Kessel on left wing? Just an idea.....

[Preisst*]

I've been paying a lot of attention to this recently. I think Kessel should be shifted to left wing. When he comes down the right side he is 100% predictable. He tries to go wide and shoots wide of the net. I really think that with him being on the left side it would help him be more creative with the puck.

He could cut to the middle and create some room.

If he does just end up shooting at least his stick will be in the middlish area of the ice and not off to the side. He might actually hit the net.

He basically parks himself on the left wing faceoff circle during PPs anyway.

I've noticed he's ended up on the left side a couple times in the past few games and the way he reacted gave me confidence it would work for him. When I mentioned it to my neighbour as we're watching games he thinks I may be on to something.

What are your thoughts?

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[Cor]

He finally starts scoring...... and we want to change things

 

[Leafs For Life*]

Or we could keep him right wing scoring 2 in his last 2. Wait.. That's not good enough.

 

[a a ron]

kessel on defence?

 

[Terrence]

It will be way harder for him in the d-zone on his backhand. Which is not exactly his strong suit as is.

 

[TMLife*]

He's a ppg for two seasons in a row. My god.

 

[SpeakerForTheDead]

Playing your strong side makes clearing the puck at your own line a lot easier as your stick is against the boards. Kessel already struggles with that as is, moving him to the left and making it even harder for him would just result in even more defensive zone time for that line.

Also, when the opportunity presents, Kessel and JVR like crossing in the neutral zone to allow them to come in on their off-wings. Of course, when it's just one of them rushing up the ice this doesn't happen.

 

[AINEC*]

We should take him off of the first line and pair him with Ryan O'Byrne. Thoughts?

 

[Preisst*]

He finally starts scoring...... and we want to change things

Or we could keep him right wing scoring 2 in his last 2. Wait.. That's not good enough.

At least you guys aren't short-sighted. If I started this thread 3 games ago would it have been a good idea then?

 

[Preisst*]

He's a ppg for two seasons in a row. My god.

He could have had even more if he was on the left side.

Playing your strong side makes clearing the puck at your own line a lot easier as your stick is against the boards. Kessel already struggles with that as is, moving him to the left and making it even harder for him would just result in even more defensive zone time for that line.

Also, when the opportunity presents, Kessel and JVR like crossing in the neutral zone to allow them to come in on their off-wings. Of course, when it's just one of them rushing up the ice this doesn't happen.

Yea but he already has zero defensive prescence.

 

[TMLife*]

At least you guys aren't short-sighted. If I started this thread 3 games ago would it have been a good idea then?

Ppg over the last 150 or so games...

It's not happening bro, give up.

 

[BayStreetBullies*]

Yea but he already has zero defensive prescence.

Except when he picked Brassard's pocket right in front of Reimer last night.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Kessel, while not terrible with his backhand, is not able to use it as a strength. He wouldnt be as effective with his playmaking having to give and recieve all his passes on the back hand, and wouldnt have the ability to snap one one net as quickly while driving the net (ala calgary goal last season)

thats my 2 cents

 

[Warden of the North]

At least you guys aren't short-sighted. If I started this thread 3 games ago would it have been a good idea then?

He could have had even more if he was on the left side.

Hes been PPG for the past season and a half.


Yea but he already has zero defensive prescence.

His defensive play, while not selke calibre, has improved considerably. Hes made some pretty nice plays this season, including one last night which may have prevented a goal.

 

[I am Canadian]

I started this thread about two months ago.

Kessel would have his back turned while clearing the puck on The wins. Same reason lupul couldn't see rosehill coming.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

he's a widebody, could be helpful as a goalie.

 

[Radomon]

If you look at his second goal the other night it's a perfect example on why he should play on the right wing.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

I think 'Grabovski to Left Wing?' is the real question you're looking for.

 

[Duke Silver]

I don't think he should be officially put on the left side, but I feel it wouldn't hurt him to try entering the offensive zone from the left side when he's skating up the middle in the neutral zone. Switch things up instead of doing his typical down-the-right-wing-and-shoot move that gets deflected into the netting 90% of the time. If he cuts into the middle he'll be on his forehand.

Should be noted that about half of his goals have come from the left side this year.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

I don't think he should be officially put on the left side, but I feel it wouldn't hurt him to try entering the offensive zone from the left side when he's skating up the middle in the neutral zone. Switch things up instead of doing his typical down-the-right-wing-and-shoot move that gets deflected into the netting 90% of the time. If he cuts into the middle he'll be on his forehand.

Should be noted that about half of his goals have come from the left side this year.

That maybe so but that's what a good goal scorer does, he finds different ways to get the goals. He's not ready to use his body strongly to be on the left, and it's better for him to be on the right IMO.

He's still evolving his game, and he should do it on the right side. If Julien wasn't adamant on using him on the wing, I think he would have been a good center for us but that boat has passed. Reason I am saying this is because he was naturally a center before he joined the big leagues.

Also anyone have that goal of kessel scoring in the PPG, afterwards dion and Kessel goes wild. Probably my favourite kessel goal

 

[7even]

I think RW is working out okay for him. He's the 6th leading scorer of the past two seasons.

 

[contour]

I believe Kessel is best played on defence, paired with Phaneuf.

Also, his production is not high enough at a ppg. Pairing him with Phaneuf will only make Kessel more of a Norris candidate than he already is.

 

[BonMorrison]

Also anyone have that goal of kessel scoring in the PPG, afterwards dion and Kessel goes wild. Probably my favourite kessel goal

The famous chest bump?



One of my favorites.

 

[Duke Silver]

That maybe so but that's what a good goal scorer does, he finds different ways to get the goals. He's not ready to use his body strongly to be on the left, and it's better for him to be on the right IMO.

He's still evolving his game, and he should do it on the right side. If Julien wasn't adamant on using him on the wing, I think he would have been a good center for us but that boat has passed. Reason I am saying this is because he was naturally a center before he joined the big leagues.

Also anyone have that goal of kessel scoring in the PPG, afterwards dion and Kessel goes wild. Probably my favourite kessel goal

Like I said, not a positional change but a slight style modification. Would like to see Phil become more unpredictable, that's all.

 

[Hero]

Kessel in net. /thread


Kidding, LW isn't a bad idea, just no reason to mess with his position right now.

And right now we got Lupul/JvR/MacA on LW too many LW's Kessel/Kulemin/Komarov/Frattin on RW