Brian Burke reveals that he almost had to offer sheet Phil Kessel

On September 18th 2009, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for two first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, as well as a second-round pick in 2010. As everyone knows by now, those two first-rounders went on to be Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton.

But before that trade went down, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had some competition in trying to acquire Kessel from the Bruins, and he revealed to Eric Francis of Sportsnet that he almost had to offer sheet the Madison, Wisconsin native.

"I was prepared to offer sheet Phil Kessel when I signed him in Toronto, and I told the Boston Bruins that. They were trying to make a deal with the L.A. Kings and trying to talk to Nashville, and I said, 'either you guys make a deal with me or I'm going to offer sheet him.' So they made a deal with me," Burke said.

Kessel went on to spend six years with the Maple Leafs, tallying 394 points (181 G, 213 A) in 446 regular season games.

Brian Burke really wanted Phil Kessel back in 2009 and he was going to do anything to get him. 😂 pic.twitter.com/Qkqh08In6B— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 9, 2021

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