Ovi "Leafs its not a Kessel problem, its a team problem".

[Gardner McKay]

A lot of users on here have been criticizing Kessel as a player for leafs saying he is the reason they aren't winning and such. Here is another example of a knowledgeable guy acknowledging Kessel is not the problem including Bob MacKenzie the other night.

He also said if he was in Kessel's shoes he wouldn't talk to the media (which is funny because you know what the reaction would be).

here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8zbbzOF4s

Not surprised by this. It is a very large personnel problem. Not a 1 player problem.

 

[ottawa]

OV RUSKIE GENIUS

/s

Glad he's defending Phil but anyone with half a brain realizes this. Phil is about the only bright spot in Toronto.

What did you expect him to cite out and say? Kessel is the problem in Toronto?

 

[leafsgirl12]

I would really love some evidence of his "lack of conditioning" or "bad attitude" because its literally all conjecture and listening to this constant ******** from people who know nothing about the Toronto Maple Leafs or Phil Kessel is really getting old.

i agree kessel is not the issue. true he hasn't been scoring but he has been trying and backchecking. i don't think kessel has a bad attitude.

 

[TOML]

TO and Washington have the same amount of goals-for, but TO has 20 more goals-against.

Safe to say that Nonis still has some work to do on the defense.

He needs to trade picks/prospects now in order to improve the defense. Two top-4 vets are needed immediately.

 

[buttman*]

Put Patrick Kane on the Leafs and put Kessel on the Hawks -- see what happens.

 

[buttman*]

TO and Washington have the same amount of goals-for, but TO has 20 more goals-against.

Safe to say that Nonis still has some work to do on the defense.

He needs to trade picks/prospects now in order to improve the defense. Two top-4 vets are needed immediately.

Defense in the NHL and almost any league nowadays is a result of all 5 players. Leafs need centers that can help out down low. They have the weakest defensive centers in the league. Right now they only have 2 NHL centers -- Bozak and Kadri -- both are weak defensively.

 

[Devourers]

Rich mans Kessel defends poor mans Ovy.

 

[Tripod]

Defense in the NHL and almost any league nowadays is a result of all 5 players. Leafs need centers that can help out down low. They have the weakest defensive centers in the league. Right now they only have 2 NHL centers -- Bozak and Kadri -- both are weak defensively.

I will say...the other day...Aaron Ward(normally an idiot) broke down some plays by Kessel and Bozak and how they played defense.

For Kessel, they showed how he would often cheat on defense...and it was planned...and he was often the guy leading the rush...which he likes.

Then he showed what the new coach is going and how now Kessel is not leading the rush anymore and it is effecting his play. He was going more east and west vs north/south.

And for Bozak, he showed how bad his coverage was on a bunch of defensive plays....said he was lost in the defensive zone.

Then just said JVR is the same way.

The whole top line struggles defensively becaus none of them are good at all defensively. Simple as that. Their best defense was trying to be in the other guys zone.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

He gets way too much flak for his game despite being an outstanding player. It’s got to be part of the larger “it’s ok to make fun of the Leafs” mindset, kind of like the Jets in the NFL, where good players get placed under the circus tent.

 

[depthwins*]

A lot of users on here have been criticizing Kessel as a player for leafs saying he is the reason they aren't winning and such. Here is another example of a knowledgeable guy acknowledging Kessel is not the problem including Bob MacKenzie the other night.

He also said if he was in Kessel's shoes he wouldn't talk to the media (which is funny because you know what the reaction would be).

here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8zbbzOF4s

For starters, Kessel is fat. This shows a lack of dedication to his game. When he stops being the Pillsbury Dough Boy, then people can defend him.

 

[Nordique]

My opinion of Ovie has changed over the last week, and really over this season. I see a guy driven less by individual accolades, and more by team success. He's maturing and I think he's going to be more dangerous than ever to opposing teams.

