Phil Kessel vs James Neal

[Ogrezilla]

Kessel is slightly better than Neal, but not the grand canyon gap that people here are giving. I still rather have Neal @ 5mil /yr than Kessel.

Over the last 3yrs
Kessel scored 2.1pts/60min, Neal 2.0

2 best wings are Tarasenko and Perry IMO

Difference is Kessel can legitimately help carry the weight of the offense. His shot is about the same. Kessel is as good or better at literally everything else. And Kessel doesn't need Malkin or Crosby to make use of his shot. If Malkin slumps, so does Neal. If Malkin is playing hurt, Neal becomes a worse hockey player. That won't be the case with Kessel.

 

[66-30-33]

Kessel >>>>>>> Neal.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Kessel >>>>>>> Neal.

and its not even close.

 

[66-30-33]

and its not even close.

Amen!

 

[Pens1566]

and its not even close.

That only works if you do it like this : "AINEC"

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Versus

Begin ....

 

[blueliner18]

Difference is Kessel can legitimately help carry the weight of the offense. His shot is about the same. Kessel is as good or better at literally everything else. And Kessel doesn't need Malkin or Crosby to make use of his shot. If Malkin slumps, so does Neal. If Malkin is playing hurt, Neal becomes a worse hockey player. That won't be the case with Kessel.

This is it... all people need to know good post!

 

[66-30-33]

Kessel is slightly better than Neal, but not the grand canyon gap that people here are giving. I still rather have Neal @ 5mil /yr than Kessel.

Over the last 3yrs
Kessel scored 2.1pts/60min, Neal 2.0

2 best wings are Tarasenko and Perry IMO

You can thank Malkin for Neals points being as high as they were, Kessel played with Bozak...BOZAK!!! a grossly overpaid 3rd line center. Look what Neal did in Nashville? he still had a better center then Kessel did in Toronto. Not hating Neal, love the guys shot but let's be cereal for a moment here.

 

[billybudd]

Same point in his career, Benn has 15 less goals and 50 more assists than Kessel did. Each had spent 2 years a piece with a quality center and the rest with a trash center (Benn's trash was worse than Kessel's). On a minute to minute basis over the span of Benn's entire career, there are a mere 2 more productive players than him (both are Penguins, but neither is Kessel). On top of that, Benn--the more productive player than Kessel--is also a far better two-way player who might be the most-versatile forward in the league, as well as the reigning Art Ross winner.

I don't know if there are even 5 wings that are better Phil Kessel, but I know that Benn is one and there's a pretty decent gap.

 

[Pick87your71Poison]

I never said anything about Nash. Hall is as good or better than Kessel offensively. Parise isn't as good offensively but overall is better.

Would you care to defend those with any #'s or anything else?

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Same point in his career, Benn has 15 less goals and 50 more assists than Kessel did. Each had spent 2 years a piece with a quality center and the rest with a trash center (Benn's trash was worse than Kessel's). On a minute to minute basis over the span of Benn's entire career, there are a mere 2 more productive players than him (both are Penguins, but neither is Kessel). On top of that, Benn--the more productive player than Kessel--is also a far better two-way player who might be the most-versatile forward in the league, as well as the reigning Art Ross winner.

I don't know if there are even 5 wings that are better Phil Kessel, but I know that Benn is one and there's a pretty decent gap.

The gap isn't big at all when you don't take into account Benn's production the last two years playing early 90s style hockey under Ruff.

 

[billybudd]

The gap isn't big at all when you don't take into account Benn's production the last two years playing early 90s style hockey under Ruff.

If you cut off Benn's last two years and compare them to Kessel's first four, he still comes out ahead. And again, this is using Benn-Ott and Kessel-Savard as if those were similar situations.

Benn's a very underestimated player on this website (not speaking specifically to you). He is not the junior partner on his line.

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

Nash? Seriously?

Ovy is better than Kessel for sure. Perry, Kane, Benn, Kessel. Those guys are on the same tier. You could argue one is better than the other, but they are pretty comparable.

