Yeah, I think Kessel was huge in Pittsburgh's last two cups. Very likely they don't win in either year without that third scoring threat.keeisis would NEVER win a cup without crosby, can you say the same inverse order? didn't think so.
Yeah, I think Kessel was huge in Pittsburgh's last two cups. Very likely they don't win in either year without that third scoring threat.keeisis would NEVER win a cup without crosby, can you say the same inverse order? didn't think so.
Considering he outscored his teammates by a decent amount, I would have atleast thought he'd have 10th-20th place hart votes.
I feel like this is a disingenuous argument.
What elite winger has ever won the cup without at least a legit first line pivot?
I honestly can't think of any in the last 25 years.
ooh, so close
He's a superb complementary player.
But you can't ask him to carry/lead a team.
ooh, so close
(but i don't think the threshold he gave was that kessel had to be the only first line-calibre forward on his team, unless you think any legit first line center is automatically as good as or better than kessel?
pat kane was the clear best forward on at least two cup winning teams. martin st louis and patrik elias are two others, though yes cup-winning winger-led offenses are rare.)
Nah. I think he's rated fairly. He's got to be the best example of a secondary player. You're never going to win if he's your best forward, but if he's your second (or third in Pittsburgh's case), then he's in his ideal role.
they dont win it without kessel either wtf. its hockey. each team has a lot of players.crosby deserved to win both conn smythes. without crosby the pens don't win.
He's a superb complementary player.
But you can't ask him to carry/lead a team.
He has been overrated in his time in Pitt , The Conn Smythe nonsense and all. Its a shame cause i like Phil.
He looks like such a goober that people don't realize how good he is.
It's also not his fault Toronto asked him to be a franchise player when that's incredibly difficult for a winger to do. Not even Ovechkin- one of the best LW'ers of all time- has been able to make that work.
On a side note I learned recently that the Hot Dog column from the Toronto media was in fact complete bunk. Kessel didn't live or work anywhere near the reputed hot dog stand.
keeisis would NEVER win a cup without crosby, can you say the same inverse order? didn't think so.
Yah just to the leafs media who wouldn't leave the poor guy alone.As a 1rst liner leader? Probably not. Otherwise, yes.
Remember, the guy used to be a media **** magnet too.
I remember Simmons keeping on bashing him AFTER he won a cup with the Pens (where he almost won the Conn Smythe), talk about keeping an agenda!Definitely got a bad rap while in Toronto, all while being by far the best player in a dumpster fire of an organization for the duration of his time here.
Which was in no way a fault of his. Bad management, bad decisions and local media choosing him as the fall guy. Clowns like Simmons and Feschuk kept butting heads with him; I hope they enjoyed that second helping of crow this past June
Yeah but i don't remember Anderson ever being close to being bashed like Kessel was. Both can be described as money players and excellent PO performers though.Phil Kessel is underrated much like Glen Anderson was underrated