainly has not been discussed at our end.’”

Now does that sound like the words of someone who sent a “confirming email??????????

The Fan 590 is still running the rumour story..

More on this tomorrow I am sure.