Festivus Grievance: Phil Kessel

by Chemmy on Dec 23, 2009 11:24 AM EST in News

No I'm not annoyed with Phil himself, I'm annoyed with writers suggesting that Kessel is slumping because he went pointless in his last three games. Kessel hasn't been able to do much against Boston because he has no supporting cast and the Bruins all know his tendencies. Buffalo is a fast team that doesn't let the Leafs create space on the rush, where Kessel's at his best, so it's no surprise he doesn't have big nights against the Sabres.

Kessel's fine. He's young, he's still developing, and he's going to be one hell of a player in three years. He's one hell of a player right now.

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The Kessel-haters (specifically the media) need to STFU.

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by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 23, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions

Since I’ll be at the game tonight I’m really hoping for some Kessel goals.

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by Chemmy on Dec 23, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

It’s the Islanders, you’ll probably be in luck.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 23, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

3 games, big deal

crosby went 5 games this year without a point. when it hits 9 games i’ll be worried.

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by daoust on Dec 23, 2009 11:34 AM EST reply actions

Seriously! Why are they getting their panties in a bunch? Phil could put up 50 G and they would complain that he’s not a 1.0 PPG player. They’re one large group of douchebags, looking for something else to rag on.

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by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 23, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Kessels all good an all but i wish he showed some hustle in the defensive zone. Too often i see him do flybys when the puck is a little behind him and just a half hearted attempt at a poke check every now and again. Hes still young but i hope wilson can get him to show some fight when playing defence.

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by LeafFan1989 on Dec 23, 2009 11:35 AM EST reply actions

I also wish Kessel was Steve Yzerman but he’s a goal scorer.

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by Chemmy on Dec 23, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

so was Steve Yzerman for the first half of his career.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 23, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t hold your breath he won’t and isn’t going to play defense. Never has. That’s not his game.

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

yes he has, he has backchecked like a madman. he’s just not exactly a selke forward, and that’s fine, that’s why we have a checking line.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 23, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

What annoys me even more

Is the msm attempting to insinuate that there is a conflict between Phil and Ron Wilson. The quotes Sportsnet is using includes Kessel saying he hasn’t been AS good, Wilson saying he looks tired, and another Kessel quote perhaps refuting that he’s tired…. Yep, MASSIVE conflict there! How will they ever be able to coexist on the same team anymore!

In the Name of the Holy Truculence

by steve_w on Dec 23, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Welcome to the Drama that is Phil Kessel. I have watched him play since the WJC and his time at Minnesota nothing has changed.

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

wow, way to TOTALLY MISINTERPRET that post Eric!

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by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 23, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t see how, the same drama follows that kid around where ever he goes. Maybe it’s not the MSM?

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Drama Wether it’s made up or not.

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

I think Kessel has been pretty classy at least since he’s been a Leaf. How is it his fault when the media makes something out of nothing? Mostly I’m just irritated at the irresponsible reporting. You can’t just throw clips together of Wilson and Kessel being mildly irritated and say they are in conflict.

In the Name of the Holy Truculence

by steve_w on Dec 23, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

The media has been doing this for his whole career.

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 23, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think it’s all of the media fault though.

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

There’s been no drama. There is a large difference between made up drama and real drama! One happens in the room, the other in the paper. One may or may not affect the player/team, the other certainly does not affect the player/team.

Mountain out of a molehill, kids.

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by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 23, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

There were a few players in Boston that didn’t like him. I also heard from a Boston area sports reporter that Kessel didn’t get along with the Boston Head coach. Jack Johnson said he was a dirt bag. I don’t know I have met him once in passing he seems like a shy kid.

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions

The fact that Jack Johnson may dislike him actually raises my opinion of Kessel several notches. Jack Johnson is himself a dirtbag.

In the Name of the Holy Truculence

by steve_w on Dec 23, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think we needed the Boston media to tell us that Kessel didn’t get along with Claude Julien. Seeing him sitting in the pressbox during the playoffs told us that.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 23, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

So you’re saying Blake Wheeler doesn’t get along with Claude Julien?

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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Dec 23, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Blake Wheeler was probably pretty mad at that too.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 23, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

drama sells

happy shining people holding hands don’t

by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Dec 23, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

I can’t believe they’re letting Klansmen into the ACC these days.

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by Mattblack on Dec 23, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions

haha

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by Chemmy on Dec 23, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Nothing against Kessel as a Leaf

But I absolutely blame him for the current swoon in the University of Minnesota program. It’s all his fault, somehow.

Everyone fails. The successful learn from their failures. I just wish we'd quit giving ourselves so many learning opportunities.

by WhiteSpeedReceiver on Dec 23, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions

LOL… Over at the star trib they are calling for Lucia’s Head. http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/79696992.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

by Eric B on Dec 23, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

The problem you'll have with Kessel

was stated by Chemmy. He hasn’t shown the ability to be effective against the two best teams in the Leaf’s own division. He’s gotta be productive against the East or else, 50 goals or not, he’s not going to be the guy that gets the Leaf’s over the hump. It’s like goaltending, it’s not so much how many saves you make, but when you make them.

by eyebob on Dec 28, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions