Should Phil Kessel Be On The First Powerplay Unit

by Haeyena on Dec 10, 2009 3:20 PM EST

Watching Phil Kessel on the powerplay has been both a treat and a source of anxiety for me. It seems that the coaching staff isn't sure what to do with him on the ice during the PP. So far the plan has been to have Kessel on the left half-boards distributing the puck and walking into the slot to shoot. Looking back at his stats over his first 3 years in the league, the bulk of his scoring has come 5 on 5. He has averaged 25% of his scoring on the powerplay so far in his career. Is that because he's that good on the PP or because the coaches assume that a natural scorer gets PP time by default? Phil Kessel's ice time has increased 3.5 minutes per game after coming to a talent-challenged team. I think that this is the scenario that develops when a above average player is brought to another team and is expected to produce at a higher rate with more ice time. That hardly ever happens unfortunately. A great example of this phenomenon is Dustin Penner. Scoring 29 goals on the 2nd line before being snatched up by Kevin Lowe, Penner came to Edmonton and hasn't started living up to expectations until this year. He's started living up to his billing this year under different coaches. Is that maybe an issue with Kessel? I haven't really seen Kessel get used effectively on the PP.

Changing Kessel's linemates for the PP would help. I'd like to advocate a change of center to Mikhail Grabovksi. Seriously, people, Grabbo can pass the puck. I'll never be able to figure out why this hasn't been tried. Especially when the Leafs were on a 0 for 15 run on the PP. Ron Wilson's unwillingness to be a line juggling coach may end up hurting the team in the short and long run. I'm don't believe that a line has to be together all the time to be successful. Shouldn't it be a reward for great 5 on 5 play to get on the powerplay? For a guy who says that ice time is earned he certainly doesn't live by it. This theory is upheld by John Mitchell floating around on the PP prior to his injury. No idea how a guy with 1 goal on the season can be on the number 2 powerplay unit. This brings me back to Phil Kessel. Let's drop him to the number 2 unit for a week. Motivate him to get that ice time back. Let's start coaching Ron.

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Wilson's been doing plenty of coaching

And he’s been using the blender on the lines A LOT other than during this run when things have actually been going well.

I agree that Kessel on the PP is seemingly detrimental when the other guys on the ice aren’t moving enough. Kaberle needs to shoot more to draw his forward further up the ice to open that gap on the half-boards for Kessel to step into.

As for Grabovski, if you head over to Behind The Net you’ll see that while he gets more ice-time on the PP than Stajan he is producing at about 1/3 of Stajan’s rate.

This is PPP's work account until further notice. Damn Internet.

by David Danforth on Dec 10, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Kessel is a rush shooter, not a positional playmaker so much.

If he is going to score a lot of PP goals, it won’t be from standing around waiting for a pass, it will be skating into the zone and scoring on the rush.

I would have Kessel cycling up high or in the mid slot with the defencemen – with his quick release he will be in his prime comfort zone.

Also, when he gets the opportunity he can at least make a move or two from that position instead of being parked along the half boards.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

Grabbo

Is looking a LOT more like Berezin everyday(except Berezin didn’t stand out passing-wize)

Tanking by accident?

by Haeyena on Dec 10, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Berezin did score a lot more – of course he could actually hold onto the puck where Grabs just tries to.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

How so?

I assume you mean the hair and the speed.

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by David Danforth on Dec 10, 2009 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

Sure

The hair and speed, but also the streaky scoring and feeling that if he could just put all the talent to use at the same time he’d be FANTASTIC. Instead i’m always saying “Aw, that was SO CLOSE”

Tanking by accident?

by Haeyena on Dec 10, 2009 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

At least Grabbo does the backchecking thing which helps during the cold streaks.

This is PPP's work account until further notice. Damn Internet.

by David Danforth on Dec 10, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Too bad he usually has to back check after getting the puck poked off his stick as he tries to beat 4 guys in the offensive zone.

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

id like to see phil right on the doorstep, darcy tucker style

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by Matt_Roberts on Dec 10, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions

He didn’t look bad screening on the White goal the other night. Other than jumping out of the way when the shot was taken. Not sure if it was strategy or cowardice.

Tanking by accident?

by Haeyena on Dec 10, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

He could have been greedy and just tipped it in

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 10, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Right where Tavares was standing when he scored both goals wouldn’t be bad either

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by nhlcheapshot on Dec 10, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

It's all about handedness

Phil can’t do that because he’s a righty. Tucker’s a lefty. His goals off the right post all came off one timers fed from cross-ice passes by either Sundin in the “Kessel spot” or Kaberle, who plays the left point. You need to be a lefty (like, say, Tavares or Hagman) to take that shot, unless you flip the whole PP setup around.

Kessel has taken Sundin’s spot on the PP but the problem is he isn’t the distributor Sundin was. We’ve got mismatched parts.

I think our ideal PP unit would be Kessel on the left half boards, Hagman in the “Tucker/Tavares spot”, and Poni mucking it up in front of the net. The problem is then there’s no one to take the draw so you’ll never have the puck.

