Report: Kessel and Phaneuf to stay in Toronto?

According to Canadian legend Don Cherry, the Toronto Maple Leafs won't trade Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf this summer. Rumours about the Leafs' two highest paid players have been circulating since last winter. But if Cherry is to be believed, Leafs management will give Mike Babcock a chance to straighten the ship before trading them away.

They’re not getting traded,” the Hockey Night in Canada icon told Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Tuesday. “First of all, you wouldn’t get fair value for them right now. [Kessel] is a 30-goal scorer. He can put the puck in the net. And Dion, I remember when he was with Calgary, he was a Norris Trophy [finalist].” "[Babcock] has a knack for turning guys around and straightening them out," Cheery said. "[Kessel] will report in shape this year, not 10 pounds over and laughing that he only skated 10 times in the summer. "Give [Babcock] a chance with those guys, and if he can't do anything with them, then you're going to have to get rid of them. But they won't be traded."

Cherry has a point regarding the two players value. Kessel just had his worst season since joining the Leafs back in 2009 with 25 goals and 61 points along with a horrible -34 ratio. At only 27 years old, Kessel is in the prime of his career and should bounce back under the right circumstances. Same thing for Phaneuf who, just like Cherry noted, was once a Norris trophy finalist back in 2007-2008. Under Babcock's influence, could both of them find their mojo back and be part of the Leafs turnaround?