Matthews is tied with Eichel for 2nd best prospect since Crosby tbh. There's no guarantee he's better than Stammer and Tavares. But he has a higher ceiling I'd say.
Around the League thread: Phil in Pitt. And other NHL topics
- Thread starter Mess
- Start date
- Status
Matthews is tied with Eichel for 2nd best prospect since Crosby tbh. There's no guarantee he's better than Stammer and Tavares. But he has a higher ceiling I'd say.
Anyone miss Kessel?
I was never the biggest Kessel supporter. He's not a complete player and the glaring holes in his game were infuriating to watch especially during the teams annual tail spin but I still can't help but miss what he brought to the table. It is early but the team seems to be buying into what Babcock is trying to implement and I wonder what kind of player Kessel could have been in his system. I get the need for a "culture change" but I still maintain that they sold low on Kessel especially considering the amount of salary retained and still think that if he wasn't a guy they wanted long term they should have at least brought him back for a good chunk of this season, which would have only increased his value given that he came off the worst season of his career.
I was never the biggest Kessel supporter. He's not a complete player and the glaring holes in his game were infuriating to watch especially during the teams annual tail spin but I still can't help but miss what he brought to the table. It is early but the team seems to be buying into what Babcock is trying to implement and I wonder what kind of player Kessel could have been in his system. I get the need for a "culture change" but I still maintain that they sold low on Kessel especially considering the amount of salary retained and still think that if he wasn't a guy they wanted long term they should have at least brought him back for a good chunk of this season, which would have only increased his value given that he came off the worst season of his career.
Nithoniniel
Registered User
They obviously felt that moving him was critical to get a change in culture going with this team.
With a guy that is so well-established, half a season more wasn't going to make much of a difference.
With a guy that is so well-established, half a season more wasn't going to make much of a difference.
I think that's a fair point and I know these type of deals are difficult to make during the season but I think if they waited till he started producing they could have at least had more teams interested. It seems like Pittsburgh was the only team seriously negotiating during the off season
Daisy Jane
everything is gonna be okay!
- Jul 2, 2009
- 70,377
- 9,634
draeko17
Registered User
- Jul 7, 2007
- 1,216
- 0
I trust that the powers that be had good reason to move Kessel. However, I was/am a fan of Phil's and yes, I miss him on the team. He was the one player that could electrify the game, raise you out of your seat. Okay, raise me out of my seat. There simply is no one on the team that will do that now. I've been a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs since I was a young girl in the Yukon, when the only tv station we had was CBC. I've cheered for this team for about 50 years. My favorites were Sittler and Salming and Yuskevich, Clark and Sundin. All quite opposite of Kessel, I know. But I like him. For who he is, not who Sundin was or Clark was. I'm happy for the way the team is responding to Babcock. However, for now there is something a little less about the team.
I miss him because I would've like for them to keep him around so his value would go up, as we are seeing (albeit) SSS with Phaneuf's value up now
Morguee
Registered User
- Jan 22, 2010
- 3,002
- 184
Watching him on the bench last night solidified my opinion that I do not want his attitude anywhere near this team. Sulking on the bench after each shift is not something the Leafs need when they start bringing in the kids. His goals will be missed but not his attitude.
Pittsburgh's start to this season including last night's game only re-enforces my belief that Kessel needs his team to structure their style to maximize his offensive output. This wasn't a typical scoring slump where we'd see him get 10 shots at the net. He and Crosby weren't snakebitten with a plethora of scoring chances, they have had very few. He needs right wing rushes to use his out-of-this-world snap shot and to playmake. Watching the Pens trying to get him to do things in the offensive end (one timers, slap shot point shots, cycling) that your average 4th liner does better than Kessel means they haven't read what they have yet.
ULF_55
Moderator
Well, maybe the new coach there will be one who passed through Toronto?
Carlyle still looking for work?
p.l.f.
use the force
The leafs have found the cure for dressing room cancer also known as kesselitis
This coach killing disease also infects the other players. Making them lazy and uncoachable
This coach killing disease also infects the other players. Making them lazy and uncoachable
johnny_rudeboy
Registered User
I have only seen 2 pens games so far but I agree with what you said.
I think Kessel will soon end up managing his own line playing his own way, the only way he is capable of playing. Crosby might have the biggest tool-box in the game but all Kessel does is hammering nails, if that makes any sense.
Randy won the Norris Trophy as a Penguin. His name might have some currency in Pittsburgh. Carlyle did tailor the Leafs' game to maximize Kessel's abilities. While it didn't ultimately work in Toronto, he didn't have the support talent that he'd have on the Pens to play a wider open game that lets a team's offensive stars put up good personal numbers.
Kessel needs to play on a line where he can just coast around the other teams blue line hoping for a break away pass, thank God there's no more two line off-side. His line mates should be guys willing to do all the grunt work & keep feeding him the puck & thank him for allowing them to gain an assist through his greatness. Practice is for non-special people & leave him & his pouty face alone when he doesn't score or get his way.
Yea he's missed.
Yea he's missed.
There are 101 players with more goals than the Anaheim Ducks.
Why are they sucking so badly? They were my favorites for the cup going into the season.
Why are they sucking so badly? They were my favorites for the cup going into the season.
theIceWookie
#LeafHysteriaAlert
No I'm saying its way to early to be saying "we should have taken this guy or that guy". It hasn't even been a month into the season.
Who knows what will happen with Sprong, who knows what happens with the other picks in the 2nd?
Preisst*
Registered User
Depends on whether he would have been producing enough goals to compensate. As a Leafs fan I'm glad I don't have to think about it any more.
The Leafs wanted him gone and frankly I think the organization was prepared to take even less then what they got just to be rid of him. We did just fine on the trade and in the long run we'll be even happier with it then we are now.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I 'miss' him in the sense that he could be exciting and scored a lot...
But I sure as hell don't miss watching this team tread water and make no progression at all.
But I sure as hell don't miss watching this team tread water and make no progression at all.
Purity*
Registered User
- Jan 29, 2010
- 8,446
- 1
According to the Pens board they're happy with Kessel and his defensive play, from what they say he's been real good on the backcheck.
It's Kunitz who they're trying to run out of town, and rightfully so, that guy just ain't top-6 material anymore (questioning if he's even NHL material anymore)..
It's Kunitz who they're trying to run out of town, and rightfully so, that guy just ain't top-6 material anymore (questioning if he's even NHL material anymore)..
- Status
