Phil Kessel vs Danny Heatley

[Puckstuff]

Simple question who had the better career, Danny Heatley or Phil Kessel?

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[NyQuil]

Dany. Not Danny.

Kessel obviously as far as the poll is concerned.

 

[Koivu11]

I think Heatley peaked higher but Kessel had the better career overall.

 

[Breakers]

Kessel, because he didn't kill anybody.

 

[frontsfan2005]

Depends what you value.

Kessel - 1286 GP, 413 G, 579 A, 992 PTS - Playoffs: 100 GP, 34 G, 49 A, 83 PTS
Awards: Masteron (2007)
Kessel is the NHL ironman. The only category he led the league in the regular season was GWG in 18-19.
In the playoffs, Kessel won three cups, had consecutive playoff seasons with 22 pts (10G, 12A) and 23 pts (8G, 15A).

Heatley - 869 GP, 372 G, 419 A, 791 PTS - Playoffs: 77 GP, 16 G, 47 A, 63 PTS
Awards: Calder (2002)
Heatley famously had back-to-back 50 goal seasons in 05-06 and 06-07. He led the NHL in GWG in 06-07 and 09-10.
In the playoffs, Heatley co-led the NHL with 22 pts (7G, 15A) in 2007, helping Ottawa to the finals.

If you value longevity, it's easily Kessel. He played until he was 35 and was still productive at that age. Heatley was basically finished at 31 years old. Also, Kessel broke into the league at a younger age (19 compared to Heatley who turned 21 in his rookie season).

If you value peak, then it's Heatley. He twice had 50 goal seasons and also put up 41 goal seasons in 02-03 and 07-08 and two 39 goal seasons in 08-09 and 09-10. Kessel's peak in goals was 37, which he hit twice in 11-12 and 13-14. Their assist totals at their peaks are comparable (Kessel had 58 as his career high and Heatley 55), but points is again in Heatley's favour (back-to-back 100+ point seasons with totals of 105 and 103 as well as three more 82+ pts seasons) when compared to Kessel (peak was 92, had three more 80+ point seasons).

If you value playoff success, then it's Kessel, he had more and helped win two Cups (he was a passenger in the Vegas cup win). Heatley had an excellent playoff in 2007, but he also disappeared in the finals (1G, 0A in 5 GP). As for Kessel, his finals number aren't great either (12 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS), however, they are much better than Heatley's.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Kessel, because he didn't kill anybody.

People, no. But let’s not forget about the fallen pigs and cows precipitated by his hot dog addiction.

 

[Regal]

Kessel, because he didn't kill anybody.

We don’t know what went down at those hot dog plants

 

[fahad203]

Kessel..... 3 Stanly Cup son

Also.... Heatlys game went south so fast. He declined in a hurry

 

[Puckstuff]

Dany. Not Danny.

Kessel obviously as far as the poll is concerned.

I actually thought Heatley was going to win this because his “peak” was arguably higher and he had more goals but I do think Kessel was a better playmaker and he did win a few cups. I’d be interested to see the results if I changed it to Kessel vs Kovalchuck.

 

[NyQuil]

I actually thought Heatley was going to win this because his “peak” was arguably higher and he had more goals but I do think Kessel was a better playmaker and he did win a few cups. I’d be interested to see the results if I changed it to Kessel vs Kovalchuck.

The guy with the Cups will win the career poll when the career numbers are also in his favour.

“Who was the better player?” might be a tougher question to answer.

 

[JackSlater]

I'm pretty comfortable saying that Heatley was the better player but Kessel comfortably had a better career.

 

[The Burdened]

for 2-3 years there Heatley was the man.

 

[Letsdothis]

Depends what you value.

Kessel - 1286 GP, 413 G, 579 A, 992 PTS - Playoffs: 100 GP, 34 G, 49 A, 83 PTS
Awards: Masteron (2007)
Kessel is the NHL ironman. The only category he led the league in the regular season was GWG in 18-19.
In the playoffs, Kessel won three cups, had consecutive playoff seasons with 22 pts (10G, 12A) and 23 pts (8G, 15A).

Heatley - 869 GP, 372 G, 419 A, 791 PTS - Playoffs: 77 GP, 16 G, 47 A, 63 PTS
Awards: Calder (2002)
Heatley famously had back-to-back 50 goal seasons in 05-06 and 06-07. He led the NHL in GWG in 06-07 and 09-10.
In the playoffs, Heatley co-led the NHL with 22 pts (7G, 15A) in 2007, helping Ottawa to the finals.

If you value longevity, it's easily Kessel. He played until he was 35 and was still productive at that age. Heatley was basically finished at 31 years old. Also, Kessel broke into the league at a younger age (19 compared to Heatley who turned 21 in his rookie season).

If you value peak, then it's Heatley. He twice had 50 goal seasons and also put up 41 goal seasons in 02-03 and 07-08 and two 39 goal seasons in 08-09 and 09-10. Kessel's peak in goals was 37, which he hit twice in 11-12 and 13-14. Their assist totals at their peaks are comparable (Kessel had 58 as his career high and Heatley 55), but points is again in Heatley's favour (back-to-back 100+ point seasons with totals of 105 and 103 as well as three more 82+ pts seasons) when compared to Kessel (peak was 92, had three more 80+ point seasons).

If you value playoff success, then it's Kessel, he had more and helped win two Cups (he was a passenger in the Vegas cup win). Heatley had an excellent playoff in 2007, but he also disappeared in the finals (1G, 0A in 5 GP). As for Kessel, his finals number aren't great either (12 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS), however, they are much better than Heatley's.

It was a higher scoring league and Heatley had way better linemates at his peak.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

for 2-3 years there Heatley was the man.

He was awesome, but he also played with a lot more talent in his prime.

Feels like Kessel could have put up some big seasons if he had a legit center during his time in Toronto.

 

[Coffees]

He was awesome, but he also played with a lot more talent in his prime.

Feels like Kessel could have put up some big seasons if he had a legit center during his time in Toronto.

Didn’t he have Bozak

 

[lawrence]

for 2-3 years there Heatley was the man.

he was a star the minute the stepped into the NHL in 2001, all the way to the time he played for team in Canada in 2010, then he just vanished.

 

[Regal]

He was awesome, but he also played with a lot more talent in his prime.

Feels like Kessel could have put up some big seasons if he had a legit center during his time in Toronto.

In some ways I wonder if Kessel’s more puck rushing play style was better suited to being the best player on his line though, whereas Heatley meshed well with other stars as he didn’t need the puck on his stick as much. He didn’t really mesh with Crosby or Malkin and he and Malkin were pretty bad defensively together. Bit of a case where Heatley probably was better suited to the pizza line whereas Kessel was better suited to running the “third line” on those Pens cup winning teams.

 

[banks]

Heatley is actually a bit underrated around here because he dropped off so hard late in his career. But he wasn't just lucky to get 50 goals once or twice. He was one of the best shooters in the game at his peak.

I still picked Kessel. I can't believe he didn't miss time with back and shoulder injuries back when he was carrying the Leafs offense every year.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

In some ways I wonder if Kessel’s more puck rushing play style was better suited to being the best player on his line though, whereas Heatley meshed well with other stars as he didn’t need the puck on his stick as much. He didn’t really mesh with Crosby or Malkin and he and Malkin were pretty bad defensively together. Bit of a case where Heatley probably was better suited to the pizza line whereas Kessel was better suited to running the “third line” on those Pens cup winning teams.

Its true he didn't really mesh with them, but he still put up career highs in points with the Pens.

I think with a center like Getzlaf or Backstrom he could have put up some 45+ goal seasons.

 

[Video Nasty]

It was a higher scoring league and Heatley had way better linemates at his peak.

Look at what he did as a rookie and sophomore in a lower scoring league. He was going to do damage at 25 and 26 regardless.

 

[Sting]

Heatley is always going to be one of those "what if" players to me. Without the significant injuries he sustained and the mental toll that he obviously would have gone through, I wonder if his peak would have been even higher.

The latter half of his career was strange to me because there was clearly a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that most of us fans, even those of us who thought they were relatively connected, simply had no information about.

 

[NyQuil]

Heatley is always going to be one of those "what if" players to me.

And "what if" players aren't going to do very well in career polls.

 

[frontsfan2005]

It was a higher scoring league and Heatley had way better linemates at his peak.

Heatley also scored 41 goals, which is higher than Phil's peak, and 89 points, just below Phil's peak of 92, in a lower scoring league in 2002-03 as a 21/22 year old, before his car accident. Heatley did play with Kovalchuk and Savard at the beginning of the year, but midway through, he was on a line with McEachern and Kozlov to spread out the scoring.

Heatley's top-10 goal finishes: 2, 5, 6, 8, 8, 10
Kessel's top-10 goal finishes: 5, 6

Heatley's top-10 assist finishes: N/A
Kessel's top-10 assist finishes: N/A (Kessel was the better playmaker though, finishing 11th twice)

Heatley top-10 point finishes: 4, 4, 9
Kessel's top-10 point finishes: 6, 7, 7, 7

 

[MartyOwns]

i would trust heatley more in a game 7, but i wouldn't trust him to drive me to the rink.

 

[crowi]

Kessel, and I have to with AINEC. The cups do matter. Phil wasn't some passenger on them - he was a big part and frankly could've/should've won a Smythe for one run.