Why Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel is a keeper Trade rumours swirl, but offer would have to be huge By MIKE ZEISBERGER, QMI Agency

Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel ended his goal drought on Thursday, but that hasn't stopped any of the trade speculation. (MARK BLINCH/Reuters) Leafs' Dion Phaneuf to keep on firing Korbinian Holzer earning extra ice with Leafs

WINNIPEG - The Blizzard of 2013 couldn't keep the Maple Leafs from arriving in Montreal from Winnipeg on Friday night, braving high winds and blinding snow in the process.

Of course, if you are Phil Kessel, it must have seemed like a bright sunny mid-summer's day, given the fact that he finally has hit the back of the net.

No more dark cloud looming over the head of Phil Kessel. Life is good again, albeit temporarily.

It will be interesting to see if Kessel’s first goal of the season will muzzle some of the trade chatter that seems to have dominated the Leafs’ fan base, a debate that grew with each of the 10 games at the start of the season that the enigmatic winger fired blanks.

“They just need something to talk about,” scoffed teammate Matt Frattin.