Yes, Nash is getting underrated here. He's a big body, great defensive player, and has multiple 40 goal seasons including a rocket.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

is Phil Kessel an upgrade over James Neal or not really?
1) who has a better slapshot
2) who has a better wristshot?
3) who is faster
4) better overall player

Literally, the only thing James Neal has on Phil Kessel is handedness and height, and the latter Neal never used to his advantage consistently enough and that's why he's on his 3rd team and I am sure when his career is over, that # won't stay at 3.

Kessel is the better skater, purer goal scorer, better at shooting mid stride, quicker release, and better slap shot. Kessel has also been a much better producer.

The biggest thing is that Kessel, when he loses his crap, doesn't do the dumb **** on the ice that screws his team over - Neal trademark.

 

[Shady Machine]

Same point in his career, Benn has 15 less goals and 50 more assists than Kessel did. Each had spent 2 years a piece with a quality center and the rest with a trash center (Benn's trash was worse than Kessel's). On a minute to minute basis over the span of Benn's entire career, there are a mere 2 more productive players than him (both are Penguins, but neither is Kessel). On top of that, Benn--the more productive player than Kessel--is also a far better two-way player who might be the most-versatile forward in the league, as well as the reigning Art Ross winner.

I don't know if there are even 5 wings that are better Phil Kessel, but I know that Benn is one and there's a pretty decent gap.

Oh yeah I think Benn is the better all around player. They are in the same tier though, IMO.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Kessel is slightly better than Neal, but not the grand canyon gap that people here are giving. I still rather have Neal @ 5mil /yr than Kessel.

Over the last 3yrs
Kessel scored 2.1pts/60min, Neal 2.0

2 best wings are Tarasenko and Perry IMO

I love this stuff, the last 3yrs...in that, Neal has 2 very good ppg paces. Kessel doesn't.

Hmm...

How about you expand that to the last 7yrs.

 

[Shady Machine]

Yes, Nash is getting underrated here. He's a big body, great defensive player, and has multiple 40 goal seasons including a rocket.

And he consistently disappears in the playoffs. Kessel is better than Nash. You can disagree of course, but I don't think it's all that close.

 

[Shady Machine]

I love this stuff, the last 3yrs...in that, Neal has 2 very good ppg paces. Kessel doesn't.

Hmm...

How about you expand that to the last 7yrs.

Because that would hurt wgnestrick's agenda.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Oh yeah I think Benn is the better all around player. They are in the same tier though, IMO.

Benn gets a lot of help by having a better top 6 now, I think Kessel now getting that same benefit will have him out produce a lot of players.

I like Benn, but I think he's a perfect fit for the conference he plays in.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

And he consistently disappears in the playoffs. Kessel is better than Nash. You can disagree of course, but I don't think it's all that close.

Only reason anyone thinks Nash is better is because he's a 2x 40 goal scorer, big whoop. The last 5 seasons, Nash has been getting paid 1st line money while playing like a 2nd-3rd line winger. The guy is an immense talent that seems to have massive consistency issues, it's why in a small sample size, he puts up numbers that make you think "omg, he's so good" but when that's stretched to 70+...it drops. Nash benefit the most this year from Brassard's playmaking and even Stepan. Definitely a guy that would benefit from a top 6 center, but when you don't give Nash one, you're in a world of disappointment.

Kessel, the guy has managed to produce like a 1st line winger with the most terrible center options out of any winger of his caliber. I'd argue the Rangers MVP starts with Lundy last year and #2 being Brassard.

I mean Komarov? Bozak? Grabovski? Kadri?...it's pitiful.

 

[JTG]

Would people rather have Phil Kessel now, or Marian Hossa from 2008?

 

[Ogrezilla]

Would people rather have Phil Kessel now, or Marian Hossa from 2008?

This is a much tougher question. I'd probably say Hossa.

 

[IcedCapp]

Would people rather have Phil Kessel now, or Marian Hossa from 2008?

2008 Hossa, but this is not an insult to Kessel. I think Hossa is a hall of famer.

Reading this thread, I think some people are going to be surprised by Kessel. Seems to be underrated.

 

[The Greatest 101]

yeah but james neal has way better hair

And way hotter.

 

[The Greatest 101]

Would people rather have Phil Kessel now, or Marian Hossa from 2008?

Jamie Benn AINEC.