The Toronto Maple Leafs surprised no one when they dealt veteran winger Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. He spent six productive seasons with the club but was repeatedly the subject of trade rumors, especially during rough times over the last two years.
Kessel was finally moved to Pittsburgh, along with forward Tyler Biggs and defenseman Tim Erixon for forward prospect Kasperi Kapanen, forward Nick Spaling, defeseman Scott Harrington and a 2016 third round draft pick. The deal appears to make sense for both sides, with the Penguins acquiring another high-scoring threat that will force teams to spread their defenses thin and the Leafs trying to rebuild after a depressing 68-point season. And apparently Kessel had worn out his welcome in Toronto, with both the team and media, including feisty Toronto Sun writer Steve Simmons.
Simmons has ripped Kessel and other Leafs players in the past and, judging from repeatedly hostile comments on most of his articles, readers grow sick of his tone. Following the trade, Simmons wrote a piece that detailed a pattern of uncooperative behavior and poor attitude from Kessel, saying the team was sick and tired of him. The article wasn’t ruthless or over-the-line but it did include an odd criticism of Kessel: Hot dogs.
We’re not sure why the hot dog story is relevant and why he’s taking a bizarre shot at the departed winger for wandering to the hot stand every afternoon while wearing a toque. Whatever the case may be, it’s probably best for everyone that Kessel is no longer in Toronto.
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