Time to see if Phil Kessel wants to make this his team

[MoeMoney]

Phil Kessels competitivness will be tested mightly from here on out as long as Kadri continues to score key goals, steal the headlines, and have Leafs fans give him standing ovations after some of his shifts. Phil Kessell will either wake up and realise he has to play better and make no mistake about who's team this is, or he will be comfortable to ride along some other stars co-tails and be fine with being a second tier option on a good team, some guys are like that. I think Phil has some fire in him and truly plays hard and loves to be a Toronto Maple Leaf, and can only think the emergence of Kadri can only help Phil Kessel, better teamates means better practice sessions and results in becoming a better overall player.

 

[Erdinger]

Has this ever been Phil's team?

 

[Tak7]

I don't buy into all the suggestions about Kessel being shy, unassuming, and afraid of the spotlight.

But somehow I still think he would have no problems if someone else on the roster was getting plenty of plaudits over him. In this case, you are highlighting Kadri: I think Phil is pleased for Kadri, less because it's "spotlight off my back", but more because it's a great story and the entire team seems to be growing off of it.

As far as the whole "Kessel serves to benefit from Kadri continuing to grow" - yeah, maybe. He'd benefit a hell of a lot more if he were playing with Kadri though.

 

[Leafidelity]

Has this ever been Phil's team?

Has it ever not been? Scored at a PPG and had the most game winners by a longshot last year.

Make no mistake, Kessels line drawing the top shutdown units has helped Kadri see more open ice. Having two lines to contain is hard on any team.

 

[Cor]

This has always been Phil's team....

He is (was?) our best player

 

[saint2e]

I think of Phil Kessel the same way I thought of Alexander Mogilny: Great player, but not a leader, and fairly one-dimensional.

Problem is that Kessel doesn't have a Sundin to feed him those cross creases that Mats gave to Mogilny all the time.

 

[Erdinger]

I thought it was Dion's team.

 

[Cor]

I thought it was Dion's team.

Why? Because he is captain?

Are the Oilers Shawn Horcoff's team?

 

[number72]

I would like to see Kessel just take charge of game once like Sundin used to or even like Kadri is showing shades of doing now. That is, kessel needs to prove he is leader and put the team on his back and pull this team kicking and screaming into teh playoffs.

I don't think he is that kind of player. He might look great on wing and pot a few goals but I doubt he will ever be consistent enough nor have enough compete to take charge and force a win for leafs.

 

[saint2e]

I don't think this is anyone's "team" per se, but as far as who I see possibly taking up that mantel, I think Kadri could mature into that in a few years.

 

[Cor]

I would like to see Kessel just take charge of game once like Sundin used to or even like Kadri is showing shades of doing now. That is, kessel needs to prove he is leader and put the team on his back and pull this team kicking and screaming into teh playoffs.

I don't think he is that kind of player. He might look great on wing and pot a few goals but I doubt he will ever be consistent enough nor have enough compete to take charge and force a win for leafs.

Kessel has won us games in the past....

 

[Erdinger]

If our team mirrors Phil then no wonder they haven't made the playoffs since he arrived. Seriously there is no way this guy is the heart and soul of the Leafs. He's a sniper. Some poster a while back mentioned the Isles and Bossy. The Isles weren't built around Bossy it was guys like Trottier,Gillies,Potvin and Billy Smith

 

[DaveT83*]

Has it ever not been? Scored at a PPG and had the most game winners by a longshot last year.

Make no mistake, Kessels line drawing the top shutdown units has helped Kadri see more open ice. Having two lines to contain is hard on any team.

This is such a ******** argument.

1. EVERY GOOD PLAYER IN THE NHL SEES THE OTHER TEAMS TOP DEFENDORS NIGHTLY - yet they are all still able to produce.

2. Randy C is a master line-matcher - on home ice Kessel would be given every opportunity to avoid the other teams top defendors - yet he just scored his first goal on home ice this season.


MOD

 

[s1r0ky]

Why? Because he is captain?

Are the Oilers Shawn Horcoff's team?

Yes, and look how that is going.

Dion is the warhorse, Its his team.

Phil is the show pony.

 

[Leaf Lander]

He is a flake

It will never. Happy is a Mike Gartner type enjoy the production to

 

[Tak7]

Has it ever not been? Scored at a PPG and had the most game winners by a longshot last year.

Make no mistake, Kessels line drawing the top shutdown units has helped Kadri see more open ice. Having two lines to contain is hard on any team.

I guess it comes down to your criteria of what's needed in order for it to be "your" team.

He's not vocal. He's not a leader. He's not many of the things you would expect out of someone who was the "face" of the franchise. Those aren't negatives - he's just not built that way, and that's fine.

There are several star players in the league that aren't necessarily face of the franchise type of players.

Right now this is Dion's team. He's the guy you think of when you think about this team. Having the 'C' helps, but isn't the only reason.

This doesn't need to be Phil's team.

 

[saint2e]

I would also say that Phil doesn't have the right personality for it to be his team, or any team really. He's too laid back.

 

[Cor]

Yes, and look how that is going.

Dion is the warhorse, Its his team.

Phil is the show pony.

The Oilers aren't Shawn Horcoff's team I would say it's Eberle's

 

[Leafidelity]

This is such a ******** argument.

1. EVERY GOOD PLAYER IN THE NHL SEES THE OTHER TEAMS TOP DEFENDORS NIGHTLY - yet they are all still able to produce.

2. Randy C is a master line-matcher - on home ice Kessel would be given every opportunity to avoid the other teams top defendors - yet he just scored his first goal on home ice this season.


MOD

Are we going to pretend Kessel doesn't have 17 points now? Why is it that JVR gets praised for having 12g and 5a, but 5g and 12a isn't good? Do you see how utterly ridiculous your argument is yet?

Newsflash - Kessel has as many points or more than the top scorer on TEN TEAMS IN THE NHL.

MOD

 

[Erdinger]

Are we going to pretend Kessel doesn't have 17 points now? Why is it that JVR gets praised for having 12g and 5a, but 5g and 12a isn't good? Do you see how utterly ridiculous your argument is yet?

Newsflash - Kessel has as many points or more than the top scorer on TEN TEAMS IN THE NHL.

regardless I don't think this is Phil's team nor do I think it should be or that he necessarily wants it to be. His role is to snipe goals anything else is gravy.

 

[Leafidelity]

regardless I don't think this is Phil's team nor do I think it should be or that he necessarily wants it to be. His role is to snipe goals anything else is gravy.

I don't think the role is one that is given to you by your peers as much as your opponents. When a team comes into town, they have a strategy to shutdown Phil Kessel. All teams do that. It's his team until that changes.

 

[Erdinger]

I don't think the role is one that is given to you by your peers as much as your opponents. When a team comes into town, they have a strategy to shutdown Phil Kessel. All teams do that. It's his team until that changes.

So the Wings were Datsyuk's team and not Lidstrom's?

 

[Leafidelity]

So the Wings were Datsyuk's team and not Lidstrom's?

Lidstrom was a generational talent. There are examples of the defenseman being the focus I agree, but that's just a special player. Here's a good example of what I'm saying.



Starts at 1:08

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

It's funny for all the trouble he's had scoring goals Kessel and JVR are both tied for second for game winners, only Frattin has one more (even with his injury!)

Yeah the guys tied for second in points on the team and it's never enough, heck when he was first for points it wasn't enough. I'm really liking Kadri's play, giving opponents another line to shut down will hopefully lead to both Kessel and Kadri finding more space and points.

 

[Superstar]

Phil Kessels competitivness will be tested mightly from hear on out as long as Kadri continues to score key goals, steal the headlines, and have Leafs fans give him standing ovations after some of his shifts. Phil Kessell will either wake up and realise he has to play better and make no mistake about who's team this is, or he will be comfortable to ride along some other stars co-tails and be fine with being a second tier option on a good team, some guys are like that. I think Phil has some fire in him and truly plays hard and loves to be a Toronto Maple Leaf, and can only think the emergence of Kadri can only help Phil Kessel, better teamates means better practice sessions and results in becoming a better overall player.

Sounds like an inspiration for Damien Cox's next article.