John Eichel da GOAT
Registered User
- Oct 7, 2008
- 6,486
- 2,097
Offensively great. Defensively average.
On a joke of a team with a bunch of average players around him. Send him to a real team and he'd help them raise cups.
On a joke of a team with a bunch of average players around him. Send him to a real team and he'd help them raise cups.
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
A superstar forward who unfortunately very early on got tagged "the American Crosby"...something that has been impossible to live up to. From that moment forward people have hated on this guy with many wanting/hoping he never would make it...
then he gets traded for half a team it seemed, and again has to live up to that mess that he again didn't put himself in. thanks Burke for that one, put the spotlight back on him for the haters..
yes he is awkward and shy, and cares mostly about offense, but he is an amazing talent who needs to be on the right team like the Hawks or Boston or even Nashville that doesn't need him to be the star, just the offensive force he is....and what will help him is to get out of that media spotlight of Toronto and just go to a place where he isn't the face of the team and can just concentrate on playing hockey as you can tell that's all he cares about doing.
the hate for Kessel on here has been absurd and anyone saying they wouldn't want a consistent 35 plus goal scorer who does set up teammates as well is crazy...
then he gets traded for half a team it seemed, and again has to live up to that mess that he again didn't put himself in. thanks Burke for that one, put the spotlight back on him for the haters..
yes he is awkward and shy, and cares mostly about offense, but he is an amazing talent who needs to be on the right team like the Hawks or Boston or even Nashville that doesn't need him to be the star, just the offensive force he is....and what will help him is to get out of that media spotlight of Toronto and just go to a place where he isn't the face of the team and can just concentrate on playing hockey as you can tell that's all he cares about doing.
the hate for Kessel on here has been absurd and anyone saying they wouldn't want a consistent 35 plus goal scorer who does set up teammates as well is crazy...
Players of Phil Kessels skills and abilities are rarely available in trade or free agency.
His consistent numbers over the years tell a lot.
If Toronto trades Phil he will be missed as a person and player. His production would be impossible to replace.
His consistent numbers over the years tell a lot.
If Toronto trades Phil he will be missed as a person and player. His production would be impossible to replace.
Deuce Awesome
Registered User
- Feb 23, 2010
- 2,456
- 710
Bingo
Dude is an introvert.....I can relate. I find dealing with people physically exhausting. Being cast into the spotlight in Toronto and still being able to produce year in year out shows just how talented he is.
Must say I am happy with the amount of respect shown in this thread by other fanbases. With accurate praises and critiques, shows you guys know your stuff.
I am a life long Leaf fan; we haven't had a sniper like this since Clark, and it's sad to see how it is all being handled.
We don't deserve Phil, and he will be dealt to a top tier team, and quietly score 30-40 while playing 80+ games for the next 7 years.
Pros - fast, great shot, good offensive instincts
Cons - lazy, selfish, soft, not a leader, bad defensively, doesn't seem to care much about team success
Cons - lazy, selfish, soft, not a leader, bad defensively, doesn't seem to care much about team success
Deuce Awesome
Registered User
- Feb 23, 2010
- 2,456
- 710
I don't get that from him at all. He smashes sticks, and gets pissed off when we are losing. Shows some emotion anyways. The not caring about team success was always a trait of #13 (sundin) to me. Although a lot of Leafs fans will bash me for saying that.
I don't understand how people say this. Kessel isn't over paid and its far from a bad contract. Bobby Ryan makes 7, Kane is making 10. Kessel is making 8. Pretty reasonable.
dubey
$$$$$$$*NICE*$$$$$$$ 69 in 79 $$$$$$$*NICE*$$$$$$$
Whole post didn't make sense. I believe that was the point he was trying to make.
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I feel like he's more pissed about his individual struggles than the team's. We've heard the stories about him refusing to switch wings or being against changes to the breakout which seems like an anti-team attitude to me. He wants things set up in a way that's best for him, not necessarily the team.
To make a long story short , the day the Leafs will decide to trade Kessel they will regret their move . He's not the perfect player to have on a team but at the end of the day when you weigh the pros and cons there's no question that you shouldnt trade him .
Toronto must be very careful with him and think twice b4 pulling a trade , because it has all the ingredient of a disaster waiting to happen
Toronto must be very careful with him and think twice b4 pulling a trade , because it has all the ingredient of a disaster waiting to happen
Pip
Registered User
Toronto is the wrong place for Phil Kessel to play.
Some of the expectations placed on him off the ice are ridiculous. You don't look to a socially awkward person to be outgoing and gregarious acting as a leader and a spokesman. Pretty sure we've all met someone who was somewhat withdrawn and lost in a crowd but came to life when among close friends.
Because he isn't what the fans and media want in the way of an outgoing charismatic face of the team, they've taken to attacking all aspects of his character.
He is a talented offensive hockey player that is not strong defensively. He's occasion made an effort to backcheck but seems indifferent at times.
He plays on a **** show of a team and gets torn down in the media.
I wonder how he would do in a better environment.
Some of the expectations placed on him off the ice are ridiculous. You don't look to a socially awkward person to be outgoing and gregarious acting as a leader and a spokesman. Pretty sure we've all met someone who was somewhat withdrawn and lost in a crowd but came to life when among close friends.
Because he isn't what the fans and media want in the way of an outgoing charismatic face of the team, they've taken to attacking all aspects of his character.
He is a talented offensive hockey player that is not strong defensively. He's occasion made an effort to backcheck but seems indifferent at times.
He plays on a **** show of a team and gets torn down in the media.
I wonder how he would do in a better environment.
Diatomic
Mitch Matthewlander
Its easy to call him lazy or fat or shy if you don't watch him constantly, I've watched Kessel his whole time on the leafs and I even have trouble giving myself an opinion on him. He's an amazing offensive talent but at the same time he isn't someone who can take charge and lead a team (we all know this). I can't help but feel sorry for the guy, if he had a decent centre to play with I can guarantee he wouldn't get all this crap, in fact he would be a praised. He's had to carry a piece of **** his whole career and yet he still defends bozak. I swear to god he could be a 100pt player if his centerman was good. Bozak hasn't even passed 50points.
I hope he gets traded just so that he can have a peaceful life and a successful end to his career, as well as seeing bozak get sent to Europe once everyone sees how garbage he is without kessel to carry him.
I hope he gets traded just so that he can have a peaceful life and a successful end to his career, as well as seeing bozak get sent to Europe once everyone sees how garbage he is without kessel to carry him.
McPuritania
LucicDestroyedHaley
I think Kessel is an elite player that gets crapped on needlessly. HF is ridiculously hard on offensive minded wingers who don't have Selke calibre defensive play.
Don'tcry4mejanhrdina
Registered User
One of the best goal scorers in the league. His production has been extremely consistent year to year. One dimensional offensive player but he's very very good at it.
molsonmuscle360
Registered User
I think he's a great player, and if he was in Edmonton he'd be The Nuge's best friend. Those 2 would play hockey, then go and play video games.
It's tough watching him when he's the best player on the team. I could tolerate his softness if this team had a 1C and 1D, but we don't. Hate Kessel, always have, always will.
I have no doubt that the pros vastly outweigh the cons with Phil.
And if we trade him even tho we should get very good assets in return for him it will be a trade we will still likely lose on paper.
But the Leafs are an extremely flawed team that needs to be rebuilt, quick fixes arent going to work and its going to take several seasons to do this. It isnt Kessel's fault the team is that bad but it would be a waste of Phil's prime years and the asset value within them to keep him through a full rebuild.
And that IMO is why Phill should be traded.
Do Make Say Think
& Yet & Yet
- Jun 26, 2007
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