Is Phil Kessel an anomaly?

[Alexander the Gr8]

Weird... because I've watched him turn around dozens upon dozens of games all by himself as a Leaf and a Pen.

Kessel is a gifted playmaker that just so happens to be one of the best snipers in the league.

He is a gifted playmaker, but not one that is a constant threat whenever he steps on the ice. He is a perimeter player with a great playmaking sense and a very powerful snap shot. He gets the puck in the back of the net, but he's not like Crosby who takes on all the defenders and wears them out.

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

Oh lord, this again. Just because they have dad bods and don't have chiseled jawlines and look like some ripped to shreds bodybuilder doesn't mean they're out of shape, guys. Genetics can come into play. Besides, Phil's actually pretty deceptively strong. He can surprise you with how strong he is, even if you don't think of him as a that type of player. His elusiveness also helps. He's not shifty and agile as hell but he is pretty good with changing speeds and making it really hard for guys to get good hits on him.

Hell, I remember people saying the same stuff about Marleau years ago.

That said, I remember during the Ottawa series, seeing this pic.

Like, if I knew nothing about hockey, and you told me the guy on the right was an NHL star and the guy on the left was his dad, I never would question it.

I know I'm supposed to be looking at how fat Kessel is but I can't get over buddy's thigh. Did he just get up out of a wheelchair?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

He is a gifted playmaker, but not one that is a constant threat whenever he steps on the ice. He is a perimeter player with a great playmaking sense and a very powerful snap shot. He gets the puck in the back of the net, but he's not like Crosby who takes on all the defenders and wears them out.

So let me get this straight... a guy who is on pace for 85 points... isn't a constant threat on the ice?

How does that work, exactly?

I guess I didn't see Kessel literally skate circles around the Isles the other night before making an insane feed to Guentzel that would have been on all the highlight reels if it had gone in.

That is what Kessel does, because he is, in fact a constant threat on the ice.

I guess Kuznetsov isn't a constant threat either, being that he's soft as butter.

 

[mja]

That'd actually be one hell of a nickname.

Phil "The Anomaly" Kessel.

Motion to henceforth refer to Phil Kessel as The Anomaly...

Any seconds?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Kessel is like a bumble bee. Technically, they're too fat to fly, but they just buzz right along, ignoring the laws of physics.

 

[end]

Yeah he's frickin' anomalous, bud.

 

[LeafFever]

Oh lord, this again. Just because they have dad bods and don't have chiseled jawlines and look like some ripped to shreds bodybuilder doesn't mean they're out of shape, guys. Genetics can come into play. Besides, Phil's actually pretty deceptively strong. He can surprise you with how strong he is, even if you don't think of him as a that type of player. His elusiveness also helps. He's not shifty and agile as hell but he is pretty good with changing speeds and making it really hard for guys to get good hits on him.

Hell, I remember people saying the same stuff about Marleau years ago.

That said, I remember during the Ottawa series, seeing this pic.

Like, if I knew nothing about hockey, and you told me the guy on the right was an NHL star and the guy on the left was his dad, I never would question it.

My friend, who knows little about hockey, assumed Phil was the oldest NHL player and had been around forever when they saw a pic of him.

 

[justafan22]

Nah. He's brett hull 2.0 in a way.

His fitness is good since he has insane lower body strength.

Here's a pic though it's old of him and he looks in shape, and since then he looks similar.

 

[justafan22]

I'd say he's also elite at avoiding contact (not in an insulting way) which definitely helps for longevity.

That is true.

 

[SotasicA]

He's an above average NHL skater

Understatement of the year so far, considering Kessel is one of the fastest skaters of our era.

 

[chethejet]

Phil is one of a kind. He has two cups to his name and he is a grinder in a sense of his availability. His numbers speak for themselves, but he is very popular in the clubhouse and is very intense as a player. He loves competing and don't sell him short here. With him don't count out the Pens just yet. Babcock he is not a fit! Really Mike? He would be the best player on the Leafs and never understood the need to trade him for a bag of pucks.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

So let me get this straight... a guy who is on pace for 85 points... isn't a constant threat on the ice?

