Phil Kessel Or Joe Pavelski?

[DitchMarner]

Better American player?


Phil Kessel:

Joe Pavelski:

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[Letsdothis]

Pavelski was elite defensively. Kessel did not exist defensively.

 

[Menzinger]

Kessel was clutch when you needed him to be clutch

 

[Mirka the Turka]

I think it's Pavelski quite easily. What was Kessel better than Pavelski at?

 

[DitchMarner]

I think it's Pavelski quite easily. What was Kessel better than Pavelski at?

I'd say passing and playmaking. I'm not sure Pavelski could have carried a line offensively like he did.

 

[Painful Quandary]

Pavelski because he is a more versatile player, especially when it comes to the fact he could play both wing and center.

That said, I think Kessel is a great player that gets undervalued due to sports media narratives.

 

[banks]

I'm a big Pavelski fan. But this is Kessel.

Watching Kessel was a joy. He was just so dangerous with the puck on the rush. Any possession was a potential scoring chance. One of my all time favourites.

 

[PenguinSuitedUp]

I think it's Pavelski quite easily. What was Kessel better than Pavelski at?

Winning Stanley Cups.

 

[Letsdothis]

Winning Stanley Cups.

What did he win, one round before going to Pittsburgh? Kessel was money in the playoffs, but give Pavelski Crosby and Malkin instead of Thornton and Marleau to work with and he's likely got Cup(s) too.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Phil the Thrill baby

 

[SomeDude]

What did he win, one round before going to Pittsburgh? Kessel was money in the playoffs, but give Pavelski Crosby and Malkin instead of Thornton and Marleau to work with and he's likely got Cup(s) too.

Kessel had nothing with Toronto. Literally nothing. Look at those rosters. Before Kessel came to the Pens Crosby and Malkin were being called underachieving coach killers who would never win again. Kessel had just as much impact on the 16 and 17 Cups as anyone. He easily could have won the Conn Smythe in 2016 and there are still people who will argue he should have won it.

Pavelski aged much better than Kessel (and about 95% of all NHL players). His productivity throughout his later years really brought more attention and respect to his career.

To me it comes down if you value longevity or peak. Phil was better when they were at their best but Pavelski was better for longer.

 

[Imgoingtowork]

Pavelski

 

[End of Line]

 

[Empoleon8771]

This thread made me realize a pretty neat fact: Pavelski has a higher PPG than Kessel over his career.

 

[Mirka the Turka]

Winning Stanley Cups.

Thanks to Malkin and Crosbh

 

[Felidae]

I think it's Pavelski quite easily. What was Kessel better than Pavelski at?

Better passing, skating, shot

But Pavelski was just a really smart player with some of the best hand-eye coordination ever.

I'm a bit surprised Kessell didn't age that well since he's a pretty smart player too but I'm assuming his physical skills (shot, skating) declined quite a bit in Arizona. Pavelski was never a guy that relied on his physical tools so not surprised he aged well.

So yeah, peak/prime Kessel, but Pavelski for overall longevity. Just aged much better.

 

[AvroArrow]

I think it's Pavelski quite easily. What was Kessel better than Pavelski at?

Scoring goals, playmaking, showing up in the playoffs, winning Stanley Cups

Guy went over a PPG playing with complete scrubs in Toronto in a significantly lower scoring era, those 80 point seasons would equate to about 100 point seasons, with Bozak as his C

 

[DitchMarner]

Better passing, skating, shot

But Pavelski was just a really smart player with some of the best hand-eye coordination ever.

I'm a bit surprised Kessell didn't age that well since he's a pretty smart player too but I'm assuming his physical skills (shot, skating) declined quite a bit in Arizona. Pavelski was never a guy that relied on his physical tools so not surprised he aged well.

So yeah, peak/prime Kessel, but Pavelski for overall longevity. Just aged much better.

I think that's because he didn't take conditioning very seriously. When he was in his prime, he was the type that could just show up and skate and shoot really well. When he got older, he lost speed.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Phil Kessel is a national treasure and an inspiration to the youth of 'Murica.


Kessel 3:16 says "I just a bunch of hot dogs and whooped your sorry ass!"

 

[Digitalbooya]

My one and only lasting memory of Pavelski vs Kessel is back before the NHL. Pavelski winning the NCAA championship with Wisconsin, while Kessel spurned his hometown team to play for Minnesota and lost in the opening round to the lowest seed Holy Cross lol. Karma for this:

 

[Regal]

They’re such different players that it’s hard to say. It really depends on the makeup of the team. Pavelski was so versatile, he could play any forward position, be a key guy in both offensive or defensive situations and was a great complementary player on a top line. He couldn’t drive a line offensively as well as Kessel though.

If I need someone to carry a line that gets a bunch of offensive starts and QB a PP, I’d take Kessel. I don’t think Pavelski would have been as valuable to the Pens in 16/17 as Kessel was based on how they were set-up. Or say Kane’s role when Chicago was winning. Meanwhile if I need someone to play a tougher two-way role on a team with more offense, or next to better offensive players, and play a net-front/bumper role on the PP I’d take Pavelski. If those same 16/17 Pens were adding either a second Kessel or a Pavelski, I’d take Pavelski, as he’d probably fit better next to Sid or Malkin or even bump Bonino down.

Their careers are somewhat similar as it depends a bit on what you want. I’d say Pavelski had the better regular season career due to his longevity, but Kessel had better playoff success, and was arguably better there. That said, I think Pavelski’s playoff career can be overlooked. He has runs of 14 and 13 goals, and several where he was above a PPG in over 10 games.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Kessel. He was the better playoff performer

 

[Gurglesons]

Kessel. Top line winger. Top three guy on a team with Sid and Malkin.

Pavs IMO was always a utility guy who was best suited for the 2nd line.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Hot dog Boi.

 

[Imgoingtowork]

Kessel.

Some people like of course.