Kessel, JvR, and Kulemin in Sochi

[leafsfuture]

Chicago's captain has lead his team to 2 X Stanley Cup and earned a Conn Smythe trophy in the process. His character and leadership is through the roof.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Toews given the assignment to go head to head against Kessel's line and Bergeron asked to keep Kane in check. Both team Canada players playing 200ft games.

That is of course if its Canada verses USA in the semi finals baring any upsets.

I dont disagree about his leadership skills, and personally If I was Babcock I would have seriously considered making him our Captain.

That being said, this whole 2x Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe thing is getting a bit out of hand. Dont get me wrong, hes the leader of the closest thing we will get to a dynasty in the modern era, but when Patrick Kane is your wingman, and you have Duncan Kieth on defence you have a lot of help.

For example I have read legitimate news articles that have called him a "sure fire Hall of Famer", and maybe he might end up one, but sometimes his skill level gets a tad overrated because of (as everyone like to joke about) the intangibles.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Cool, Kuli was on the pp with malkin, setting up a screen. Made a good play to get the puck back to his player after the player lost it. But he stepped out of the way of a shot too fast and the goalie saved it easily.

Nice to see him given that opportunity.

 

[ULF_55]

Please stay on topic.

One word and smilie is considered spam and if you keep it up you'll be banned from the thread.

 

[achtungbaby]

Not too bad of an option.

I guess the question is:
a) Is Kessel a 30 goal, 75 point player that's having a one off ridiculous year?
b) Or is Kessel a 45 goal 100 point guy who is finally having his breakout season?

If it's option a (which I think is the much more likely option), wouldn't be too bad of a decision.
But if he turned out to actually be option b... we would look pretty silly.

Shhhh.... Don't even mention life without Kessel. If the Leafs fall off another cliff after the Olympic break, trading Kessel should definitely be considered carefully. Kessel's best season to date has come in a contract year, hopefully that had nothing to do with it. He'll be 27 to start the season and will either be entering his prime, if you subscribe to the traditional prime years being 27-32, or his prime years are close to over if you subscribe to what other folks believe (that prime years end between 27 and 29 on average). Either way the Leafs have a window of 2-5 years where Kessel will be at his best. Are we going to be cup contenders during that time frame?

If you don't want to be attacked the answer is "yes". We'd need a few prospects to seamlessly make the jump to the bigshow and have a lot of other things go our way for that to happen. My heart wants to believe it by my head tells me it's not likely. Who knows though, just my opinion.

 

[Mess]

With Russia's win today all Leaf players are still in the medal race.

Kulemin takes on the Fins next.

 

[SprDaVE]

Not too bad of an option.

I guess the question is:
a) Is Kessel a 30 goal, 75 point player that's having a one off ridiculous year?
b) Or is Kessel a 45 goal 100 point guy who is finally having his breakout season?

If it's option a (which I think is the much more likely option), wouldn't be too bad of a decision.
But if he turned out to actually be option b... we would look pretty silly.

For someone that's so against mediocrity, entertaining the idea of trading Kessel is so against what you want to accomplish.

You build with him on the team, not without. The guy just turned 26 years old back in October, has put up a few 30 goal campaigns all ready with PPG campaigns. He's always been pretty much healthy as well, which is unheard of in pro hockey. You have to be a special kind of idiot, no offence, to be against mediocrity but then to turn around suggesting trading Kessel may be a decent option because of some weird reasoning.

Trading him will very likely put us back into a tail spin of uncertainty, if not worst then mediocrity.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

You don't think Kessel is having a career year so far?

He is, but I think he's shown that he's more than just a 75 point player.

 

[SprDaVE]

Funny how the goal posts keep moving for Kessel. First he wasn't a first line player, then he wasn't a franchise player, and now the best people can do is say he isn't the best player in the league, and try to pretend he isn't good enough to produce 80+ points even though he's been producing more than that for 3 years now.

I don't think people realize how this is actually a compliment to Kessel, being compared to the best in the league, even if some say he's not quite as good as some of them.

Considering the hate, humiliation and finger pointing Kessel, the Leafs and us the fans have suffered through the last few years, I'm quite ecstatic to have one of the best offensive players in the league even if he isn't the best.

This trade has turned out so well for us.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't think people realize how this is actually a compliment to Kessel, being compared to the best in the league, even if some say he's not quite as good as some of them.

Considering the hate, humiliation and finger pointing Kessel, the Leafs and us the fans have suffered through the last few years, I'm quite ecstatic to have one of the best offensive players in the league even if he isn't the best.

This trade has turned out so well for us.

I did not like the trade, I thought it was premature.

How can you not like Kessel though?

Who won it?

I think we'll have to wait and see the outcome on that.

Too many are quick to decide without knowing the results, whether it is calling a prospect a star or bust, or trade a win or loss.

I really don't care what he does for an opposition(Americans) team though.

 

[achtungbaby]

I did not like the trade, I thought it was premature.

How can you not like Kessel though?

Who won it?

I think we'll have to wait and see the outcome on that.

Too many are quick to decide without knowing the results, whether it is calling a prospect a star or bust, or trade a win or loss.

Pretty much how I felt. The moment those picks were gone we weren't patiently rebuilding and letting the chips fall where they may, we were trying to improve the team immediately to make sure those picks weren't too high. Also, if we were going to go all in like that, I would have preferred a center or a top defensemen.

