News: Phil Kessel working out with the Canucks

[trellaine201]

Love to see Phil back and get his 1000 point. Too bad its with Vancouver

 

[GoBoltz56]

All but confirmed IF he can get back into shape!

Which shape, though. That's the question.

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

I am no Nuck's fan but I think this is a very astute move that could pay off big time for both Phil and the Nuck's. Feel like the Nuck's sense they have a Cup Window and are doing a lot of things right. As an Oil fan, this all pisses me off.lol

It's a weird feeling having a cup window, even weirder to have a management group that actually had a plan and the smarts and balls to execute it..

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

 

[Canucks LB]

Apparently, he’s incredible shape, I guess we will find out!

Would be a nice fit as our fourth line winger, use him on the second power play

 

[AHLdepth]

An unstoppable force vs. an immovable object.

Iron man streak vs. Canucks historic injury luck

I will follow with anticipation

 

[Mrfenn92]

Can’t find the hot dog goal gif
Probably my favorite

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

Ill believe it when i see it. Phil hasn't worked out a day in his life.

 

[NyQuil]

I don’t get it.

I mean, I like the guy, but I’m not sure of the upside vs messing up your chemistry.

Weird.

Ill believe it when i see it. Phil hasn't worked out a day in his life.

 

[Super Cake]

I am no Nuck's fan but I think this is a very astute move that could pay off big time for both Phil and the Nuck's. Feel like the Nuck's sense they have a Cup Window and are doing a lot of things right. As an Oil fan, this all pisses me off.lol

Sigining Phil Kessel is not a cup winning move. There was a reason why he was benched in the playoffs for the Knights.
Maybe he provides something in the locker room, but not much on the ice.

 

[Wry n Ginger]

I don’t get it.

I mean, I like the guy, but I’m not sure of the upside vs messing up your chemistry.

Weird.

Chemistry?!?!

Canucks and Kessel go together like hotdogs and chili, like hotdogs and fried onions, like hotdogs and fries, like hotdogs and mustard, like hotdogs and salsa....yah, ok...I am done.

 

[Rowlet]

I don’t get it.

I mean, I like the guy, but I’m not sure of the upside vs messing up your chemistry.

At an organizational level the Canucks don't have a ton of options for skill fwds.

 

[NyQuil]

At an organizational level the Canucks don't have a ton of options for skill fwds.

Where’s the gap in the lineup?

 

[Rowlet]

Where’s the gap in the lineup?

Pius Suter, Phil DiGiusuppe and assorted other bottom 6'ers have been taking turns with Miller and Boeser. Pettersson has also been stuck with Mikheyev but today's experiment with Hoglander went well.

Arguably, the team could also use a checking winger, so Kessel could push one of them down the lineup and add some more skill to the 4th line.

 

[NyQuil]

Pius Suter, Phil DiGiusuppe and assorted other bottom 6'ers have been taking turns with Miller and Boeser. Pettersson has also been stuck with Mikheyev but today's experiment with Hoglander went well.

Arguably, the team could also use a checking winger, so Kessel could push one of them down the lineup and add some more skill to the 4th line.

Well I guess there’s little risk in trying if it’s a PTO type scenario.

 

[Rowlet]

Well I guess there’s little risk in trying if it’s a PTO type scenario.

Kessel also loves Tocchet, he followed him to Arizona, and he probably only gets one year at near league minimum. He also said he doesn't expect to play every game because of the iron man streak.

The Canucks are also somewhat lacking in experienced vets in the lineup. They have Cole and Bleuger and a ton of rings on the bench but having locker room guys is a big deal.

Pretty low risk.

 

[BWJM]

How slow is he?

 

[VaporTrail]

Nice to see him still playing before he retires from hockey and becomes a spokesperson for Oscar Meyer and drives the Weinermobile

 

[wunderpanda]

why doesn't sahlens have a mobile

 

[gianni]

Hope he makes the team, it'd give the Canucks some added depth in the top-6; maybe allow players to rest, and heal any injuries before the playoffs.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Do they need him? Their offense is pretty loaded as it is

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Tocchet was known as the Kessel whisperer in Pittsburgh. Kessel is enigmatic and I'm pretty sure Sullivan hated him. But if anyone can get the best out of him it's Tocchet.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Thread title is a lie, Phil doesn't work out.

 

[Fist of Fury]

To the Islanders! Straight to the first line with Barzal & Horvat, Roy will get the last thrill out him! Do it Lou, just do it!

 

[StickShift]

Do they need him? Their offense is pretty loaded as it is

They do seem one winger short in the top-six.

My guess is that they want to move Pius Suter from being LW2 (with Miller/Boeser) back to 4C.

Their other top-six winger options are Hoglander or Mikheyev. Hoglander seems to be finding chemistry with Pettersson and Lindholm. Mikheyev looks lost offensively and at this point is better suited to be a 4th-line winger.

Is Kessel the answer? Not sure. I think most Canucks fans are hoping they might swing for one more top-six winger (who is in their prime) before the TDL. Which would then ideally slot Kessel back to that 13th/14th forward role if someone is injured in the top-six.

I guess by signing him now ahead of the TDL they can make that determination if they need to trade for another winger or not for themselves. If Kessel doesn’t work out before the TDL, he’s probably waived and buried in the AHL and the Canucks make a trade for another winger.