shortshorts
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2008
- 12,637
- 99
Regarding Kesler's ES numbers, or lack thereof, the fact he is arguably the only one driving his line could be why they have been in a decline. This coincides with his emergence as an elite defensive centre in 2009. Whenever he's played, teams focus largely on attempting to neutralize him. For comparison sake...
Hertl - Thornton - Burns
Marleau - Couture - Palvelski
Knuitz - Crosby - Stempniak
Jokinin - Malkin - Neal
Gaborik - Anze Kopitar - Brown
Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
Bickell - Toews - Kane
Sharp - Handzus - Hossa
Notice how each of those teams have at least two players who are consistently top six players or broke out at the right time in case of LA? This means their opposition cannot afford to say, focus entirely on Malkin or Carter, because in doing so they expose themselves to Neal, Pearson or Toffoli. Kesler does not have that luxury. The problem isn't Higgins being on his line, it's the fact neither have another top six forward to take the pressure away from Kesler.
If we signed Hemsky, Cammalleri, Iginla or Kassian broke out next year. I wager you see an increase in Kesler's ES numbers. Perhaps not to his 2009 days, but certainly up from last year.
Certainly debatable. However, based on how people hype Kesler it'd sound like he's on par with every second line centre listed except for Malkin.
Carter is a great example of a top centre making his inferior line-mates much better.