Phil Kessel Discussion Thread. (no goals as of Feb 4, 2013)

[mrsauve]

Kessel is not a soft player to begin with. Some players like to hit more because they can't score or contribute with their playmaking. I guess playing in the best league in the world against the best checkers and defence pairings most nights makes someone soft

Watch any game and you will see him jump out of the way and give up the puck. Hes the softest player IN THE NHL not the softest person to wear skates

 

[mapleleaf979]

Because every single player on each of those teams can play defence an score right?

U constantly grasp at straws to prove a point. When it comes to Kessel , you dont get it at all.

 

[frankthetank91]

....

 

[mapleleaf979]

Kessel is not a soft player to begin with. Some players like to hit more because they can't score or contribute with their playmaking. I guess playing in the best league in the world against the best checkers and defence pairings most nights makes someone soft

He is as soft as butter in a sauna. Its not even arguable. He throws on average 11 body checks PER YEAR. Honestly he is as soft and physical as Gretzky was without the 200 point seasons. Kessel is a diva.

 

[7even]

That's the kind of logic that has this team where it is defensively.

Go tell the Kings, Bruins or Blackhawks that.

All those teams had players in positions to succeed. Their rosters were/are extremely balanced. Getting pissed at Phil for not being Steve Yzerman is like, forgive the Pokemon analogy, walking into the flying gym with a Sandslash and getting pissed that Earthquake doesn't hit. You're not really putting Sandslash in a place where he's going to shine.

Kessel is absolutely not the problem with the Leafs. The problem with the Leafs is that they have such a terrible supporting cast, none of our top players are in a position to be the best players they can be. If Kessel's defensive play is being exposed, your team has wayyyy bigger problems than that.

 

[mapleleaf979]

All those teams had players in positions to succeed. Their rosters were/are extremely balanced. Getting pissed at Phil for not being Steve Yzerman is like, forgive the Pokemon analogy, walking into the flying gym with a Sandslash and getting pissed that Earthquake doesn't hit. You're not really putting Sandslash in a place where he's going to shine.

Kessel is absolutely not the problem with the Leafs. The problem with the Leafs is that they have such a terrible supporting cast, none of our top players are in a position to be the best players they can be. If Kessel's defensive play is being exposed, your team has wayyyy bigger problems than that.

Really? 9 games and no goals isnt a problem for your top Sniper who comes to camp every year out of shape? Id say its a pretty big problem.

 

[DD03]

Where do people get this idea that Kessel comes into camp out of shape?

 

[mapleleaf979]

Where do people get this idea that Kessel comes into camp out of shape?

Just look at his face. He came to camp once and looked completely different for a few weeks and than his fitness dropped to its usual level. This is the only time that Kessel has been in shape and u can clearly see how different he loooks. Compare the link below with any other pic of him. He was 10 pounds lighter.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/17/kessel_is_ready_for_big_role_with_leafs.html

 

[mrsauve]

The problem with the Leafs is that they have such a terrible supporting cast, none of our top players are in a position to be the best players they can be. If Kessel's defensive play is being exposed, your team has wayyyy bigger problems than that.

Kessel is the supporting cast! we don't have any actual top line players for him to provide secondary scoring for...

Kessel puts up pts but eats up tons of minutes and provides nothing else.. and in the playoffs he wouldn't provide anything..

 

[DD03]

Just look at his face. He came to camp once and looked completely different for a few weeks and than his fitness dropped to its usual level. This is the only time that Kessel has been in shape and u can clearly see how different he loooks. Compare the link below with any other pic of him.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/17/kessel_is_ready_for_big_role_with_leafs.html

Just because he looks slimmer doesn't mean he's out of shape. I've seen guys 1000x times bigger then Kessel who are still in shape.

 

[Leafidelity]

Kessel puts up pts but eats up tons of minutes and provides nothing else.. and in the playoffs he wouldn't provide anything..

Except scoring...

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Just look at his face. He came to camp once and looked completely different for a few weeks and than his fitness dropped to its usual level. This is the only time that Kessel has been in shape and u can clearly see how different he loooks. Compare the link below with any other pic of him. He was 12 pounds lighter.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/17/kessel_is_ready_for_big_role_with_leafs.html

He actually looks a little like a hockey player in that pic.

