Links - Kessel traded to Maple Leafs signs 5year $27M cont - North River Minor Hockey Association

Kessel traded to Maple Leafs signs 5year $27M contract LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScoresScheduleStandingsStatisticsAnaheimCalgaryChicagoColoradoColumbusDallasDetroitEdmontonLos AngelesMinnesotaNashvillePhoenixSan JoseSt LouisVancouverAtlantaBostonBuffaloCarolinaFloridaMontrealNew JerseyNY IslandersNY RangersOttawaPhiladelphiaPittsburghTampa BayTorontoWashingtonTeamsPlayersInjuriesTransactionsDaily LineNHL on TSNTradeCentreDraftCentreeotText SizeThe drama surrounding Phil Kessel has finally come to an end as the Boston Bruins have traded their disgruntled sniper to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a first and a second round pick in 2010 and a first round pick in 2011Kessel and the Maple Leafs then quickly agreed to terms on a new fiveyear $27 million dealWhile both the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers had shown interest Leafs general manager Brian Burkes persistence finally paid offKessel is expected to arrive in Toronto on SaturdayBurke believes that this is a clear sign to the team which direction he believes they are headedBringing Phil Kessel aboard its a statement to our players that we intend to be competitive right away and I think he gives us a dimension that we need Burke told reporters following the Maple Leafs preseason victory over the Penguins FridayHe added that Kessel is extremely excited to be coming to TorontoThis is a free agent that could have signed with other teams he wanted to sign with us and I think its an important pick up for usWhile Burke admitted that the pricetag to acquire a player like Kessel was high it was feasible for several reasons Its a very high price but its one we feel makes sense for us and I think whats made it possible to expend those picks is two focuses one is that hes a young player hes not even 22 yet Burke said And second we think with some of the players we acquired without giving up picks like Tyler Bozak (Robert) Slaney (Christian) Hanson and (Jonas) Gustavsson these are players that were they available on the draft would command a high price like that We feel by stocking the cupboard we can take some of the cans off the shelf for the futureThe trade ends a saga that began during the leadup to the NHL Draft when Kessel originally appeared to be headed to Toronto in exchange for defenceman Tomas Kaberle and a draft pick However the deal was scuttled at the last moment due to a miscommunication over the pickThe Bruins had been unable to resign the 21year old Kessel and the two sides were miles apart on a new contract A restrict...