The Toronto Maples Leafs have rocked the hockey world Wednesday afternoon with their first big trade of the much-publicized re-build the team is going under.

The Leafs have traded winger Phil Kessel, Tyler Biggs, Tim Erixon and a second round pick in 2016 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the Leafs have acquired prospect Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington, Nick Spaling, first and third round draft picks in 2016.

Kessel had 25 goals and 36 assists for the Leafs in 2014-15 in another disappointing season for an organization that has not won the Stanley Cup in 48 years.

Despite leading the Leafs in points last season, Kessel came under the spotlight in Toronto, and not for all the best reasons. Much has been written about Kessel’s ability to handle pressure, his character, and willingness to play in a hockey market such as Toronto. The Toronto media had also put the former-Boston Bruin on the chopping board with reports he has trouble controlling his weight.

All that aside, Kessel will now be able to skate alongside two of the best centres in the world in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and with that, has a chance to reignite his career.

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford had on several occasions stressed his need for a top-six scoring forward and Kessel fits the description. The 27-year-old is widely regarded as one of the game’s elite wingers, scoring 247 goals in 668 career NHL games.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Leafs will also retain 15 percent of Kessel’s annual salary. Kessel is signed through the 2021-22 season with a total cap hit of $8 million.

Kapanen was selected 22nd overall by the Penguins in the 2014 draft and is the son of former NHLer Sami Kapanen.

Spaling, who grew up 40 minutes from Toronto and a Leafs fan, put up 27 points in 82 games for the Penguins last season.

Similar to 4th overall draft pick Mitch Marner in this year's draft, Harrington has ties to the Leafs organization. He spent four seasons in the OHL with the London Knights, playing under current Leafs co-interim GM Mark Hunter.

Despite the expectation he would eventually be moved, Kessel’s departure comes as a surprise after Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said that he did not expect his team to make headline moves when the free agency market opened on July 1st.