Phil Kessel named WCHA rookie of the year

WCHA awards

• Player of the Year -- Matt Carle, Jr. D, Denver.

• Defensive Player of the Year -- Carle.

• Rookie of the Year -- Phil Kessel, C, Minnesota.

• Coach of the Year -- Don Lucia, Minnesota; Bob Motzko, St. Cloud State.

• Student-Athlete of the Year -- Ted O'Leary, Sr. F, Denver.


http://www.adn.com/sports/story/7540495p-7451995c.html

Kessel honored: Gophers freshman forward Phil Kessel was picked as the WCHA rookie of the year and selected to the league's six-man all-rookie team, but he said he's not thrilled with his play during his first college season.
"I haven't had my best year; I've had a good year," he said. "But the team is winning."

Kessel, a center from Verona, Wis., who was the coaches' preseason pick as rookie of the year, has 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points in 36 games.
"It's not about the points," he said. "I just feel I'm not playing my best hockey."
"He's very deserving," Lucia said of Kessel. "I'm not sure there's been more pressure placed on a player coming into our league in a long time. He seems to be more relaxed in the second half of the season."

http://www.adn.com/sports/story/7540495p-7451995c.html

 

Oshie lost to him by 1 vote.

 

Thats a shame because IMO Kessel, right now, is only better than him on paper. Even though Kessel projects as being a higher end player, I think that Oshie plays 10x's more a pro game.

I actually loved Kessels comments. While he did put up some stats, it shows that he's not a player thats easily satisfied. I think that he has alot of things to work on if he wants to reach his high end success in the NHL. I really hope that he gets the proper guidance along the way because all of the individual talent is there to be a star.

 

They don't have a goalie of the year?

 

What do you mean by "on paper"? Statistically? I'm not picking on you in particular here, but Phil Kessel has quickly become the most poorly analyzed player in not only college hockey but probably outside the NHL. He's a scorer who does just that-scores, yet few seem to want to acknowledge what he brings to the table, instead comparing him to other players in ways that IMO are ill-fitting at best.

 

Be happy to take PK on my team.

 

No offense taken at all. In fact I've enjoyed talking about Kessel with you before and its always stayed respectful.

IMO Oshie just plays a more well rounded game and all of his value doesn't show up on paper. Thats pretty much all I'm saying.

 

Potulney all the way!!


sorry had to get the homer pick (not for rookie, for player of the year)
but i think he was equally deserving of top player. and defintly top forward.

 

Now, if only the Blues could somehow get Kessell and Oshie on the same line....with say.....Tkachuk...

 

He is amazing!! In the last 4 weeks he's jumped leaps and bounds past Carle, Collins, and Elliott for the Hobey Baker.

Potulny = 4G 1A Last night
Kessel = 3A

Anyone that saw that unreal game last night (St Cloud 8-7 ot win over the Gophers) would've seen Kessel step it up a notch. He whipped around people and didn't get bumped off the puck like has been the case at times this yr.

 

going a little far with the "he's a scorer point." seven even strength goals in 38 wcha games is not "scoring." add the 16 assists even strength and he has a long ways to go before he becomes what people expected him to be. he feeds off the gophers excellent powerplay. in many ways he makes their pp better, but lucia has always had an excellent pp system and is able to easily interchange players as long as he has an offensive defensemen to run the point and a goal scorer to pick things up around the net.

i agree with kessel's appraisal of his rookie year... he underachieved, especially when his team was playing even strength.

even his 3 assists vs the huskies were all with one more man on the ice than scsu.

 

What peole forget about the gophers and Kessel this year. Yes we do have a great PP. Many thought Vanek was a pp specialist that would never make in at the next level. 23 goals and 20 assists later there are few around here calling him a bust or "specialist" that will never make it.

Also Kessel is not out there to be the man. If Irmen was healthy he would be a hobey top 10 or be very close. Potulny along with Carle are the favorites. The gophers have 7 guys with 10 or more goals. Kessel does not have to do it all. Hence he is not doing it all. Thats not what tDon wants. So it is not happening. Now if Potulny and comapny leave early and Kessel is still here he will be the man, and his game will step it up or i will agree with the critisim. If Kessel was out there to feed Potulny even strength like he does on the PP his even strength numbers will go up. Wheeler is a good player but is a project that gained 40 pounds since he was drafted, Gordon did not score a goal all of last NCAA season. Not exactly Stafford and Zajac on your line.

IMO after the year was over. He did not underachieve. He got better in all aspects oh his total game. And when he needs to be the man next year. He will know what to exept and be that much better for having had a whole season to learn with little pressure from his coaches.

 

If you're referring to Oshie, he does not play with stafford. He plays with Zajac and Spirko

 

I'd pick Kessel if i had the #1 pick.

 

Nice assesment! My comparisons are from beginning of the yr to now. He pushed trying to be "the man" at first and struggled. Lucia got him settled down and his game IMO has increased significantly!!! He was awesome Friday night (overlooked due to Potulny's 4G)!! Still is somewhat snake bitten when it comes to goals but it'll come. With, IMO about a 95% chance that Potulny & Irman will be gone, Kessel will likely be "the man" next yr.