Kessel is a heck of a player though, can't deny that.

 

[SprDaVE]

I did not like the trade, I thought it was premature.

How can you not like Kessel though?

Who won it?

I think we'll have to wait and see the outcome on that.

Too many are quick to decide without knowing the results, whether it is calling a prospect a star or bust, or trade a win or loss.

I really don't care what he does for an opposition(Americans) team though.

Tough to call a winner here but either way I don't really care to declare who actually won. All I know is that we have a player that we can build with for the next few years at the very least.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Tough to call a winner here but either way I don't really care to declare who actually won. All I know is that we have a player that we can build with for the next few years at the very least.

We have Kessel to build around......AND we have 24 year old, former 2nd overall pick JVR to build around.......AND two of our own very high draft picks in Kadri and Rielly to build around, too. We haven't had that much pure and upcoming skill in years.

Those four right there are on par, or soon will be on par with, ANY "four great YOUNG pieces" on ANY team in the league. And Kessel is simply the best of our bunch.

It's a good bunch, and fun to watch.

 

[The Podium]

Not too bad of an option.

I guess the question is:
a) Is Kessel a 30 goal, 75 point player that's having a one off ridiculous year?
b) Or is Kessel a 45 goal 100 point guy who is finally having his breakout season?

If it's option a (which I think is the much more likely option), wouldn't be too bad of a decision.
But if he turned out to actually be option b... we would look pretty silly.

So a near 200 games over a point per game and you question whether this season is an outlier? I know you have questionable opinions and that is on your own terms but to blatantly ignore fact is borderline delusional

 

[Trainspotter]

So a near 200 games over a point per game and you question whether this season is an outlier? I know you have questionable opinions and that is on your own terms but to blatantly ignore fact is borderline delusional

More like Standard Operating Procedure around these parts.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Shhhh.... Don't even mention life without Kessel. If the Leafs fall off another cliff after the Olympic break, trading Kessel should definitely be considered carefully. Kessel's best season to date has come in a contract year, hopefully that had nothing to do with it. He'll be 27 to start the season and will either be entering his prime, if you subscribe to the traditional prime years being 27-32, or his prime years are close to over if you subscribe to what other folks believe (that prime years end between 27 and 29 on average). Either way the Leafs have a window of 2-5 years where Kessel will be at his best. Are we going to be cup contenders during that time frame?

If you don't want to be attacked the answer is "yes". We'd need a few prospects to seamlessly make the jump to the bigshow and have a lot of other things go our way for that to happen. My heart wants to believe it by my head tells me it's not likely. Who knows though, just my opinion.

Which season are you talking about? He's has one ppg, 1 above ppg and is currently above ppg this season. Maybe you should be shh'ing yourself.

 

[achtungbaby]

Which season are you talking about? He's has one ppg, 1 above ppg and is currently above ppg this season. Maybe you should be shh'ing yourself.

I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Care to clarify?

 

[con310*]

You don't think Kessel is having a career year so far?

you think that Kessel is a 70 point player? Where have you been may I ask?

 

[Schennanigans]

How has Kulemin been doing?

 

[achtungbaby]

The average is about 27-32. Kessel is a guy who will still be scoring until he 36-37.

You're a traditionalist in that sense. This article has the average NHLer playing their best years from 24-27. Their research was done in 2010 though, who knows what the data looks like now. There's not a whole lot of guys who produce a lot into their mid 30's, what about Kessel makes you think he's one of them? I'm not saying he won't be, I just believe it's impossible to determine.

 

[Mikeyg]

leaf's lunch is saying that big phil is the greatest player in the world right now, its being live steamed on tsn

 

[SprDaVE]

How has Kulemin been doing?

Pretty much the same role on the Leafs. Doing the little things well, not really dominating or anything like that.

 

[Cor]

You're a traditionalist in that sense. This article has the average NHLer playing their best years from 24-27. Their research was done in 2010 though, who knows what the data looks like now. There's not a whole lot of guys who produce a lot into their mid 30's, what about Kessel makes you think he's one of them? I'm not saying he won't be, I just believe it's impossible to determine.

The style he plays. He's not physical, has really only had one injury (his shoulder), his only other serious injuries were Cancer and Mono.

His body has a lot less wear and tear then most others in the NHL. Usually leads to a longer life span.

Obviously it is impossible to predict, but as of right now, chances are high that Kessel will produce into his mid 30's

 

[The Podium]

You're a traditionalist in that sense. This article has the average NHLer playing their best years from 24-27. Their research was done in 2010 though, who knows what the data looks like now. There's not a whole lot of guys who produce a lot into their mid 30's, what about Kessel makes you think he's one of them? I'm not saying he won't be, I just believe it's impossible to determine.

Plays a lot like Selanne, you don't hit and rely on speed smarts and release these aren't things that tend to wear down.

 

[achtungbaby]

Plays a lot like Selanne, you don't hit and rely on speed smarts and release these aren't things that tend to wear down.

True enough, though we should note that Selanne was always known for keeping himself in tremendous shape. Even Kessels biggest fans wouldn't accuse him of the same. Let's hope Phil turns into a gym rat as he ages.

 

[Schennanigans]

Strange that tsn doesn't have boxscores for these games.