Non Leaf Fans Opinion of Phil Kessel

[Analyzer*]

Wicked shot. One of the best in the game.

Tremendous speed.

Underrated passer.

All the negatives are true, except he does play defense here and there. Not consistently, but you do see him coming back and breaking up a play.

 

[UnrefinedCrude]

Kessel is a dominant offensive player. tremendous speed, killer shot. he generates offense like a demon.

His play at the other end of the rink is not great though. Often he seems totally disinterested in that aspect of the game.

On a properly constructed team, he wouldn't stand out negatively. But on a team who is questionable defensively his failings get magnified.

People expect the high paid star to be the saviour of the team, so he carries way more than his share of the blame on that.

The Kane comparisons aren't crazy (I am a huge fan of Kane, so this is a compliment to Kessel, not an insult to Kane.) A team like Chicago can have a guy like Kane because the strength of the team lets him play to his strengths. the team as a whole can support an offense first guy. They get better scoring than they would have if everyone was a two way player, by giving their offensive specialist free reign to do what got him drafted in the first place.

A team that could support him would be someone like LA. In fact I think if they could figure out a way to get him, they could dramatically increase their offensive output, and their defensive game is sooo strong those numbers wouldn't really change.

They are scary as it is year to year, but could you imagine them with an elite offensive talent in the mix too?

 

[boredmale]

Good player but shouldn't be "the man". I would say him and Patrick Kane almost at a similar level but the difference is Kane has Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa, etc

 

[c3z4r]

Top 5, arguably 3 winger in the game.

Ovechkin, Perry, Kane are the ones I would take over him without any hesitation. After that it gets a bit murky.

 

[jeangauthier]

How do they taste...............?

Not a fan of the donut...........

 

[Devil Dancer]

Very good player, overly criticized in the media and on HF.

 

[Seedling]

Great talent and undeniable skill but he really doesn't seem to be a guy you build around. With his talent, it really makes you wonder how much better he would be if he would get into the same shape as others at his level. He's likely the most enigmatic and frustrating player I've seen in a very long time. He's still top notch, but he just seems like such a mystery.

 

[McOvechking]

Very good player, overly criticized in the media and on HF.

Completely this. He's a pleasure to watch. Toronto would be making a mistake to sell him at low value. He's not the problem there.

 

[Ogopogo*]

im a kessel fan. Always have been, always will be. all you hear is negativity and bashing because they want this unbelieveable offensive/defensive player.

I just am curious what other fan bases (preferably no one who lives in Toronto) opinions are of Kessel.

If this has been done before my bad.

He's a good player. The problem is, modern philosophy is that if you aren't 6'4" and grinding people physically - you suck!

He is a player from another era - a better era. He is not appreciated as he should be.

 

[vanarchy]

Thread peppered with posts from Leafs fans as expected.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I love Kessel but just not on Toronto... BUT he needs a change of scenery from Leafs and Leafs need a change of scenery from him. I think if he joins a new team, he will have career years after and the Leafs management will get major heat from fans and media. But I feel its something they need to do and need to go in a different direction AND they will get a huge return.

Even if Leafs suck bad for a few years during a rebuild, they will still continue being one of the franchises worth the most in all sports. It's time to do something. I am not a Leaf fan at all but I am a huge fan of teams in Canada doing well. I would respect it if Shanny, management, coaches etc did something like a press conference with media and fans and let everyone know that they will be doing a rebuild and tell the fans that they may need to be patient. Admit mistakes, tell everyone their plans and hope that fans respect that they did this. They have a lot of good pieces but it's just not working.

I admit that if they did a full rebuild and explained to media and fans why, I would take notice and really enjoy seeing what they do. I wouldn't turn into a die hard fan, but Id still probably cheer for them a lot more and enjoy watching the Leafs....

That's my 2 cents haha

 

[tucker3434]

Great scorer and creator of offense, but he isn't a guy I'd want to be the best player on my team.

 

[JacobBeans]

I'm not a Leafs fan, though I am a fan of Phil. It's just something very likeable about someone who looks like an average person, but is in fact not average at all.

I can only imagine how good he would be on another team with a 1C. For his own sake, and for the sake of hockey, I truly hope that Leafs trade him.

 

[Stuzchuk]

one-dimensional type of player, natural scorer (just like the former ****ing allstar)...

I prefer all-around type of player, so would not pay a whole lot to acquire him if he was made available

EDIT: if given the choice bet'n Kessel and Backes, I'd go with Backes everyday of the week

 

[Arthuros]

I wouldn't want him on the team without another superstar.

 

[MuffinMerc]

Great shot. Needs better defense. Doesn't strike me as a character guy.

Thread peppered with posts from Leafs fans as expected.

This.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Senators/Habs:

Kessel is an amazing player with elite offensive talent and gamebreaking speed in the PPG range. He is being squandered under Horachek who is chaining him down.

Will trade for him in Ottawa, please please please.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

not surprised by the responses here. leaf nation once criticized sundins game. the best player to ever put on the blue and white :/

Sundin =/ Keon.
He was a massive backbone for his Leafs franchise though.

 

[SabresSharks]

Phenomenal offensive talent. Studiously avoids physical contact.

 

[The Dangly One]

Great scorer and creator of offense, but he isn't a guy I'd want to be the best player on my team.

Ditto

 

[Garbage Goal]

Great player offensively, not much of anything else. Character issues are overblown. Wouldn't want him on my team though simply because he's a winger (and a purely offensively oriented one at that) and you don't build teams around wingers. That and his contract. You can't take a contract like that and have that player be anything but a core piece and building block of he team.

EDIT: Yeah, that other poster said it best. Great talent, just not the player I'd want to be the best one on my team.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Bad driver of the car, best passenger in the league.

You stick him on a Chicago, Anaheim, any team with depth and watch the nightmare unfold for opposing teams.

Hope he gets traded so i can actually cheer for him again.

 

[Antropovsky]

Bad driver of the car, best passenger in the league.

You stick him on a Chicago, Anaheim, any team with depth and watch the nightmare unfold for opposing teams.

Hope he gets traded so i can actually cheer for him again.

This... I'm a leaf fan and think kessel is a very likeable guy who deserves better. The leafs are a ways away from needing a kessel however.

It would be best for both parties to move on, that being said... If I'm nonis, I'm not panicking and selling low. I truly hope he's traded to a team that has an established leadership, he will explode and bozak will fall back to earth.

 

[CowMix]

He's like Gaborik, he can put up a bunch of points being your #1 guy but your team isn't going to win.

 

[Amused To Death]

That quick release on his wrist shot is filthy. Only time I cheered for the leafs was the shortened season in that series vs Boston. Watched him a lot. Kessel is a damn good player. Was surprised how good he was, considering how much he gets shat on (I only watch Canucks games, mostly).