Series Talk: (P3) San Jose Sharks vs. (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins

[Eighth Fret]

Congrats to Phil Kessel. Nice to see him win a Cup and possible CS as a middle finger to all the idiots who doubt him (looking at you USA Hockey).

 

[EmergencyExit]

It ain't over just yet. Grim as the outlook may be I can't disrespect the boys by anointing the Pens champs until it happens.

 

[Alwalys]

Congrats to Phil Kessel. Nice to see him win a Cup and possible CS as a middle finger to all the idiots who doubt him (looking at you USA Hockey).

I have no strong feelings about kessel either way, but needing to be on a 3rd line of a stacked team to have success isn't all that great of a resume builder.

 

[Bleedred]

Congrats to Phil Kessel. Nice to see him win a Cup and possible CS as a middle finger to all the idiots who doubt him (looking at you USA Hockey).

Abdelkader is better tho bruh, brings dat grit!

 

[Eighth Fret]

I have no strong feelings about kessel either way, but needing to be on a 3rd line of a stacked team to have success isn't all that great of a resume builder.

He doesn't need to be on the third line. You could even argue that his line is the defacto top line or second line for the Pens this year (or at least in the playoffs). He's had plenty of success even on terribly assembled and heinously coached Leafs teams.

The media unfairly scrutinizes his weight, characterizes his demeanor as being a sign he doesn't care, and opines that he's lazy just because the game comes so naturally to him that he doesn't need to look like he's trying to move a mountain in order to play elite hockey.

We of all people should know that a Cup doesn't define the greatness of a player, I just think it's nice to see that a long time punching bag of the hockey community is going to get his name on the Cup. Of course I would MUCH rather that person be Jumbo, but I can still be a little happy for Kessel.

 

[Levie]

He doesn't need to be on the third line. You could even argue that his line is the defacto top line or second line for the Pens this year (or at least in the playoffs). He's had plenty of success even on terribly assembled and heinously coached Leafs teams.

The media unfairly scrutinizes his weight, characterizes his demeanor as being a sign he doesn't care, and opines that he's lazy just because the game comes so naturally to him that he doesn't need to look like he's trying to move a mountain in order to play elite hockey.

We of all people should know that a Cup doesn't define the greatness of a player, I just think it's nice to see that a long time punching bag of the hockey community is going to get his name on the Cup. Of course I would MUCH rather that person be Jumbo, but I can still be a little happy for Kessel.

So what you are saying is Kessel is a less attractive, less in shape, American Marleau?

 

[Eighth Fret]

So what you are saying is Kessel is a less attractive, less in shape, American Marleau?

Ha! That's pretty good comparison. I'd say it was a little tougher for Kessel being in TO, and having the weight of Seguin/Hamilton on him as well.

 

[Alwalys]

He doesn't need to be on the third line. You could even argue that his line is the defacto top line or second line for the Pens this year (or at least in the playoffs). He's had plenty of success even on terribly assembled and heinously coached Leafs teams.

The media unfairly scrutinizes his weight, characterizes his demeanor as being a sign he doesn't care, and opines that he's lazy just because the game comes so naturally to him that he doesn't need to look like he's trying to move a mountain in order to play elite hockey.

We of all people should know that a Cup doesn't define the greatness of a player, I just think it's nice to see that a long time punching bag of the hockey community is going to get his name on the Cup. Of course I would MUCH rather that person be Jumbo, but I can still be a little happy for Kessel.

i dunno about all that, was never invested in hisa story, and i agree he should be on team usa but cup results are team results and his success is because he cant get consistent defensive pressure with the team as it is.

 

[Ladyfan]

Good Luck tonight !

I hope you can pull it off.

 

[Barrie22]

He doesn't need to be on the third line. You could even argue that his line is the defacto top line or second line for the Pens this year (or at least in the playoffs). He's had plenty of success even on terribly assembled and heinously coached Leafs teams.

The media unfairly scrutinizes his weight, characterizes his demeanor as being a sign he doesn't care, and opines that he's lazy just because the game comes so naturally to him that he doesn't need to look like he's trying to move a mountain in order to play elite hockey.

We of all people should know that a Cup doesn't define the greatness of a player, I just think it's nice to see that a long time punching bag of the hockey community is going to get his name on the Cup. Of course I would MUCH rather that person be Jumbo, but I can still be a little happy for Kessel.

and oh yes i am sure kessel is getting the tough assignments from the other teams top defensive pairings with nobody's like crosby and malkin in front of him lol.

 

[Eighth Fret]

and oh yes i am sure kessel is getting the tough assignments from the other teams top defensive pairings with nobody's like crosby and malkin in front of him lol.

He was just as successful (playoff accomplishments aside) in Toronto as the team's #1 offensive threat with a trainwreck of a team, a terrible center, and terrible coaches.

 

[LadyStanley]

Oye.

 

[Alwalys]

He was just as successful (playoff accomplishments aside) in Toronto as the team's #1 offensive threat with a trainwreck of a team, a terrible center, and terrible coaches.

No, he wasn't successful at all (by the standard of winning a cup, which is what you cited)

 

[OrrNumber4]

Kessel has shown that he his a great complementary player. Not a superstar, not someone you can build around, but a great 1B piece...like Patrick Marleau. Toronto was foolhardy trying to build their forwards around him.

 

[Eighth Fret]

No, he wasn't successful at all (by the standard of winning a cup, which is what you cited)

Uh, no. I didn't cite winning a Cup as a standard of success. In fact I said the opposite. I said it's nice to see him win hockey's ultimate prize (and quite possibly Conn Smythe) after years of being unfairly criticized. Did he need to be on a stacked team to win the Cup? Sure. So do Crosby and Malkin. So do Toews and Kane.

You said he needed to be on a third line to be successful, and I pointed to his time as a Leaf as proof that he doesn't.

 

[Alwalys]

Uh, no. I didn't cite winning a Cup as a standard of success. In fact I said the opposite. I said it's nice to see him win hockey's ultimate prize (and quite possibly Conn Smythe) after years of being unfairly criticized. Did he need to be on a stacked team to win the Cup? Sure. So do Crosby and Malkin. So do Toews and Kane.

You said he needed to be on a third line to be successful, and I pointed to his time as a Leaf as proof that he doesn't.

to win the Cup. i mean basically him winning the Cup does not prove he should have been on team USA. It's no middle finger to them. It proves that Pittsburgh was a good team this year.

And again he should have been on team USA, just using a Cup as a metric for anything sucks.

 

[EmergencyExit]

Get this Kessel winning the cup **** out of here. The series goes on.

 

[BaileyMacTavish]

Putting up a fight when this team is battered and tired. Gotta love the resilience. Hoping for a Game 6 win!

 

[Coily]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=119165121&postcount=20




You got a question, you ask the 8-ball.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[Nighthock]

^^^

But... but every single team that's done it before lost the series. I guess we really are doomed...

 

[Alwalys]

^^^

But... but every single team that's done it before lost the series. I guess we really are doomed...

we already knew no team has come back from 1-3 in the modern era

 

[Grave]

First for everything! Kings did it to us now its time for the Sharks to do it to the pens.

 

[magic school bus]

Kessel has shown that he his a great complementary player. Not a superstar, not someone you can build around, but a great 1B piece...like Patrick Marleau. Toronto was foolhardy trying to build their forwards around him.

Possibly wins CS... = Complementary piece ???

He's a stud. Always been a stud, and only idiots like Boston, USA Hockey and the media keep him from getting the respect he's always deserved.