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Kessel deal coming full-circle as Leafs miss out on local star

 06.25.10 at 9:53 pm ET
By DJ Bean

There were a lot of things about the first round of Friday night’s NHL draft that seemed a little funny. Both league-wide and specifically to the Bruins, the first 30 picks were laced with irony and confusion. Some blatant examples: Two perceived top defenseman fell out of the top 10. The team that needed centers took winger Taylor Hall, which led to the team with too many centers taking Tyler Seguin.

Graig Woodburn photography

Graig Woodburn photography

A few storylines stand out with the Bruins’ new center, one of which is that he was the top-ranked player in the draft by NHL Central Scouting, yet went second. Just as fascinating, however, is the team he went to, and with which pick.

Every young hockey player’s dream is to play in the NHL, and with his selection Friday night Seguin will undoubtedly realize his lifelong goal. However, the path to Boston, a city he spoke about with excitement Friday night, ultimately went through the team he grew up admiring as a child.

Born in Brampton, Ontario, Seguin was close enough to Toronto to be a Maple Leafs fan. In addition to being an Original Six rival of the Black and Gold, the Maple Leafs were a trade partner in the move that would eventually bring Seguin to Boston. The Bruins acquired three picks from the Leafs last offseason in the Phil Kessel deal, including the first-rounder that became the pick used on the Plymouth Whalers center.

“Growing up I was the local guy,” Seguin said. “I liked watching the Leafs because they were the local team.  Now that it happened, I think it’s meant to be. I think things worked out throughout my life and anyone’s lives. It’s just where we were supposed to fall, and Boston was the team that was supposed to pick me.”

What makes it so interesting is the story the pick could have been if it stayed in Toronto. The hometown kid who grew up cheering on the Leafs goes to the historic franchise to give them a shot of both youth and scoring. Instead, he’s gone to the rival, a Bruins team that has seemed to be knocking at the door for two seasons now.

So does the team that will also see their second-rounder Saturday and first-round pick next year made by the Bruins regret the deal?

“We made this trade,” Leafs GM Brian Burke said at the draft. “We took our chance on how our team would finish. We talked about the possibility that it could be a lottery pick. … We said, ‘Well what if it is Taylor Hall? What if it is Tyler Seguin?’ and we said ‘We’re going to make that trade anyway.’ We got the player we wanted and I hope Boston got the player they wanted.”

Read More: 2010 NHL Draft, Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, Print  |  Email   | Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Slugo

    Not buying it Burke. After a season of watching one-tool Kessel, they would take back that trade without hesitation. They didn’t believe they were going to have a lottery pick season. If they did, why trade multiple high draft picks for one guy (and overpay him) if your trying to rebuid. This will go down as one of the worst trades of his GM career, which has been pretty damn good. Glad we were on this side for once.

  • eddie shack

    Burke will be fired for this trade. Wait till next year when the B’s robably get another top 5 pick. This trade will carry the B’s for the next 8-10 years.

  • DZ

    What do you guys think about Savard going to the Leafs for Kaberle? It’s been speculated because of the $$ involved and it’s a win/win for both teams. Kaberle is EXACTLY what the Bs need because, in my humble opinion, the ABSOLUTE WORST part of their game last season was coming out of their own end. I’m worried, however, that such a deal would screw our pick from Toronto next year because with Savard they would score quite a bit more.
    KEEP SUCKIN’ LEAFS AND THANKS FOR OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!!!

  • Jared

    Burke must be kicking himself…I would love Kaberle, I just dont want to put Savard with Kessel. Even though Toronto would still suck pretty bad, Savard and Kessel would seriously help their offense….More goals = more wins= = lower pick. I would only do the deal if it was late this week, and they are still trying to deal Savard.

  • DZ

    I love how that fat ass tries to pass this whole thing off like it was exactly what he wanted (“We got the guy we wanted and hopefully the Bruins get the guy they want”). Burke deserves exactly what he’s getting now that the dust has settled. He never thought they’d be bad enough to turn the pick into a top 2 selection (WRONG!!!!!) and now he’s stuck with a talented but one-dimensional player with a huge contract. There is such a sense of entitlement with Toronto and their fans. I hope this drought lasts a looooooooooong time. It’s nice to see.

  • G-Man

    DZ,

    Easy with the name calling. Burke lost his son last year. Show some compassion and little respect.

  • DZ

    G-Man,
    It’s not about anyone’s home life……it’s a hockey blog. Stay on topic.

  • DZ

    But I will admit that the “fat ass” term was not necessary to make my point.

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