This year? No chance... Pretty sure Ovechkin is still on pace for 60. It'll be Stamkos and Ovechkin for years to come but I'd be happy with him finishing top 5 year in and year out.
Kessel's chances for the Rocket Richard?
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This year? No chance... Pretty sure Ovechkin is still on pace for 60. It'll be Stamkos and Ovechkin for years to come but I'd be happy with him finishing top 5 year in and year out.
saffronleaf
Registered User
just hand him that messier leadership award, a.k.a. the award for great players who don't qualify for any other award.
No disrespect to Bozak but can you imagine Thornton with Kessel and JVR!?
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A prime Joe Thornton with Phil Kessel and James Van Riemsdyk? I'm willing to bet Joe would average over an assist per game if that would happen. And Kessel would probably score 50 a couple of times.
Only a couple? Cheechoo scored 50+ once with Thornton as his center, I think Kessel would reach that mark at least a few times.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 79,187
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Maaaaybe.
I could see Joe Thornton and Phil Kessel not working together well at all. Thornton is a guy who likes to slow down the game, excels down low, sets up on the perimeter, plays the possession game in the opposition end, whereas Phil thrives on the rush, pushing the pace, doing those quick strike attacks.
Plenty of times Kessel has rushed into the opposition's zone, then slowed down to pick his spot or make a pass. Infact, some of his best scoring chances or set-ups are a result of doing that.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
He already ended our winning streak, might as well make sure Kessel doesn't score another goal the rest of the year too..,
Btw, to answer the thread, no chance.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
I agree.
Kessel performs best when he controls the puck, he's a triple-threat type of player.
I think he would be best with a defensive/2-way guy like he has. Better players than Bozak of that type are guys like Toews or Bergeron.
Failing that, I would looking for a pure sniper with size. A slapshot or power type of shooter like Stamkos or Staal.
If you get a playmaker, you take the puck away from Phil in the offensive zone and on the PP.
There are no nominees for NHL awards. There are finalists revealed (the top 3 vote getters) for the awards that are voted on. However, the Rocket Richard is not voted on. It is simply awarded to the player with the most goals.
I don't even think that Bergeron would be necessarily better. Instead it would be a centre that has long reach, defensively strong and is more of a shooter. Say, David Backes, Jeff Backes. Thornton, on the other hand, would be forced to be a shooter, because Kessel is much faster. He'd be in the offensive zone a lot earlier, ala Crosby, and I can't see that working well. In fact, Kessel would probably thrive the most offensively with a shooter like Stamkos/ Tavares. However, that line would be atrocious defensively.
Pyromaniac3
Registered User
I don't think Kessel meshes well with Thornton. Both like puck on their stick and both like to make plays. Kessel would have to become a pure sniper for that to happen. I think defensively responsible centre with good shooting skills like Pavelski would be a great fit for this line if we were to replace Bozak.
deleteme24
Leafs for cup
Well at kessel's current pace of 10 goals in 12 games, so by the 70 game mark he could be at 40 goals and hit 50 goals by 82 games!
slozo
Registered User
I'd have said no way same as anyone else . . . but this season, there really IS a window of opportunity. IF
-Ovechkin gets injured
-Ovechkin goes in slump/loses it after Russia gets ousted in the Olympics
...then there is an excellent chance that Phil can do it. Kessel may just be having his career season right now, depending on how hot he can get while heading towards the playoffs, obviously. And that makes sense . . . Bozak is having a career year, and so is JVR. They are all feeding off each other, it's not just Kessel making everyone better (although that's a big part of it).
-Ovechkin gets injured
-Ovechkin goes in slump/loses it after Russia gets ousted in the Olympics
...then there is an excellent chance that Phil can do it. Kessel may just be having his career season right now, depending on how hot he can get while heading towards the playoffs, obviously. And that makes sense . . . Bozak is having a career year, and so is JVR. They are all feeding off each other, it's not just Kessel making everyone better (although that's a big part of it).
Wafflewhipper
Registered User
- Jan 18, 2014
- 14,114
- 5,694
I think Ovi has this locked up barring an injury that takes him out for a while. At this rate, Kessel might be able to make it interesting.
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