Another possibility would be to have White and Kaberle as your unit. White could feed Kessel for one timers from the right point, and Kaberle could feed Poni from the left with Stajan down low. But then you lose Beauchemin’s boomer from the point. See what I mean? Mismatched parts.

Here’s a crazy idea. Maybe Kaberle could play the right point. It’s not his usual spot but D men often play the opposite side on the PP. Then put Finger (a right hand shot, and a good one I think) on the left side. Kaberle could feed Finger for the point shot, or Kessel at the back door. Basically you’d flip the PP unit as I suggested.

Here’s an even crazier idea. Unit A is Kaberle, Beauchemin, Hagman (in the Tucker spot), Grabovski (in the Sundin spot, though unfortunately Grabs is a lefty) and Kulemin down low/front of the net. Unit B is White (on the right), Finger (on the left), Kessel, Stajan and Poni. They’d be mirror images.

by The '67 Sound on Dec 11, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Fun Fact

Kessel PP Goals this season: 0

Why do we do this to ourselves?

by Kenjamin on Dec 10, 2009 6:04 PM EST reply actions

Well

Kessel IS the Leafs’ most offensively gifted player. By a country mile.

He has to be on the first PP unit. No question.

Now, in order for him and the PP to be successful together, it comes down to better schemes (developed by Wilson and the assistant in charge of the PP – Hunter?) and better execution by Kessel himself and the players surrounding him.

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by stucky on Dec 10, 2009 9:55 PM EST reply actions

Ron Wilson’s unwillingness to be a line juggling coach

Uhh….have you ever paid attention to lines during a Leafs game? Wilson changes them up ad nauseum. He’s backed of a bit, but it’s still his MO.

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Dec 10, 2009 11:42 PM EST reply actions

I wouldnt say he juggles the lines as much as throws them in the air then runs so they dont land on his head

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 10, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

If that’s the wrong way to juggle I don’t want to be right.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

by Kenjamin on Dec 11, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions

It is amazing to me, how much the media likes to point out the PP and how much better it was before Kessel, but they always seem to conveniently forget that one Anaheim game where we had 5 PP goals and inflated out numbers.

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Dec 11, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions

Check that. Not really amazing, but rather angers me.

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Dec 11, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

and we had a lot of 5 on 3’s early that inflated the #’s

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by Wan Ihite on Dec 11, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

Instead of Kaberle at the point

why not Kessel or Beauchemin?

I know that’s not answering the question being asked, but the only answer I can think of is “why not?” He is our most skilled offensive forward on the team.

If you move Kessel to the point, there is the risk of having a forward on D, and all that it entails. However, Kaberle and Beauchemin on the half boards could mitigate that worry. This gives you someone who can pass just as well as shoot on the point, and unlike Kaberle, the opposing team will never be too sure of which option he’ll choose.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Dec 11, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions

It intrigues me having Kaberle in the Kessel spot but Kessel doesn’t have the cannon, or the distribution, needed for the point. He’s a sniper from the slot or closer. He best weapon is a quick snapper.

by The '67 Sound on Dec 11, 2009 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

one of the main issues i have with the Power play in recent times is the presence of Stempniak.
I mean i kinda get using him on the point as he has a bit of a cannon, but since Kessel arrived he seems to be sitting beside the net on the same side of the ice as Kessel waiting for a rebound, creating no traffic and being generally useless for anything but a behind the net cycle, but he isnt creative enough to do anything but pass the puck back to Kessel

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 11, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

There is obviously a reason why the vast majority of Kessel’s career goals are even strength

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Dec 12, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions

tonight he gotted a PP

which totally disproves EVERYTHING, right.

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by Wan Ihite on Dec 12, 2009 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t like how the PP right now basically moves the puck back and forth between Kessel and Kaberle. If they can’t set up a one-timer from Beauchemin, they’re relying on Kessel to shoot from the hashmarks. It’s all very laboured and one-dimensional. A lot of the time there’s no real attempt to stretch the play and use the right wing. the PP’s early success came from using Nik Hagman on the left on the first unit – something they’ve gone away from since Kessel came off the IR.

I know you want to balance the units but I really want to see Hagman back on the top unit to give a bit of balance

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by article1 on Dec 13, 2009 1:52 AM EST reply actions

I powerplay was very good until Kessel came into the line up. Watching him on the first unit it seems like the play has shifted from passing and trying to open up the box to get Kessel and shitload (huh, firefox didn’t give me the red spell-check underline for shitload) of shots.

I think we go back to the first unit, they way it was before kessel, and put him on the 2nd unit. Hopefully giving him a PP unit he can quarterback might him going, and possibly give us two strong PP units

Something like:

PP#1
Poni-Stajan-Hagman
Kaberle-Buachemin

PP#2
Kulemin-Garbo-Blake
Kessel-White

on a side note I wouldn’t mind seeing Schenn or Komi in front of the net, who knows that might be able to spark something too

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by Kriv on Dec 14, 2009 2:40 AM EST reply actions