AndrewGForbesTHW
Registered User
Let's not forget too that scoring was down a massive amount last season - does it happen again this season? Possibly. Means 45 goals could get you top three in the league.
I don't know, but I can see Crosby and Malkin taking a lot of the shots that Kessel would normally take so I am not sure where a massive goal increase would come from
It's OV's to lose. One thing Kessel can not do is stop if he has the lead. I remember this happened two times in the last 3 years. One was the lockout year. Stamkos had 23 goals and I believe OV had like 17 or 18. OV started to tear it up and he passed Stamkos when they played the Lightning when both of them had 25. The other was last season. OV had 17 goals. The leader had 24. OV caught up with 9 goals to make it 26. He tied with Nash at the ASG, then passed the leader a few games later and never looked back.
That implies the stopping isn't just natural regression for both the players in the lead and for Ovechkin.
But I see what you're saying. Ovechkin has had a knack for comebacks and then blowing competition out of the water.
His wrist shot is probably his most dangerous shot, considering how quick he lets it go but his slappers are solid too. He just doesn't use it as much.
Crosby and Malkin are pass first players, expect Kessel to have the majority of shots as Neal did. His PP production is going to sky rocket this year, I expect him to have a career goal scoring year if everyone stays healthy(which isn't likely).
He might have been using a different stick back then. He definitely was on that Bauer pro camp video where he had a 102 mph shot.
Kessel's current wet noodle stick has so much flex that it's probably physically impossible to take a slapper more than 80 mph. He uses possibly the lowest flex in the entire NHL. Teammates have tried out his stick at practices and can't even use it. And he tried to take a one timer a few times on the PP last season and I think fanned on 90% of them. For all intents and purposes he just doesn't have a slapper in his arsenal.
No slapper isn't a bad thing because his snap shot is the best in the league in both velocity and release, but means he's going to score fewer goals than people think due to no one timers. On the PP he likes to rotate off the left half wall into the slot and take quick snap shots against a screen, or threaten shot and pass to the weak side. He'll create a lot of rebound and one-timer opportunities for Crosby and Malkin.
I actually see Crosby + Malkin's goal scoring increasing more than Kessel's as a result of the trade. Though maybe Kessel will whip out a stiff stick now that he's got a better partner?
If Ovie wins yet another Richard...
From fat, lazy and somebody no one wanted since he's not a player you'd win with to a Richard candidate in less than a week... What has changed?
The Penguins bandwagon has not improved its Hockey IQ since drafting Sidney Crosby?
I mean I thought other Hawks fans were dumb, but this level of "Kessel is the second greatest scorer in the league" crap we have been hearing makes me feel better about my own fan base.
Kessel will jump from 25 goals in 2015 to low 30s in 2016, that's it.
From fat, lazy and somebody no one wanted since he's not a player you'd win with to a Richard candidate in less than a week... What has changed?
It was select fans and media that didn't want him. Every player he played with loved Phil as a character in the dressing room. As for what's changed.... seriously?? Like seriously? How about Bozak to Crosby/Malkin?