Phil Kessel picked 1st, traded by Team Toews in all-star draft
Toronto forwards' name was called last in 2011
Just when I thought the story couldn't get any better, considering the irony of four years ago, Team Toews threw a huge twist into the plot.
Phil Kessel was front and centre in the early-going of the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft and then made a curtain call when he was traded to Team Foligno for...wait for it...Tyler Seguin. I'm pretty confident that I don't have to explain why this is significant.
Seriously? Regardless of what Team Toews does the rest of the weekend, they made this happen and sprinkle in the fact that it was the first trade in the history of this event.
���������� & the Comedy Central roast of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhilKessel?src=hash">#PhilKessel</a> continues w/ a Seguin for Kessel trade <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamToews?src=hash">#TeamToews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RickNash?src=hash">#RickNash</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLAllStar?src=hash">#NHLAllStar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamFoligno?src=hash">#TeamFoligno</a>
—@IamnotnotBatman<a href="https://twitter.com/DonGiovanna">@DonGiovanna</a> ICYMI, Tyler Seguin got traded for Phil Kessel. I almost threw up my dinner. It was beyond hilarious.
—@asmae_tEarlier in the evening, Jonathan Toews and his assistant captains Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Nash made the Toronto Maple Leafs forward the first player chosen for Team Toews.
Team Foligno won the puck flip and opted for Ryan Johansen of the Columbus Blue Jackets with the first overall pick.
The selection of Johansen was an obvious choice, given that the festivities are taking place in Columbus, but the selection of Kessel gave the event an early jolt of energy.
Toews then made a funny comment when responding to his top choice, saying that he felt that Kessel was one of the more coachable players in the league. Not sure what to make of that now, but it seems like more of a dig post trade.
Of course this was all in stark contrast to 2011 when Kessel was famously picked last.
Whether Toews was also sending a message that he feels Kessel is receiving too much criticism from the Toronto media is also a possibility, but again, not too sure about that after the swap.
What started out as a pleasant distraction for Kessel, probably took an unwanted turn there, given how the season has unfolded in Toronto.
However, he seemed to have a good sense of humour about the whole ordeal.
At least one fan, and likely more, was hoping for a repeat of Kessel's previous experience.
1st overall pick in the NHL All-Star game fantasy draft is Ryan Johansen. I'm happy as long as Phil Kessel is picked last.
—@ZakMeentsWhile others were slightly more excited by what initially transpired.
Happy to see our boy <a href="https://twitter.com/PKessel81">@PKessel81</a> is being drafted before some of the big boys! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLAllStar?src=hash">#NHLAllStar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a>
—@Sandy1399The Leafs obviously approved of the selection.
Great pick, Team Toews! Take good care of <a href="https://twitter.com/PKessel81">@PKessel81</a> for us! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLAllStar?src=hash">#NHLAllStar</a>
—@MapleLeafsAnd then offered this thought afterwards.
History dictates that Phil Kessel now scores 175 goals for Team Foligno. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLAllStar?src=hash">#NHLAllStar</a>
—@MapleLeafsTeam Foligno
Assistant captains: Drew Doughty, Patrick Kane
- Selections: Ryan Johansen, Duncan Keith, Anze Kopitar, Steven Stamkos, Tyler Seguin (traded), Carey Price, Claude Giroux, Dustin Byfuglien, Marc-Andre Fleury, Brian Elliott, Brent Burns, Kevin Shattenkirk, Bobby Ryan, Radim Vbrata, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jonathan Drouin, Jiri Sekac Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Team Toews
Assistant captains: Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash
- Selections: Phil Kessel (traded), Shea Weber, Jakub Voracek, Corey Crawford, John Tavares, Roberto Luongo, Brent Seabrook, Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrice Bergeron, Jaroslav Halak, Aaron Ekblad, Patrik Elias, Ryan Suter, Mark Giordano, Justin Faulk, Johnny Gaudreau, Mike Hoffman, Filip Forsberg (last pick)