News Article: Siegel: Kessel Shoulders Burden Of Blame For Leafs Collapse

[Ace88*]

Whatever.

Maybe take a hit to make a play or backcheck once in a while.

ACQUlRE ALL THE TWO WAY PLAYERZ

 

[TOGuy14]

Big respect on Kessel for saying this.

Phaneuf is probably too busy planning a summer trip in Mexico with Elisha to shoulder any blame.

 

[Purity*]

We had virtually no scoring outside of our first line, only a matter of time before other teams started keying in on our first line. Last year Kadri was incredible for providing secondary scoring, he kept other teams' defenses in check if they sunk all their defensive specialists on Kessel's line.

Randy is a total idiot for not shaking up the other lines to try and get scoring. That's so like him though just like how he constantly keeps Phaneuf/Franson on the 1st PP unit despite them making an art out of ****ing it all up, AND with how amazing Gardiner has been playing. A good coach will shake up lines when the offense is dry, I would have done something like this:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Raymond-Holland-Lupul
D'Amigo-Kadri-Kulemin
Bodie-Bolland-Clarkson

Randy changed almost 0 things when the offense gets cold. Please get him the hell out of here.

 

[Mystifo]

I´m still waiting for when Dion will read from a script how much he cares and how disappointed he is. I hope he does one of those "for you fans", pause, then look up from the paper to look at the "fans", then look down continue reading. Ppl can say what they want about how media shy Kessel is, he handle the media 10 times better then Dion does who most likely take private lessons at home.

Yeah I don't want Dion gone. I.E Larry Murphy treatment but I do want someone who can come in take that C so Dion can just be pushed into a corner and just play the damn game without having to worry about anything.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

I like Kessel but I think we should trade him and Bozak. That line is too soft and a defensive liability when there out there.

They outscore their bad defense ES and contribute to a top PP unit. This is silly. Swapping Kessel for a 20-goal scoring winger isn't going to accomplish squat unless they can single-handedly prevent the extra 15-20 goals Kessel would have scored. And this is pretty much the same dumb idea that brought us David "Could Replace Kessel on the Top Line" Clarkson.

Kadri's line outscored their problems last season too, but they can't score enough to make up for terrible team defense this year. McClement is a total disaster 5-on-5 and the less said about Orr and McLaren the better. It's not just on the forwards either; it's a horrible defensive system and breakout and mediocre talent on the blueline.

 

[Anthrax442]

I admire him standing up there, but too little too late. They are a year richer, we are a year sadder.

 

[BraveCanadian]

They outscore their bad defense ES and contribute to a top PP unit. This is silly. Swapping Kessel for a 20-goal scoring winger isn't going to accomplish squat unless they can single-handedly prevent the extra 15-20 goals Kessel would have scored. And this is pretty much the same dumb idea that brought us David "Could Replace Kessel on the Top Line" Clarkson.

Kadri's line outscored their problems last season too, but they can't score enough to make up for terrible team defense this year. McClement is a total disaster 5-on-5 and the less said about Orr and McLaren the better. It's not just on the forwards either; it's a horrible defensive system and breakout and mediocre talent on the blueline.

The problem with this thinking is that defense is usually much more reliable than offense. As evidenced by the Leafs collapse.

When Kessel isn't scoring he is more than useless - he is a liability.

 

[-DeMo-]

They outscore their bad defense ES and contribute to a top PP unit. This is silly. Swapping Kessel for a 20-goal scoring winger isn't going to accomplish squat unless they can single-handedly prevent the extra 15-20 goals Kessel would have scored. And this is pretty much the same dumb idea that brought us David "Could Replace Kessel on the Top Line" Clarkson.

Kadri's line outscored their problems last season too, but they can't score enough to make up for terrible team defense this year. McClement is a total disaster 5-on-5 and the less said about Orr and McLaren the better. It's not just on the forwards either; it's a horrible defensive system and breakout and mediocre talent on the blueline.

only the spezza/Michalek line were on for more goals against this year then our top line, that needs to change... they didn't score more then they gave up 5on5.

