Phil Kessel ranks 43rd on TSN's Top 50 NHL players

[Yorgeez]

I had the same reaction as you it's not really a big deal but talk about double standards, I just feel like Kessel doesn't get the respect he deserves. I hope he has another big year for us, the top 50 list be damned.

 

[-DeMo-]

The ranking appears to consider a players entire career rather than current worth. For example the Sedins, Datsyuk, St. Louis have obviously all had great careers but I wouldn't trade Kessel for any of them today.

not really your talking about the Art ross trophy winner last year(St. Louis) for leading the league in points, and a guy in Datsyuk who had 3 less points then Kessel while playing Selke level of Defense. both those guys are better players then Kessel is currently you wouldn't trade for them because there older and could be going down hill soon but that doesn't mean right now there not the better player which they are.

 

[Mess]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=432765

On TSN's ranking of the Top 50 NHL players Kessel ranked 43rd which is an improvement from ranking 47th in the previous one. However I was surprised that he didn't rank among the top 30 or even 20 based on his play from the past few seasons and they have Taylor Hall out ranking him at 39th. So what are your opinions or does something like this even matter?

Its based on a compilation consensus ranking of NHL GMs and Coaches (Nonis or Carlyle may be among them)

For the first time, TSN's Top 50 ranking was determined by a group of 14 NHL coaches and general managers, representing seven Eastern Conference teams and seven Western Conference teams.

Kessel was ranked the #7th best RW and 43 player in their opinion.

On the TV show they explained his ranking being based on playing a non primary position of either Center, Defense or Goalie and the fact that he is essentially a perimeter player, i.e. that doesn't win key face-offs, play defense etc in his style despite being among the scoring leaders in the NHL. Essentially GMs\Coaches put player value and contribution to more then just points alone when it comes to winning.

 

[achtungbaby]

It's not Leafs hate. I don't like throwing that term around because then people assume we have persecution complexes or something. What it is an under-appreciation of what Kessel brings, and the fact that everyone's pigeonholed him as a one-dimensional, lazy sniper.

Like you said, he's one of the best scorers in the game. He's added a lethal playmaking side to his game, and he's at least passable on the backcheck. But that's not the narrative, so I doubt anyone but us, the guys who watch him every night, will ever acknowledge that. Phil's never going to be ranked higher by TSN because they've already made up their mind about what kind of player he is.

By TSN, do mean the 14 GM's and coachs from the Western Conference and Eastern Conference?

 

[-DeMo-]

Stamkos doesn't have a defensive game either. He's way too highly ranked.

true but he still easily deserves to be higher then kessel 60 goals in his last full season

 

[Confucius]

Tavares ranked 13, I'd consider him and Kessel a coin toss. Phil shoud be around 13 as well.

 

[Mess]

true but he still easily deserves to be higher then kessel 60 goals in his last full season

Kessel's career best is 37 goals in comparison while Stamkos has a Rocket Richard trophy and 51, 45 & 60 goals in his last 3 seasons and over 90 points in all 3 and younger as well.

 

[htpwn]

Neal has never outproduced Kessel in a season, despite playing with Evgeni Malkin for the past two years.

How, exactly, is Neal ranked at 34 and Kessel at 43?

 

[LeafsNation75]

Neal has never outproduced Kessel in a season, despite playing with Evgeni Malkin for the past two years.

How, exactly, is Neal ranked at 34 and Kessel at 43?

That's a very good question and I was shocked to see how far ahead he was ranked ahead of him.

 

[Smif]

Tavares ranked 13, I'd consider him and Kessel a coin toss. Phil shoud be around 13 as well.

No chance. Tavares is miles ahead of Kessel.

 

[Smif]

Neal has never outproduced Kessel in a season, despite playing with Evgeni Malkin for the past two years.

How, exactly, is Neal ranked at 34 and Kessel at 43?

Neal is a case where it seems he is just ranked too high, overrated I suppose is the word. If Kessel is 43rd, I'd think Neal would have to be around 45-48.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Pathetic.

 

[rojac]

Kessel's career best is 37 goals in comparison while Stamkos has a Rocket Richard trophy and 51, 45 & 60 goals in his last 3 seasons and over 90 points in all 3 and younger as well.

I don't think anybody is saying that Kessel is better than Stamkos. They're saying that Kessel is being punished for his perceived lack of defense and Stamkos isn't.

 

[Duffman955]

Yes, top 5 point producing forward in the league is 43rd best player in the league. Makes total sense. ****IN REATRDS

 

[7even]

By TSN, do mean the 14 GM's and coachs from the Western Conference and Eastern Conference?

Check the first page.

 

[William Hylander]

Whatever, top 10 in scoring in the league isn't enough to impress some coaches and GM's. And twice in 2 years at that. Next time just leave him off the list when he scores in the top 10 3 years straight.

 

[stakesishigh]

Kessel is underrated.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Why is Patrick Kane ranked so high? Can someone explain that one to me?

 

[William Hylander]

Why is Patrick Kane ranked so high? Can someone explain that one to me?

Teams that have success tend to have good players. Kane is highly regarded because he plays for a good team, like Lucic, Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Hossa.

Obviously if Kessel played for the Hawks and Kane for the Leafs, there would be a switch of numbers in the "Top 50".

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

I don't understand all the butthurt. 43rd is actually pretty good when you consider defensemen and goalies are on that list, therefore points alone wont get you to the top. The panel also explained how GMs and coaches may value certain positions over others which explains why guys like Staal are ranked above as well. St.Louis was 1st in points last season and he was ranked 26th. Its a good position all things considered.

 

[slozo]

43rd is a huge snub for Kessel at this point, I think. Knowing the players that have been mentioned ahead of him here . . . it's a huge snub. Even if ranking centers above wingers (I think this is patently unfair as a rule, but clearly, they only follow the rule with players not in their favor), Kessel still deserves to be top 20.

In terms of controlling the game-type players . . . he's a step below the Crosby and Stamkos level, sure; but certainly right beside the Eric Staal, Tavares's of the NHL.

It can't be looked at as anything but a predisposition against the hype-machine of Toronto, as if they just assume every Leaf is overrated automatically, and they make feeble excuses to put him well down from where he should be.

This is good news for Kessel's motivation, btw. I look at it as a good thing, in a way!

 

[Leafidelity]

I think my favourite part was saying his position and that he and St. Louis had the most points of any wingers the last two years in the same breath.

Turned it off after that anyways. It was very clearly more about reputation than production. Ah well.

 

[BayStreetBullies*]

I don't understand all the butthurt. 43rd is actually pretty good when you consider defensemen and goalies are on that list, therefore points alone wont get you to the top. The panel also explained how GMs and coaches may value certain positions over others which explains why guys like Staal are ranked above as well. St.Louis was 1st in points last season and he was ranked 26th. Its a good position all things considered.

That sounds like a BS reason to rank certain players ahead of others. So just because Kessel is a winger, that makes him less deserving of the top 30 or 20? The list is a joke, TSN is a joke.

 

[xyzz]

43rd? an objective view on HFboards?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm a fan of Kessel, but alot of you guys need a reality check! (43rd sounds about right)

 

[Cor]

If Kessel played in like Pittsburgh or Washington, he'd be ranked like 5th