Toggle sidebar

Is Phil Kessel an anomaly?

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
DearDiary

DearDiary

🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷
Aug 29, 2010
15,294
12,783
A player whose conditioning and body is constantly questioned, yet is one of the most explosive players in the league.

He's played almost 900 games while avoiding contact, barely forechecking, loosing every puck battle and pulling up on entries if a clear lane isn't available. He's never in a position to get hit, not even to make a play. You would think he lacks drive or wouldn't be an elite playoff performer due to all that, yet he is.

It stands out especially because he's on the Penguins. You have Crosby arguably the hardest worker in the league, constantly training and taking abuse all over the ice to make the play... then you have Phil staring at puck battles, jumping away from another humans touch and yet has performed at or near Crosby's level in the much more physical and tighter playoffs.

In 2018, how does such a specimen become one of the top athletes in a sport? How is it possible to do it while dismissing basic hockey fundamentals?
Click to read more...
 
DearDiary said:
A player whose conditioning and body is constantly questioned, yet is one of the most explosive players in the league.

He's played almost 900 games while avoiding contact, barely forechecking, loosing every puck battle and pulling up on entries if a clear lane isn't available. He's never in a position to get hit, not even to make a play. You would think he lacks drive or wouldn't be an elite playoff performer due to all that, yet he is.

It stands out especially because he's on the Penguins. You have Crosby arguably the hardest worker in the league, constantly training and taking abuse all over the ice to make the play... then you have Phil staring at puck battles, jumping away from another humans touch and yet has performed at or near Crosby's level in the much more physical and tighter playoffs.

In 2018, how does such a specimen become one of the top athletes in a sport? How is it possible to do it while dismissing basic hockey fundamentals?
Click to expand...
Do you actually watch him play? He's almost nothing as you describe, also he's in good shape not the "dad bod" people think.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RayB and Tom ServoMST3K
I actually can't think of any players that are tissue paper soft that score like he does.He is quick and knows how to get open.
 
I think he has freak genetics and if he was more dedicated in the gym (everything we know says he is not) then I would be curious to see how much higher his ceiling would have been in his prime.
 
Ironic timing, considering I think most Pens fans would suggest that Kessel has actually been a harder worker than Sid so far this year.

I know. I was shocked too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Heliarclee
Did people actually watch him play in Toronto?

Where did this idea he was unfit come from? He's an above average NHL skater, with a spectacular wrist shot, and on top of that, he's really smart with the puck on his stick.

I was happy to see him leave Toronto, and not come to the central.
 
DearDiary said:
A player whose conditioning and body is constantly questioned, yet is one of the most explosive players in the league.

He's played almost 900 games while avoiding contact, barely forechecking, loosing every puck battle and pulling up on entries if a clear lane isn't available. He's never in a position to get hit, not even to make a play. You would think he lacks drive or wouldn't be an elite playoff performer due to all that, yet he is.

It stands out especially because he's on the Penguins. You have Crosby arguably the hardest worker in the league, constantly training and taking abuse all over the ice to make the play... then you have Phil staring at puck battles, jumping away from another humans touch and yet has performed at or near Crosby's level in the much more physical and tighter playoffs.

In 2018, how does such a specimen become one of the top athletes in a sport? How is it possible to do it while dismissing basic hockey fundamentals?
Click to expand...

this is bullshit hyperbole egregious enough for the thread to be locked right now
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trade
Tom ServoMST3K said:
Did people actually watch him play in Toronto?

Where did this idea he was unfit come from? He's an above average NHL skater, with a spectacular wrist shot, and on top of that, he's really smart with the puck on his stick.

I was happy to see him leave Toronto, and not come to the central.
Click to expand...

He eats hot dogs and has a round face though.
 
WTFMAN99 said:
I think he has freak genetics and if he was more dedicated in the gym (everything we know says he is not) then I would be curious to see how much higher his ceiling would have been in his prime.
Click to expand...
I remember listening and reading very educated hockey people during his best years in Toronto and alot of them were of the opinion that if he had one of those all time great work ethics he would be the best player in the league hands down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WTFMAN99
Tom ServoMST3K said:
Did people actually watch him play in Toronto?

Where did this idea he was unfit come from? He's an above average NHL skater, with a spectacular wrist shot, and on top of that, he's really smart with the puck on his stick.

I was happy to see him leave Toronto, and not come to the central.
Click to expand...

Yeah but he’s got a fat face. Checkmate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Los Patos de Anaheim and Tom ServoMST3K
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom