Kessel is not even on the same planet as Crosby!!

[time]

I think Kessel may still have a great game in him this tournament. The puck looks glued to his stick!

But, like everyone else here, I think the comparisons with Ovechkin and Crosby are ridiculous. Let's put this in perspective: at 18, Kessel is leading all freshman in scoring in the NCAA. At 16, Crosby led Canadian Junior Hockey in scoring.

Kessel is a number one in the vein of Lecavalier -- very good, exciting, game-breaker at times, but definitely not one of the all-time greats.

 

[lynchmob450]

I think Kessel would have helped himself IMMENSELY by playing junior hockey in the CHL. But his appetite for college girls got the best of him

 

[Daily Special]

Let's end this once in for all. Kessel is not in Crosby, Ovechkin, and likely Malkin's class. He is however a very talented offensive player that plays the game at a high tempo and is showing improvement in areas of his game that have been viewed as suspect (such as his playmaking and attention to defense). Is he guaranteed to be a star at the next level? No, but very few prospects have that distinction. I've led the Kessel bandwagon for some time, but even I can be realistic.

However, this tournament (which isn't over yet) is looking like it's setting up the draft order for the 2006 draft pretty well. I would say Kessel, Toews, Johnson, and Mueller have had good tournies, while Frolik has been a bit quiet. Those five (in that order) will likely be the top five in the draft.

He's not Crosby or Ovechkin, but Kessel >>>>Malkin.

I've seen them both play (seen Malkin quite a bit in many full games). That is quite an easy assessment to make. Pittsburgh will likely find that out themselves if they manage to go dead last again and go with a forward.

In the long run, Kessel will outshine Malkin IMO.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Blame the media for the hype especially idiots like Pierre McGuire for their ridiculous comparisons.

Don't blame McGuire. Blame the 13 out of 30 NHL GM's who tod him they would pick Kessel over Crosby.....

....assuming they exist outside his silly imagination.

 

[Wranglers110]

Blame the media for the hype especially idiots like Pierre McGuire for their ridiculous comparisons.

Heh...."skates like Pat LaFontaine, shoots like Brett Hull".

He will be pretty good, though. I figure he'll probably be a 50-60 point a year guy, which definately would put him at "overrated", but still wortwhile to have if he's not overpaid.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Heh...."skates like Pat LaFontaine, shoots like Brett Hull".

He will be pretty good, though. I figure he'll probably be a 50-60 point a year guy, which definately would put him at "overrated", but still wortwhile to have if he's not overpaid.

Sometime this month Sid will have become a "50-60 points with 30+ games to spare guy".

Are you sure you're not underrating Kessel?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Heh...."skates like Pat LaFontaine, shoots like Brett Hull".

He will be pretty good, though. I figure he'll probably be a 50-60 point a year guy, which definately would put him at "overrated", but still wortwhile to have if he's not overpaid.

It would be funny if that description was far off. The thing is, it isn't. Kessel does have incredible speed and a phenomenal shot. Can he put it all together at the next level? We won't know for a couple more years.

 

[Transported Upstater]

It would be funny if that description was far off. The thing is, it isn't. Kessel does have incredible speed and a phenomenal shot. Can he put it all together at the next level? We won't know for a couple more years.

I think Kessel would benefit from another year at UMinn, personally.

But I'm ultra-patient with prospects, occasionally to a fault.



I believe Kessel could use more polish before attempting the pro game, and I hope he isn't rushed by whatever team drafts him. Of course, it is up to him, but I hope he makes the right decision, and IMO that is to play for the University of Minnesota next year.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Im kinda curious as to exactly what Crosby would have had to do this year to be in Phaneufs or Ovechkins league.

......... been drafted by the HF Crosby critic's team?

 

[heygarebear]

I think Kessel would benefit from another year at UMinn, personally.

But I'm ultra-patient with prospects, occasionally to a fault.



