Wami
Chicken Lyfe'
- Mar 8, 2013
- 1,106
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...stick-and-deceptive-strength/article16677523/
Nice long read by Mirtle that really highlights some of the stuff I've been wanting to hear about Kessel for a long time. Particularly cool to hear about his stick, shot mechanics and athletic ability from his teammates, very cool!
“Extremely powerful,†Leafs netminder James Reimer said of Kessel’s deceptive gifts. “It’s just sneaky, strong power. I don’t know what he does in the summer to work on it or if that’s just natural ability, but he’s got probably the strongest legs on the team.â€
A good example is Kessel’s use of one of the most flexible and unique composite sticks in the NHL, with a fine-tuned kick point low, down near the blade, that allows the shaft to bend like a rubber band and that gives him one of the hardest-to-stop shots in the world.
New stick technology has changed the way all players interact with pucks in the past decade, but Kessel has taken more advantage of it than most. His stick, manufactured by Easton, is believed to have a flex rating of less than 70, one of the lowest in the league.
....
“If you put that stick in the hands of a run-of-the-mill guy, he’ll have a hard time doing anything with that thing,†O’Neill said.
“It’s very hard to handle the puck,†said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul, who uses one of the stiffest sticks on the team. “It takes talent. He’s been using that stick for a long time and, obviously, he just has more talent than the rest of us. He’s able to deal with it.
Lupul, meanwhile, can only chuckle when asked why appearances are so deceiving when it comes to Kessel. He has known him long enough now to realize Kessel is simply one of the most athletically talented people he’ll ever meet, whether they are on the rink, the golf course or anywhere else.
And he doesn’t underestimate him any more.
“Any sport you want to play him in, he’ll beat you at,†Lupul said. “That’s just natural fast-twitch muscles. It’s the same thing if you go play golf with him. … You wouldn’t picture him driving the ball 50, 60 yards past you, but it happens.
Nice long read by Mirtle that really highlights some of the stuff I've been wanting to hear about Kessel for a long time. Particularly cool to hear about his stick, shot mechanics and athletic ability from his teammates, very cool!