How does that work, exactly?

I guess I didn't see Kessel literally skate circles around the Isles the other night before making an insane feed to Guentzel that would have been on all the highlight reels if it had gone in.

That is what Kessel does, because he is, in fact a constant threat on the ice.

I guess Kuznetsov isn't a constant threat either, being that he's soft as butter.

Well, points have nothing to do with it. He capitalizes on his chances and he creates chances for others, but if the puck is in the corner, he isn't going to win his battles there.

Kuznetsov is soft as butter and can be rendered ineffective, he isn't a constant threat either.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Kessel is like a bumble bee. Technically, they're too fat to fly, but they just buzz right along, ignoring the laws of physics.

 

[holy]

He's no Kyle Wellwood.

 

[BlueBaron]

Lol wut??

Was the reporter blind?

I'm not positive but I think Jagr was not a fitness fanatic until he had some veteran influences. Could be wrong, it was a long time ago.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Phil the phreak

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Well, points have nothing to do with it. He capitalizes on his chances and he creates chances for others, but if the puck is in the corner, he isn't going to win his battles there.

Kuznetsov is soft as butter and can be rendered ineffective, he isn't a constant threat either.

So he creates his own offense and makes others around him better, and avgs over a ppg, but he's not a constant threat because he isn't a.... grinder?

Why not, let's go with it.

Anyway, Kessel has been bullying guys on the boards all year this season. Guess he felt like being a grinder this year, since they get all the love, and he wants to be loved.

 

[TheAngryHank]

So he creates his own offense and makes others around him better, and avgs over a ppg, but he's not a constant threat because he isn't a.... grinder?

Why not, let's go with it.

Anyway, Kessel has been bullying guys on the boards all year this season. Guess he felt like being a grinder this year, since they get all the love, and he wants to be loved.

He is just hot doging.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

So he creates his own offense and makes others around him better, and avgs over a ppg, but he's not a constant threat because he isn't a.... grinder?

Why not, let's go with it.

Anyway, Kessel has been bullying guys on the boards all year this season. Guess he felt like being a grinder this year, since they get all the love, and he wants to be loved.

You're misinterpreting what I said, but whatever.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

You're misinterpreting what I said, but whatever.

You just admitted he creates his own offense and makes others better, then said he doesn't grind.... and that literally was what you offered up for your reasoning for why he doesn't change games.

Re-read what you wrote.

 

[Hank Plank]

Kessel is like a bumble bee. Technically, they're too fat to fly, but they just buzz right along, ignoring the laws of physics.

Instant classic.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

You just admitted he creates his own offense and makes others better, then said he doesn't grind.... and that literally was what you offered up for your reasoning for why he doesn't change games.

Re-read what you wrote.

It's poorly worded on my part, I meant to say that he doesn't change the game in every area like Crosby does for example. Obviously he changes the game on the score board by creating offense, that goes without saying.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

It's poorly worded on my part, I meant to say that he doesn't change the game in every area like Crosby does for example. Obviously he changes the game on the score board by creating offense, that goes without saying.

Well, I can agree with that.

It's kind of a similar argument I made about AO and Kessel not being able to win SC as a team's best player because a great pivot that plays all over the ice is simply more valuable.

But just want to note again Kessel has been an animal all over the ice this season and he deserves credit for that. Not sure what's gotten into him, but it's fun to watch,

 

[Jozay]

Kessel is a beast. Loved him here.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Well, I can agree with that.

It's kind of a similar argument I made about AO and Kessel not being able to win SC as a team's best player because a great pivot that plays all over the ice is simply more valuable.

I agree with that if we're talking about Ovechkin after 2010, but I wouldn't make that argument about Ovechkin when he was 23-24 years old. He was a force and he just overpowered the opponent.