I believe Kessel could use more polish before attempting the pro game, and I hope he isn't rushed by whatever team drafts him. Of course, it is up to him, but I hope he makes the right decision, and IMO that is to play for the University of Minnesota next year.

if the blues draft him.. I'm hoping they won't rush him either

 

[Transported Upstater]

if the blues draft him.. I'm hoping they won't rush him either

Exactly.

Let's say St. Louis wins the lottery, for this example. I hope the Blues organization realizes that the long-term benefits of a NHL-ready Phil Kessel greatly outweigh the immediate benefits of bringing Phil to St. Louis next year.

There is nothing a then 19-year old Kessel could do to rescue a possibly porous team (I am in no means poking fun at St. Louis here, and I'm not saying they will be bad, but let's say for this example that they are) from the dregs of the league. Crosby and Ovechkin have had monster impacts, yet both teams are among the league's worst.

Did I just say "monster"?

I think Kessel would be a fabulous asset for the Blues. But the immediate gain of bringing him in as a teenager most likely will not benefit Kessel as a prospect. And in the long-term, that is what the Blues should want most. After all, the better Kessel becomes, the more benefit for the St. Louis franchise.

 

[Ryan O'Byrne]

Kessel is more comparable to Brule than Crosby imo

 

[Epsilon]

I think Kessel is pretty similar to Nik Zherdev. But the talk of him being equal to Crosby was nonsense. So was that stuff about him being an American Kovalchuk or Bure.

 

[Transported Upstater]

Kessel is more comparable to Brule than Crosby imo

Brule's physical and nasty. Kessel isn't.

 

[Ryan O'Byrne]

Brule's physical and nasty. Kessel isn't.

What I mean is he = brule prospect wise not crosby

 

[God Bless Canada]

Kessel just seems like your average first overall pick.

I wouldn't even go that far. Out of the top forwards for each draft since the 1999 debacle (Heatley in 2000, Kovalchuk in 2001, Nash in 2002, Staal in 2003, Ovechkin in 2004 and Crosby in 2005), Kessel is the worst of those at this stage in his career. In fact, he'd be below the No. 2s from many of those years. (Gaborik in 2000, Spezza in 2001, Horton in 2003 and Malkin in 2004). He's had good numbers in college for a freshman, but not numbers you'd expect from a future NHL superstar. (He's not even on track to meet Heatley's freshman numbers from 1999-2000). As for his play in this tournament, yes he's put up points, but I haven't been that impressed with him, not like I was at last year's WJC and especially last year's WU18.

Kessel will be a fine offensive player in the NHL in time. But is he a franchise type, who'll be one of the top 10, 15 or possibly 20 players in the NHL? I don't see it.

 

[time]

Man, did Kessel ever pick a bad game to go flat. . . There must have been over two million people watching him for the first time on Saturday. When Parent stuffed him on the one-on-one, then trashed talked Kessel as he got up off the ice -- PK needs a big game or his stock is going to fall big time. He still might get #1 overall, but I don't think a company like Reebok will risk several million on his future star power.

 

[Metallian*]

he'd be below the No. 2s from many of those years. (Horton in 2003).

You're putting Horton ahead of Kessel?

 

[MN_Gopher]

People say that Kessel is not as good as Staal, Horton, Crosby, Heatley and so on.

Going by their draft years. Well Kessel is not that far off of Heatleys pace at all. If Kessel was around for the pad your stat week end the gophers just had, and if he is back in time to play Niagra his numbers would be on Heatlys pace no doubt.

If Crosby is supposed to be the talent of the generation. Either guys like Staal, Heatley, Zetterberg, Datsuk, and Ovechkin are either going to have to retire, quit or just start sucking. Because they are putting up better numbers. Then others like Gaborik, clearly a franchise player that is on the verge of getting a little help and really blowing up. So why is a generational talent behind all these guys?

Is it because that Crossby is still getting better. He is younger than those guys?And he is still learning the game, how to play everyday in the NHL. Is Crosby probally the most ready prospect ever, arguably yes.

