Kessel is easily capable of 90 points 40 goals, just not with this team.
Maybe.
He's going to need a centre that can at least play a Backes-like game. I just can't see him battling for pucks or developing a defensive game outside of consistent backchecking. Paul Kariya never did that under Babs so I don't see why Kessel should. Moreover, I think JVR would play a game involving 100% consistency particularly on the physical side.
Furthermore, Kessel seems to perform better with the Hjalmarsson, Suter, Vlasic puck moving types. Dion played that role somewhat but expecting Gardiner/ Rielly to do the same isn't realistic. If Duncan Keith continues to play a dynamic skating, puck rusher role, I doubt those two will be any different. Do remember that much of Kane's effectiveness is generated by Hjalmarssons' puck movement. Otherwise, Kane tends to slow things down due to his elite puckhandling. As for the "withdrawn" , non-rusher, puck moving type, Granberg is the closest, but we'd need to bring over Martin or Sekera over here.
Primary solution:
JVR ( somehow evolves into a PWF) - Big two-way C - Kessel
Rielly - Martin
We'd need a big, strong forchecking type. This centre will need to be able to keep up with Kessel and successfully keep the play alive. Babcock will demand that we play a tighter game, but Rielly will be expected to play more high up. He's going to support Kessel as the fourth forward. Martin is the stay-at-home mobile defenceman, who keep the opposition honest and does a great job keeping the puck zipping as well.
Secondary solution
Panik - Kadri - RW
Gardiner - Granberg
We're going to need to acquire a potential top six offensive scorer for Kadri. I think Phaneuf's trade could be used to acquire that. That D pairing will support a much lower-tempo forward core. Granberg is defensive defenceman, but could play that Paul Martin/ Gunnarsson-like role. Gardiner is already strong defensively and could allowed to control, bring up the puck as J-Bo does.
Shut down solution/ Bottom lines and pairings
Komarov - Holland - Bailey
LW - 4C - RW
Percy - Robidas
Third line shut down solution. Holland is a North-South shooter. He's pretty decent forcing turnovers, as is Komarov, and Bailey represents a defensively-responsible PWF.
Conclusion
Do we get that lucky? Babcock doesn't transform forwards. Datsyuk, for instance, was always considered good on the defensive end. He actually developed that part of his game in Russia.
We're also going to need to attract a defensive, PMD like Paul Martin in addition to acquiring a centre for Kessel and a winger for Kadri. Since Nazem doesn't isn't a defensive phenom, forechecking beast like Toews ( not even Datsyuk is), we really do need a strong guy in the middle for Kessel.
Assuming Strome is available, we'd need an
additional year for him to be NHL-ready. He would obviously help turn our top line into a less one-dimensional one. If he slows things down, he's elite enough to work the puck and enable Kessel to thrive on the perimeter.
Maybe we pull it off, but I really doubt it. If we keep Kessel, we'd need to look at contending while getting lucky with the draft.