 

[DD03]

Kessel is the supporting cast! we don't have any actual top line players for him to provide secondary scoring for...

Kessel puts up pts but eats up tons of minutes and provides nothing else.. and in the playoffs he wouldn't provide anything..

2008-09 Boston NHL 11 6 5 11
2007-08 Boston NHL 4 3 1 4

his numbers tend to disagree with you.

 

[7even]

Really? 9 games and no goals isnt a problem for your top Sniper who comes to camp every year out of shape? Id say its a pretty big problem.

0.42 goals per game since joining the Leafs and never scoring less than 30 says you might be missing the forest for the trees. I'll take the 234 game sample over the 9 one and say he's on a cold streak.

 

[mrsauve]

Except scoring...

goals would qualify under "pts"...

 

[achtungbaby]

Kessel for getzlaf
Then sign perry as a f a

So Anaheim gets something for Getzlaf but allows Perry to walk for absolutely nothing?

 

[mapleleaf979]

Just because he looks slimmer doesn't mean he's out of shape. I've seen guys 1000x times bigger then Kessel who are still in shape.

Compare that pic with any other Phil Kessel pic. Its the only time he was in shape. Come on man.

 

[DD03]

LMAO. When someone doesnt want to believe something, they try and convince themselves of anything. Compare that pic with any other Phil Kessel pic. He was 10 pounds lighter as well.

That was 3 years ago. Just because he adds bulk doesn't mean he's out of shape. If he wasn't in shape, we'd never hear the end of it. Carlyle is a fitness nut.

 

[mapleleaf979]

That was 3 years ago. Just because he adds bulk doesn't mean he's out of shape. If he wasn't in shape, we'd never hear the end of it. Carlyle is a fitness nut.

Your hilarious. Blind love.

 

[mrsauve]

2008-09 Boston NHL 11 6 5 11
2007-08 Boston NHL 4 3 1 4

his numbers tend to disagree with you.

Don't think your grasping my point...
My point is leafs will never win a cup with kessel being one of our top 2 forwards... he would be the supporting player on a team good enough to win.

Like semin

 

[7even]

Kessel is the supporting cast! we don't have any actual top line players for him to provide secondary scoring for...

Kessel puts up pts but eats up tons of minutes and provides nothing else.. and in the playoffs he wouldn't provide anything..

Absolutely ridiculous statement. Goals scored over the past two seasons:

1. Steven Stamkos - 105
2. Corey Perry - 87
3. Jarome Iginla - 75
4. Daniel Sedin - 71
5. Alex Ovechkin - 70
6. Phil Kessel - 69

So unless the team you root for is the Western Conference All-Stars, Phil Kessel is absolutely a primary scoring option.

 

[DD03]

Your hilarious. Blind love.

Blind love? Or blind hate on your part? You haven't proven that he is out of shape except for a picture from over 3 years ago.

And as a professional athlete, along with a very conditioning minded coach, I think there would be a lot more made about Kessel's conditioning, if it really were a problem, which it isn't.

He bends down on the bench the way he does, as a way of opening his lungs. But he's still faster and in better shape then he ever has been.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Blind love? Or blind hate on your part? You haven't proven that he is out of shape except for a picture from over 3 years ago.

And as a professional athlete, along with a very conditioning minded coach, I think there would be a lot more made about Kessel's conditioning, if it really were a problem, which it isn't.

He bends down on the bench the way he does, as a way of opening his lungs. But he's still faster and in better shape then he ever has been.

If your denying it after that pic, you will never see it. If Kessel ever dedicates himself to being in shape he will grow as a player. Its like squeezing an orange, with Kessel there is alot more to give.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Except scoring...

Lets hope Leafs win the conference and comes up against a 22 year old goalie on a 8th seeded team when we do reach the post season. Hopefully a team who just lost their #1 d-man and is lead by players like Kovalev and Komisarek...

 

[DD03]

If your denying it after that pic, you will never see it.

Your only evidence of him being out of shape is a picture? That was taken 3 years ago?