Now take Kessel agaist those guys. He is not even the most ready american center in the draft. I think Mueller is. Give the guy a chance. If he lived up to expectations, scoring 2 goals a game and getting 2 assists, while playing solid D and winning 80% of face offs. He would be better than Crosby. He is still learning the game. He is still getting better. Kessel today is not the Kessel that will play in the NHL. He will be better and more complete. The Kessel that played Alberta is long removed.

And everything i hear about Toews is what he will do, or what he is going to do. Do people here then just think that Kessel is not going to get any better or not improve his game as well?

And why do people put these threads up in the first place. If what happens on the ice is the bar there should be no need for any one to state the obvious. Its like pre teen boys teasing a girl that they say they do not like. I think you guys have a secret crush on Kessel, or have nothing better to do then point out that the sky is still blue.

 

[William H Bonney]

I love how people bash Kessel, and that he's "nowhere close" to Malkin, but Malkin, who's older, is tied with Kessel for the lead in points.....Shouldn't Malkin be dominating Kessel then? No matter what Kessel does, he's in the boat of prospects where he gets slammed for whatever he does....first, he's a puck hog, then he basically hands Chris Bourque five goals, and now he can't score...Poor guy can't win...He'll be a superstar in the NHL one day.

 

[KariyaIsGod*]

People say that Kessel is not as good as Staal, Horton, Crosby, Heatley and so on.

Going by their draft years. Well Kessel is not that far off of Heatleys pace at all. If Kessel was around for the pad your stat week end the gophers just had, and if he is back in time to play Niagra his numbers would be on Heatlys pace no doubt.

If Crosby is supposed to be the talent of the generation. Either guys like Staal, Heatley, Zetterberg, Datsuk, and Ovechkin are either going to have to retire, quit or just start sucking. Because they are putting up better numbers. Then others like Gaborik, clearly a franchise player that is on the verge of getting a little help and really blowing up. So why is a generational talent behind all these guys?

Is it because that Crossby is still getting better. He is younger than those guys?And he is still learning the game, how to play everyday in the NHL. Is Crosby probally the most ready prospect ever, arguably yes.

Now take Kessel agaist those guys. He is not even the most ready american center in the draft. I think Mueller is. Give the guy a chance. If he lived up to expectations, scoring 2 goals a game and getting 2 assists, while playing solid D and winning 80% of face offs. He would be better than Crosby. He is still learning the game. He is still getting better. Kessel today is not the Kessel that will play in the NHL. He will be better and more complete. The Kessel that played Alberta is long removed.

And everything i hear about Toews is what he will do, or what he is going to do. Do people here then just think that Kessel is not going to get any better or not improve his game as well?

And why do people put these threads up in the first place. If what happens on the ice is the bar there should be no need for any one to state the obvious. Its like pre teen boys teasing a girl that they say they do not like. I think you guys have a secret crush on Kessel, or have nothing better to do then point out that the sky is still blue.

Kessel is like 3 months younger than Crosby. There is no way Phil kessel would be better than Crosby at this stage barring him being in the NHL and tearing it up.

I fail to see how Phil could, in any imaginable way, be even close to Crosby at this point or down the road, considering how far ahead Crosby is despite them being essentially the same age. Crosby has a higher ceiling anyway.

 

[Daily Special]

Kessel will be a fine offensive player in the NHL in time. But is he a franchise type, who'll be one of the top 10, 15 or possibly 20 players in the NHL? I don't see it.

There's a word for that: myopic

 

[AgentNaslund*]

People say that Kessel is not as good as Staal, Horton, Crosby, Heatley and so on.

Going by their draft years. Well Kessel is not that far off of Heatleys pace at all. If Kessel was around for the pad your stat week end the gophers just had, and if he is back in time to play Niagra his numbers would be on Heatlys pace no doubt.