 

[Brooklanders*]

To me Ovie should be the face of the NHL and not Crosby.

Yes Crosby is the best player but Alex has the better personality. For some strange reason the NHL seems afraid to put a Russia in the spotlight.

He is clearly stating the obvious here.

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

People need to stop hating on Phil.
as everyone has said the Leafs problems are way deeper than him.

 

[mustardnight*]

No. it's Kessel AND the team. His attitude and lack of conditioning...the team is just terrible.

Except Kessel is a part of the team and therefore it would be redundant to mention him AND the team, hence the issue.

 

[Pyrophorus]

When it comes to some hockey issues, Cherry can be right.

I think he's right when he says, he would tell Kessel, just to go, play offense.

People (and our own fans) know what has to be done, and since he will never be able to play that style, and being the highest paid player, he gets the flack.

 

[tony d]

While Kessel could be better Ovie's right the problems for the Leafs are far beyond Kessel's reach.

 

[CanadienShark]

Ovechkin is a really hard guy to dislike.

 

[Jerkini]

He's not wrong though. Kessel is by himself. It reminds me of what Bobby Ryan said the other day. I've no doubt teams have entire defensive schemes designed around shutting Phil Kessel down. There's no one else to pick up the slack in those situations. There's no one to tell him "No worries Phil, i got this". He can look down the entire bench and he'll see no one that can help him. There's no one on this team even close to being able to do what he does. He does have the weight of the world on his shoulders. I feel for the guy.

 

[Vladiator16*]

As long as people expect Kessel to play like somebody else (like Datsuyk, Zetts or any other defensive forward) he'll aways have this "fat, lazy, uninterested" label... Which is complete BS, because thats not his game. He is there to score. Has he ever been physical or defensive minded? I think not. So why are the expectations of it at such peak now? He is a speedy sniper as he always has been, thats his game. You knew what you were getting from the start... So i would say, surround him with the appropriate line mates and let him do what he knows how to do.

 

[Canadian Game]

For starters, Kessel is fat. This shows a lack of dedication to his game. When he stops being the Pillsbury Dough Boy, then people can defend him.

Wow, really? So I guess he's a slow skater too eh? Out of curiosity, who would win between Kessel and Seguin in a foot race

I'm now liking these "Kessel is out of shape" posts. Just shows how stupid some people really are.

 

[Deflectrick]

To me Ovie should be the face of the NHL and not Crosby.

Yes Crosby is the best player but Alex has the better personality. For some strange reason the NHL seems afraid to put a Russia in the spotlight.

He is clearly stating the obvious here.

They certainly aren't Russian to put Ovechkin in the spotlight.

 

[AINEC*]

Kessel's fatness and lack of conditioning has been CONFIRMED.

Source: HFBoards Posters

 

[revolverjgw]

To me Ovie should be the face of the NHL and not Crosby.

Yes Crosby is the best player but Alex has the better personality. For some strange reason the NHL seems afraid to put a Russia in the spotlight.

He is clearly stating the obvious here.

Nobody really cares about personality though. Gretzky wasn't/isn't the face of hockey because of his charisma or controversial insight, he has none. Go watch wrestling if you want to see some colorful personalities cutting promos.

Hockey players are boring as hell, and it doesn't matter

 

[Frank the Tank]

Is that why Ovechkin refused to do interviews in English during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. He was worried the Canadian media would pick on him? Anyways, he is just stating what numerous other players stated about Kessel over the weekend (e.g., comments made Toews during the player All-Star draft).

Nonetheless, there is a reason star players love to play in the US markets. They can focus on playing hockey and leading a somewhat more private life owing to the fraction of media coverage they receive compared to the intense spotlight that are the Canadian markets.

 

[Serenade]

I wonder how things would of shaped up if Josh Georges agreed to be traded to Toronto. His leadership and ability mentor younger players would have been very helpful for them. Was that one of the main reasons they went after him in the off season?