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

[ryz]

On a Fatigued US team Kessel is the only one regularly scoring. He was instrumental in getting his team on the board against the Fins and Czechs.

I agree, Oshie has been brilliant as well - for what he is supposed to be doing, but to say the leading WJC scorer doesn't deserve to be on a tournament "all-star team" is pretty ridiculous and wholly unfounded. Kessel has been there when his team needed him for what he is supposed to do - get points.



No you wouldn't. That's as close to a bold faced lie as I've ever seen. Toews is doing nothing, but no one except Big Bert has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Toews so far. Instead you elect to spend your every waking moment trying in vain to tear down the WJC leading scorer for some bizarre reason.


-

I gotta ask. Why is the US team any more fatigued than anyone else? Some teams had 10+ hour flights to get to vancouver when the US had a short bus ride. The US was one of the freshest teams entering the tourney. You excuses for the USA and Kessel lack of ability to impress are laughable. Or are you even here today?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I agree...I think if you talk to most college hockey fans that have seen the Gophers play they would tell you that they've seen his game mature this year.

I saw Kessel as a Bantam. He dominated with his speed and in/out drag move (probably why he still overuses it today). At that level, he did not need to develop the other aspects of his game. He simply blew around people.

Now, against players that are closer to his skill he needs to adapt. He's a different player today than he was at the beginning of the college hockey season. Hopefully his game will continue to progress.

Good points. I think the next year and a half will tell the true story about what kind of player he CAN be. He's shown alot of progress already at Minnesota and needs to continue that forward progression.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I gotta ask. Why is the US team any more fatigued than anyone else? Some teams had 10+ hour flights to get to vancouver when the US had a short bus ride. The US was one of the freshest teams entering the tourney. You excuses for the USA and Kessel lack of ability to impress are laughable. Or are you even here today?

Well, the U.S. (and Finland) did have to play the extra game, and the games the U.S. played prior to playing Russia were very close and physically and mentally draining. Yeah, Russia was the better team, but who knows what would have happened if the U.S. would have scored one more goal against either Switzerland or Canada? The fact is, the teams that get the bye have a big advantage, and I think the record shows that.

 

[Sammy*]

I think it's fair to say that Kessel has alot of growing up to do mentally and phyically before he's able to do well at the next level. A year or two more of college under Lucia would probably do him a world of good. He's a very talented player who needs to refine his strengths, work on his weaknesses, and expand his repetoire. He'll probably need a healthy dose of humility as well.

I basically agree.He seems to have a boatload aof talent but I think his age in terms of physical & mental maturity really stood out for me. I think, given another year if he plays in this tourney you will see a much more refined & stronger Kessell.
But I do have a few concerns how smart a player he is, but maturity often cures that.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I basically agree.He seems to have a boatload aof talent but I think his age in terms of physical & mental maturity really stood out for me. I think, given another year if he plays in this tourney you will see a much more refined & stronger Kessell.
But I do have a few concerns how smart a player he is, but maturity often cures that.

Kessel is a player that has basically had his way his whole career. He's been able to do certain things (like his inside/outside move) and get away with it, and now he's encountered some resistance, and he's been exposed a bit. I still think he's a great prospect, but he has some work to do.

 

[Rick Middleton]

You want to make a comparison for Kessel? Look no further than Spezza. His OHL moves didn't cut it in his first year in the NHL, but now he's tearing it up. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kessel turn out like Spezza. Just wait till the kid is 22-23 before you render final judgement.

 

[Tundra]

Crosby is immensely more creative with the puck and without, Crosby has just as good of a shot, Crosby may be not quite as quick but there isnt much fall off if any, I also dont think that anyone has found a way to stop crosby as I think he is more all around than Kessel.

I agree with nearly all your points except the one equating Crosby's shot with Kessel. Kessel possesses markmanship, velocity and a release that surpasses Crosby. Kessel has "60 goal hands" but given the variables in the NHL in terms of linemates, systems, injuries, player maturity, etc., it would be foolhardy to predict 40 for the young tike as of today. However, Crosby is a few notches above as a playmaker.

 

[jaydub*]

I gotta ask. Why is the US team any more fatigued than anyone else? Some teams had 10+ hour flights to get to vancouver when the US had a short bus ride. The US was one of the freshest teams entering the tourney. You excuses for the USA and Kessel lack of ability to impress are laughable. Or are you even here today?

Umm please tell me this post was a joke? The mode of transportation should be the key to determining how fatigued a team is? The USA team played 4 games in 5 days, correct? That would probably be why they are fatigued.

 

[shaner8989]

im sorry but Kessel is far to overrated. all he does is take a dman 1 on 1, and it does nothing for him. he gets stopped every time. the kid has some skill no doubt, but there is no comparing him to crosby, and i dont even like crosby.

THERE IS NO COMPARISON

 

[MN_Gopher]

im sorry but Kessel is far to overrated. all he does is take a dman 1 on 1, and it does nothing for him. he gets stopped every time. the kid has some skill no doubt, but there is no comparing him to crosby, and i dont even like crosby.

THERE IS NO COMPARISON

How does a move that gets you nothing lead a team in points. And is second in Minnesota in scoring. I guess nothing gets you points now a days.

