from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star,

In 239 games with the Leafs, Kessel has potted 99 goals. Basically, that averages out to 33 goals per season, a number only 18 NHL players (2 per cent) hit last season and only 13 (1.4 per cent) did the season before that.

Kessel does well what very few NHLers do well. So, even with warts, he has great value, particularly to a team strong enough that he can play in a supporting role, as a secondary scoring threat.

Nonis, if he is to succeed, must put his stamp on this team in relatively short order, and must articulate a new direction fans can readily understand and embrace.

He has the patience and foresight to do that. Whether the new GM has the support of the new ownership, well, nobody knows.

But trading Kessel is the likeliest first step to the needed reset.

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