 

[Simcoe23]

Big respect on Kessel for saying this.

Phaneuf is probably too busy planning a summer trip in Mexico with Elisha to shoulder any blame.

No- Phaneuf said after the game last night he also was disappointed and that everyone tried their very best and how all the players did everything they could and just came up short.

Hmmm....

So Kessel says they shat the bed, coach said they shat the bed, but Captain and #1 rear guard says everyone did their best and did everything they could and just came a bit short. So who is genuine and who is full of it?

Get that bloody C of his jersey ASAP- you are insulting every fan and especially everyone else (Vaive and Ramage included) who wore that C before him. Vaive scored 50 ginos 3 times and had over 50 fighting majors in the NHL, and Ramage stood up for his teammates when he needed to.

Phaneuf is an expensive pantload.

 

[FlareKnight]

The problem with this thinking is that defense is usually much more reliable than offense. As evidenced by the Leafs collapse.

When Kessel isn't scoring he is more than useless - he is a liability.

The problem here is throwing away offense because of extreme criticism. Kessel's two-way game has continued to develop over the years and it's far better than when he got here. It may not be great, but it's certainly not more than useless.

Move Kessel for a more defensive player and all we do is speed up our route to the basement since we don't score any goals and our defense will just be moved to average from mediocre.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Good on Kessel, where was Phaneuf with these words? Let me guess putting on his 5 star suit or wearing his red bull hat backwards. Phaneuf is the crystal pepsi of leaders.

 

[Ace88*]

The problem with this thinking is that defense is usually much more reliable than offense. As evidenced by the Leafs collapse.

When Kessel isn't scoring he is more than useless - he is a liability.

Actually, when Kessel isn't scoring, he's setting up his teammates with excellent vision and passing, he's buzzing around the ice causing fits for the other team, and he's covering teammates that are out of position. So....yes, he is more than useless. Much, much more than useless.

 

[NHLNUT04]

Kessel is the last Leaf I would blame.

 

[Un33q]

Good on PK. That shows a lot more class and maturity than his comments from years past.

 

[thewave]

First step of becoming the new Captain.

 

[Raging Bull]

Wouldn't surprise me if the Leafs shut him down for the rest of the year, I have a feeling he's been nursing an injury all year and it's just gotten worse.

 

[34]

He's definitely more of a leader than Captain Caveman.

Kessel would be 10 times the captain Phaneuf is.

 

[BiggestLeafsFanEVER*]

too bad kessel couldn't come through the last couple of weeks but he's a FANTASTIC player and wasn't one of our problems, we're so lucky he's on the team

at least he took responsibility tho. unlike dion who made it sound like everyone was doing their best and playing great

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

First step of becoming the new Captain.

It's actually a good idea.

I'd rather they trade Dion, but if they can't or won't, putting the C on Kessel instead should be less insulting to Dion because Kessel is a better player.

And if Dion has a problem with it or tries to take off Kessel's tunes or attempts to talk out of turn?

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

It's actually a good idea.

I'd rather they trade Dion, but if they can't or won't, putting the C on Kessel instead should be less insulting to Dion because Kessel is a better player.

And if Dion has a problem with it or tries to take off Kessel's tunes or attempts to talk out of turn?

I haven't bothered to watch the past 10 games with exams now starting for me...but what's the context of that gif. What game was it and what happened there?

 

[Daisy Jane]

I haven't bothered to watch the past 10 games with exams now starting for me...but what's the context of that gif. What game was it and what happened there?

it was the Philly game. so smack in the middle of the losing streak (well nearest the end). we were losing.

 

[Diatomic]

Talk is cheap. I applaude him for accepting his mistakes but it would be nice if he won a board battle or did a good defensive play or something.

 

[WillNyeTheHockeyGuy]

it was the Philly game. so smack in the middle of the losing streak (well nearest the end). we were losing.

Well that doesn't look like a good sign to see your best player telling your Captain to shut the **** up. Is Phaneuf losing the room too?

 

[Purity*]

He aint captain material. Carl Gunnarsson would make a way better captain than Kessel.

 

[Mitchy]

Give the man the C!