 

[Daily Special]

You want to make a comparison for Kessel? Look no further than Spezza. His OHL moves didn't cut it in his first year in the NHL, but now he's tearing it up. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kessel turn out like Spezza. Just wait till the kid is 22-23 before you render final judgement.

^ I agree with the mod.

 

[habster]

... However, Crosby is a few notches above as a playmaker.

Try huge amount. Kessel has tunnel vision everytime he has the puck on his stick. If he could learn to use his linemates more, he would be a better player.

 

[ryz]

^ I agree with the mod.

I'm a little suprised you logged on today. After all the utter crap you have been spitting over the past week I thought you were gonna run and hide for the next week. Props to you for showing up.

 

[time]

How does a move that gets you nothing lead a team in points. And is second in Minnesota in scoring. I guess nothing gets you points now a days.

Okay, just one more time I'll point out the obvious: Kessel is "second" in Minn scoring at 18?! Wow, move over Gretzky.

Corsby led junior hockey in scoring at 16 and last night scored his 21st goal in the NHL, as an 18 year-old.

Kessel a good player, but your repeated attempts to inflate his accomplishments betray a lack of perpspective.

 

[Transported Upstater]

Kessel is a player that has basically had his way his whole career. He's been able to do certain things (like his inside/outside move) and get away with it, and now he's encountered some resistance, and he's been exposed a bit. I still think he's a great prospect, but he has some work to do.

Agreed.

If their was a "USA Prospects" forum on this board, I would make you the moderator.

 

[Sammy*]

You want to make a comparison for Kessel? Look no further than Spezza. His OHL moves didn't cut it in his first year in the NHL, but now he's tearing it up. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kessel turn out like Spezza. Just wait till the kid is 22-23 before you render final judgement.

Oh, I kinda agree but while Spezzas moves didnt cut it (& imo it was not because of the moves theselves, it was because he wasnt as quick then), Spezza always had phenomenal vision & passing skills.
Therin lies a huge difference (maybe).

 

[Transported Upstater]

Oh, I kinda agree but while Spezzas moves didnt cut it (& imo it was not because of the moves theselves, it was because he wasnt as quick then), Spezza always had phenomenal vision & passing skills.
Therin lies a huge difference (maybe).

Agreed partly. Truthfully, I don't see the same vision in Kessel that I see in Jason Spezza, though I saw only a little bit of Spezza in his OHL days.

I think Kessel's NHL future lies at wing, and that he is a pure scorer with outstanding speed. Kind of stylistically like Mike Gartner in that sense.

 

[Refuse]

To nitpick a little, Modano and Lafontaine played in an even more wide open NHL and it took them a number of years respectively until were able to put up 90 point seasons, which is what Crosby is on pace for right away, at 18. They weren't on Crosby's level, either.

You call this new non-hook/hold NHL NOT wide open?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Oh, I kinda agree but while Spezzas moves didnt cut it (& imo it was not because of the moves theselves, it was because he wasnt as quick then), Spezza always had phenomenal vision & passing skills.
Therin lies a huge difference (maybe).

Kessel is no Spezza when it comes to playmaking, that's for sure. In a way, he reminds of a Kovachuk or Bure (not that he's a sure bet to have their careers by any stretch): goal scorers who are actually pretty good passers but whose bread & butter is putting the puck in the net.

 

[Flash Walken]

I was completely underwhelmed by kessel in this tournament. He was a complete non-factor in the game vs. canada.

 

[Sammy*]

Kessel is no Spezza when it comes to playmaking, that's for sure. In a way, he reminds of a Kovachuk or Bure (not that he's a sure bet to have their careers by any stretch): goal scorers who are actually pretty good passers but whose bread & butter is putting the puck in the net.

Exactly.

 

[Epsilon]

Comparisons to Kovalchuk and Bure don't work either. In Kovalchuk's case, he's got strength and size that Kessel can only dream of, plus more weapons. In Bure's case, he'd invent moves on the spot to get around defensemen, at full speed, as opposed to Kessel and his one move that he does every single time.

 

[Phanuthier*]

I think it's fair to say that Kessel has alot of growing up to do mentally and phyically before he's able to do well at the next level. A year or two more of college under Lucia would probably do him a world of good. He's a very talented player who needs to refine his strengths, work on his weaknesses, and expand his repetoire. He'll probably need a healthy dose of humility as well.

Well the one thing Kessel really has going for him is that he plays in a very respeted development organization in Minnisota

 

[Phanuthier*]

You want to make a comparison for Kessel? Look no further than Spezza. His OHL moves didn't cut it in his first year in the NHL, but now he's tearing it up. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kessel turn out like Spezza. Just wait till the kid is 22-23 before you render final judgement.

Credit a very strong Ottawa system

That is why I think one of the most important factors to consider is that Kessel plays for Golden Gophers.

 

[Phanuthier*]

Look, I'm just trying to show Kessel some support here. The anti-Kessel bias on this forum is ridiculous, and I think it's coming from one area; Canada. IMO, Canadians are none too pleased they don't have the #1, or even #2 or #3 top draft-eligible talent for the first time in a long time, and they are taking every opportunity to bash Kessel, to knock him down a notch.

And that's why many of us would rather take... E Johnson?

Honestly, I couldn't care less if they were Canadian, US or Russian. If I am holding the No 1 pick, I pick the best player available not just a Canadian.