Leafs win

Despite general hopes for despair it is kind of nice to see the home team come out victorious. For me, right now, I'm watching to see who does what. Team success might not be an indicator of what's to come, but even in "garbage time" players can emerge. I'm expecting James Reimer to get the bulk the starts down the home stretch so the Leafs can really see what they've got in him. For his sake, I hope he tightens up. As in his play. Not his mentality. 

Kessel

Why do so many people believe that Phil Kessel is an untouchable? He's a member of a failed roster. Everything and everyone on it should be under review. Considering he's having his best season to date Kessel wouldn't be reviewed for poor play. Instead the team should consider how his style of game fits into the future plan. He needs better players around to him make things happen. Where are those better players going to come from? And how long will it take to get them here?

The addition of Joffrey Lupul was a terrific one from Kessel's perspective. And the intention going forward would be that those two pick up where they left of a month ago, next season. That's still possible. But how do we know that Lupul's comeback campaign wasn't just a thing of singular beauty? How many of us thought this team was home and cooled in early February? Yeah, and look at how that turned out. Point is, there are never any guarantees with this club. Without Lupul, Kessel isn't the best he can be. And as evidenced lately, nowhere close.

Back on the "Trade Kessel" front, I believe it would be smart business for the Leafs to at least sniff around to see what could be had for this potential 40 goal scorer. Perhaps a player of similar stature and age but who brings a different set of characteristics to the club? It's worth a call or two. Kessel's value may never be higher. What's certain is that his annual pay rate will soon spike. And the Leafs are already paying too many guys who do too little too much money. So too bad for Kessel. If he's going to make $7 million plus as the team's best player, he'll need to pick up his own slack plus theirs too. Kessel might be the best offensive player on the ice. It's his two-way game that many doubt will improve. And if you're playing for Randy Carlyle, it had better.

Again, I'm not saying deal Kessel for any dirty old draft pick. Just take a look around. See what's out there and how it might apply here. He'll be coming off a career year. Question is, when's the team going to have one of those?