Does Kessel fit into the long term plans of the Leafs?
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Leafidelity
Existentially Drifting
I 100 percent agree with this. Watching grabovski in person you will see he puts his heart into it and is a high energy player.
Bomber0104
Registered User
Grabo doesnt belong in this conversation. Hes gritty and tough. Hes just not belligerent
- Ummm no he's not.... when was the last time Grabo laid a hit on someone? Sacrificed his body to block a shot? Stick up for a team mate? Yes Grabo gets hit hard a lot and gets back up, but pretty much any NHL'er not named Ribero will get up after a hit.
- Ummm no he's not.... when was the last time Grabo laid a hit on someone? Sacrificed his body to block a shot? Stick up for a team mate? Yes Grabo gets hit hard a lot and gets back up, but pretty much any NHL'er not named Ribero will get up after a hit.
Kessel is certainly a flawed player, he sucks defensively, is not physical at all, and tends to shy away from the danger areas. However, he is absolutely dynamite with the puck. Great speed, unreal shot, very good hands, very good vision. If he's on a line/team that doesn't have the puck a lot, that's not good, because he's not a star who will retreive the puck himself (like Crosby, Datsyuk, Toews, etc.), and he's a liability defensively. However, if he's on a line/team that DOES have the puck a lot, he's a massive positive, because he's so deadly offensively.
We're currently a weak team that loses a lot of puck battles, a team that generally does not dominate the puck, and I think this dramatically hurt's Kessel's even strength effectiveness. I'm not convinced he has a large positive impact at even strength right now (great scorer, but his negative defensive impact is amplified by our weak team in general). BUT if we ever build a really good team around him, his impact will be very positive. He could be like Heatley on the Heatley/Spezza/Alf line, Heatley was a one way player too, but it didn't matter because that line always had the puck.
Long story short, I want to keep Kessel, because even if his even strength impact is a bit "meh" on our current team, it could be great if we can improve our team substantially. The only thing I'd be worried about is losing him for nothing as a UFA. That would totally suck, but at the same time we would NOT receive a Kessel quality player back if we dealt Kessel, so we should only consider dealing him if management feel strongly that he will bolt.
We're currently a weak team that loses a lot of puck battles, a team that generally does not dominate the puck, and I think this dramatically hurt's Kessel's even strength effectiveness. I'm not convinced he has a large positive impact at even strength right now (great scorer, but his negative defensive impact is amplified by our weak team in general). BUT if we ever build a really good team around him, his impact will be very positive. He could be like Heatley on the Heatley/Spezza/Alf line, Heatley was a one way player too, but it didn't matter because that line always had the puck.
Long story short, I want to keep Kessel, because even if his even strength impact is a bit "meh" on our current team, it could be great if we can improve our team substantially. The only thing I'd be worried about is losing him for nothing as a UFA. That would totally suck, but at the same time we would NOT receive a Kessel quality player back if we dealt Kessel, so we should only consider dealing him if management feel strongly that he will bolt.
The Winter Soldier
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- Apr 4, 2011
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If we continue to miss the playoffs and I mean not miss it by a small margin rather than being a lottery team miss it, Kessel will likely tire playing in Toronto.
If he is a player that doesn't mind playing for a losing team, than I don't want him. But I think Kessel is a player that wants to win badly. So he is likely gone either way. No, he doesn't fit into this team's plans.
This is the trade that defined Burke's time here and his subsequent firing.
If he is a player that doesn't mind playing for a losing team, than I don't want him. But I think Kessel is a player that wants to win badly. So he is likely gone either way. No, he doesn't fit into this team's plans.
This is the trade that defined Burke's time here and his subsequent firing.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
Bomber0104
Registered User
That might be one worth debating
Nothing to debate.
We can't predict the future and know what Kessel and his agent are thinking.
Anthrax442
Registered User
The Winter Soldier
Registered User
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If we missed the playoffs for a 6th year since he has been a Leaf, I hope he talks to his agent to UFA up some teams.
I would respect him more if he had a burning desire to play for a winner, rather being comfortable and happy to stay with a losing team.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
And yet there is still more to discuss on that side of the equation than there is from the teams standpoint.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
Do you apply this rule to all teams? Man, imagine the free for all in Edmonton, Columbus, Long Island.....
I'm the opposite I have no respect for a player who only wants to play on good teams. If they were that great of player they would take the challenge to elevate his lesser team to the next level instead of playing 3rd or 4th string on a stacked team ala chris bosh.
The Winter Soldier
Registered User
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There's a difference, Kessel signed here expecting to win soon under Burke. After 6, maybe 7 years of no playoffs. If you are not tired of losing, what is your motivation for playing the game?
Bomber0104
Registered User
Not really. The answer is obvious that the Leafs want Kessel.
Question is does Kessel want to play for the Leafs.
He can get the same money anywhere else (minus 1 year of term).
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
Why would that be any different? Why would John Tavarez want to stick around for another five years in Long Island? If Edmonton is bottom three again this year, why would Eberle, Hall, RNH wanna stick around? How could you respect them if they did?
Maybe when he came here, he wanted to be "the man" that takes the team to the playoffs. He might still in two years. He knows the organization paid an arm and a leg for him. If he wants to bolt, i believe he would let the leafs trade him at least.
Maybe he loves the city toronto (even if the media hates him)
The Winter Soldier
Registered User
- Apr 4, 2011
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Gilmour was a great player that made the entire team better defensively, offensively, and leadership wise.
Kessel is a very good scorer, he has yet to reach that level. He hasn't shown the ability to carry a franchise as Gilmour did, as Sundin did. Maybe he's not capable of this, he certainly has tried. He said as much in an interview 2 seasons ago saying it isn't working out here, obcourse he said he meant something different, but clearly he is frustrated. He wants to win, not happening here this year.
The Apologist
Apologizing for Leaf garbage since 1979
Maybe you should reread what I wrote. Take your time, I'll wait.
Hint: I agree that the answer to the question in this thread is obvious.
7even
Offered and lost
Steven Stamkos is #1 followed closely by Ovi. After that it gets interesting. I'd probably put Kessel lower than Sid, Malkin, Kovy, and Gaborik, but above guys like Marleau, Sedin, and potentially Iggy. Oh and over Eberle everyday of the week. So maybe the #7 one-shot scorer in the league?