If Crosby is supposed to be the talent of the generation. Either guys like Staal, Heatley, Zetterberg, Datsuk, and Ovechkin are either going to have to retire, quit or just start sucking. Because they are putting up better numbers. Then others like Gaborik, clearly a franchise player that is on the verge of getting a little help and really blowing up. So why is a generational talent behind all these guys?

Is it because that Crossby is still getting better. He is younger than those guys?And he is still learning the game, how to play everyday in the NHL. Is Crosby probally the most ready prospect ever, arguably yes.

Now take Kessel agaist those guys. He is not even the most ready american center in the draft. I think Mueller is. Give the guy a chance. If he lived up to expectations, scoring 2 goals a game and getting 2 assists, while playing solid D and winning 80% of face offs. He would be better than Crosby. He is still learning the game. He is still getting better. Kessel today is not the Kessel that will play in the NHL. He will be better and more complete. The Kessel that played Alberta is long removed.

And everything i hear about Toews is what he will do, or what he is going to do. Do people here then just think that Kessel is not going to get any better or not improve his game as well?

And why do people put these threads up in the first place. If what happens on the ice is the bar there should be no need for any one to state the obvious. Its like pre teen boys teasing a girl that they say they do not like. I think you guys have a secret crush on Kessel, or have nothing better to do then point out that the sky is still blue.

well you really cant blame the fans, when infact it was your media hype from your own country that said " Americans Sidney Crosby." Its not our fault, its not the fans fault, its not USA hockeys fault, its your dumb Media, feeling left out of years, of not being able to generate top quality players for a long long long extended period of time. The last rescent good American player that made a slight impact was Scott Gomez, who was drafted in 98. Since then that nation had to rely on guys like Mondanno (88) and Khatcuk (90). The media felt like crap and embarrased, because their nation does not have quality players. Russia had Ovechkin and Malkin in 04. Crosby in 05. And now they want their own poster child to brag about. (Americans Sidney Crosby) ya know, I really wish, that guy took that quote back. If he wasnt listed as "Americas Crosby" alot of fans would appreciate him more. Just some rising superstar comming out of the states is good enough. I didnt see Canada saying, "Canadas anserw to Ovechkin" none of that crap. Now that hes nowhere in Crosbys leauge, we are kicking the crap outa him, because he was suppose to be something special out of America. Obviously Sidney Crosby already set an unbelievable standard for his name, by the time anyone heard of Phil Kessel. THe one quote I wish they took back was, "Americas anserw to Sidney Crosby" LIke Cmon. Sidney Crosby comes in as an 18 year old, and is leading his team in scoring. When was the last time a 18 year old came into the leauge and led his team in scoring through almost half the season? Can anyone tell me? Thx.

Anyways.... I think Kessel is gonna be a real awesome player down the road. Hes gonna be better then Horton, Zherdev, Nash, Staal and Toews Gaborik. I thought he was just awesome in the US v Canada game. His inside /out move or vice versa will be wiped off the face of the earth in the NHL. He also have to be way stronger with the puck. Highly explosive with the puck, but is easily knocked off the puck. but Hes gonna be a great player.

btw, guys like Gaborik, Staal, Horton, Zherdev, Nash, Lecavlier, Kovalchuk, did not have nearly the same numbers as Crosby. infact, none of them came close to leading their team in scoring right out of draft.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

well you really cant blame the fans, when infact it was your media hype from your own country that said " Americans Sidney Crosby."

Uh, exactly what US based media said that? All that I've ever seen and heard about Kessel has come from Canadian media. The US media hardly even cover the NHL let alone some kid that's playin college hockey. There is really no need to make this some Canada vs US thing.

 

[AgentNaslund*]

Uh, exactly what US based media said that? All that I've ever seen and heard about Kessel has come from Canadian media. The US media hardly even cover the NHL let alone some kid that's playin college hockey. There is really no need to make this some Canada vs US thing.

I saw it on a USA today website. I can quote it word for word and this comming from an American.

"Americans Anserw to Sidney Crosby" that quote was from the same time this year during the world juniors.

Everyone knows what im talking about.