I have no problem with beating up on Simmons for that column but I do kind of reject the idea that columns like it had any real effect on the Leafs attempt to trade Kessel or what they got in return. Let's all remember that even the Penguins were willing to walk away from the deal without salary relief and I don't think that's because of anything written by the Toronto press.
The Leafs traded Kessel because they finally knew they needed to rebuild. The price they got for him was determined in large part by his own limitations as a player(and specifically his bad final year with the team). He's been good in Pittsburgh but he's more or less vindicated anyone who said that his deal with the Leafs didn't make sense for the Leafs.