Phil Kessel trade: links

Here is a smattering of stories out there on the blockbuster Phil Kessel trade for those of you who can’t get enough. While it’s widely considered a major coup by general manager Jim Rutherford for the Penguins, you’ll see there are some interesting takes around hockey on what it means for the Maple Leafs.

• From the PG, (ICYM)I: Penguins acquire high-scoring winger in Phil Kessel 
• From columnist Gene Collier: Kessel trade will determine Rutherford’s legacy
• Dave Molinari’s piece on Carolina GM skewering Jim Rutherford: Hurricanes owner critical of his former - and Penguins current - GM
• Raleigh News & Observer: Karmanos unplugged where he rips Rutherford for the picks he gave up to acquire Kessel and more
• Yahoo Sports: On Kessell, Rutherford and silencing the haters 
• Don Cherry defended the Kessel trade in a Twitter rant 
• National Post: How trading Phil Kessel marks the true start of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rebuilding process 
• Toronto Sun: Leafs were sick and tired of Kessel which starts with a hot dog joke. 
• Toronto Sun: Writing was on the wall for Kessel
• Toronto Star: Phil Kessel trade gives Leafs pickes, assets 
• Globe and Mail: Maple Leafs start the rebuild by trading Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh 
• Scott Burnside, ESPN: Who got better end of Phil Kessel trade? Maybe both, he writes. 
• From NHL.com Kessel trade begins Maple Leafs rebuild
• Kevin Allen, USA Today Penguins big winner on Day 1 of free agency