Why does Phil Kessel keep getting left out?

[LeafsNation75]

"bullying" haha wow, never ceases to amaze me how sensitive people are.

Obviously it was a joke - in which Phil took it as such.

Yet the very next year when they had the All Star draft in 2012 they brought the final 4 players up on the stage and didn't leave them sitting down like Kessel was the year before. So I guess they wanted to avoid that to happen again.

 

[3rdLiner]

I think people notice Phil. He's just been killing it for so long that everybody is just use to it.

He definitely should've been invited to the ASG, but now he's just gonna go kill it in the Bahamas or somewhere. Knowing him he probably doesn't even care.

I'm placing my futures trades on hot dog commodities in the Bahamas as we speak.

 

[Foppberg]

Pittsburgh really is the perfect place for him. In the shadows of Sid and Geno, just goes and does his thing. Love Phil.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Kessel only 5 points behind Kucherov now. If not Crosby/Malkin would love it so much to see Kessel snag an art ross.

Kessel is such a good, humble person that always kills it on the ice. It really is surprising he's perpetually disrespected by the media, the league, and USA hockey.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Kessel only 5 points behind Kucherov now. If not Crosby/Malkin would love it so much to see Kessel snag an art ross.

Kessel is such a good, humble person that always kills it on the ice. It really is surprising he's perpetually disrespected by the media, the league, and USA hockey.

It used to drive me nuts how much people focused on his defensive play. He's an elite sniper with a great wrist shot and a gifted play maker. He's not a 2-way guy and that's fine, love him for what he is.

 

[Menzinger]

It’s beyond stupid - the disinterest in him From Hockey USA is whole other level idiotic too.

Phil keeps on proving his doubters wrong. Having a monster of a season

 

[karnige]

I think he likes it. fly under the radar. he's always been an introvert. in the end hes on Pace for a hall of fame career. won a few cups. rich. I think he's happy. hot dogs for all

 

[Fatty McLardy]

Kessel only 5 points behind Kucherov now. If not Crosby/Malkin would love it so much to see Kessel snag an art ross.

Kessel is such a good, humble person that always kills it on the ice. It really is surprising he's perpetually disrespected by the media, the league, and USA hockey.

True story, one of my buddies regularly plays poker with Phil at Rivers. Dude is a riot! and incredibly down to earth....such an easy person to root for.

 

[Bustedprospect]

Malkin could be the most underrated of this era. But Kessel, if he continues like this, could be the second most underrated. Cruising towards another Top3 and his fifth time in the Top10 in the NHL scoring.

 

[The Shovel Penguin]

I might be in the minority here but I always felt like Ovie snapping that picture of him was just in good fun and harmless. A number of people I know were kind of ticked off about it and thought he was being a jerk but personally I didn't think so.

 

[Seanaconda]

I'm talking, generally, about NHL or national events.

Phil is currently 3rd in scoring—however, he wasn't even invited to the All Star game. At the time of voting, he was in or hovering around the top 10 and the best Penguins player by far. I understand that when it comes down to it, the All Star game is a joke, but you would think the NHL would want some of their best players there. Is it because he isn't a star personality with the media, or is it that he flies under the radar due to Pittsburgh's other talent? Don't forget what happened when he did make an All Star game—even his fellow players picked him last.

More concerning is that Phil, while being one of the top forwards from the United States, was not even invited to the World Cup Team. Why isn't he getting the respect or recognition that he deserves? Do we chalk this up to Torts being a poor team-builder, or do you think other coaches would have made the same move?

I'm just baffled that no one seems to notice Phil. Even a case can be made that he was deserving of a Conn Smyth, but that's more difficult to debate.

Does he even want to go ? The pens players normally take the suspension

 

[Hasbro]

It was the world cup team, he actually went to Sochi and did really well...but yeah he gets no respect

Look at who assembled the World Cup team.

 

[The Shovel Penguin]

Does he even want to go ? The pens players normally take the suspension

I don't remember if anyone has been suspended but for a long time Crosby always seemed to be injured to the point where it practically was like a joke. Or some referred to it as "injured"

 

[Seanaconda]

I don't remember if anyone has been suspended but for a long time Crosby always seemed to be injured to the point where it practically was like a joke. Or some referred to it as "injured"

Yeah if they are "injured " they get suspened for a game. That is actually the rule

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Was a huge Kessel fan when he was on the Leafs and still am. I hope he wins another cup.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

True story, one of my buddies regularly plays poker with Phil at Rivers. Dude is a riot! and incredibly down to earth....such an easy person to root for.

I once ran into him while playing poker in Vegas, was shocked I noticed him and we talked about hockey for a solid hour, great guy

 

[GOilers88]

Because the All-Star game is fan voted. It's a popularity contest that has nothing to do with that season's current best players.

It's entirely a farce and solely for the children.

 

[DearDiary]

Because the All-Star game is fan voted. It's a popularity contest that has nothing to do with that season's current best players.

It's entirely a farce and solely for the children.

Only a few players are fan voted, rest are chosen by the NHL

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Because the All-Star game is fan voted. It's a popularity contest that has nothing to do with that season's current best players.

It's entirely a farce and solely for the children.

If anyone from the pens deserves an all star selection this year it's Kessel.

 

[GOilers88]

Only a few players are fan voted, rest are chosen by the NHL

I didn't realise this. I stand corrected. How many players are voted in compared to the number that are selected?

 

[DearDiary]

I didn't realise this. I stand corrected. How many players are voted in compared to the number that are selected?

Fans only vote the captain of each division, 4 players in total. The rest are chosen by the NHL.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

I'm talking, generally, about NHL or national events.

Phil is currently 3rd in scoring—however, he wasn't even invited to the All Star game. At the time of voting, he was in or hovering around the top 10 and the best Penguins player by far. I understand that when it comes down to it, the All Star game is a joke, but you would think the NHL would want some of their best players there. Is it because he isn't a star personality with the media, or is it that he flies under the radar due to Pittsburgh's other talent? Don't forget what happened when he did make an All Star game—even his fellow players picked him last.

More concerning is that Phil, while being one of the top forwards from the United States, was not even invited to the World Cup Team. Why isn't he getting the respect or recognition that he deserves? Do we chalk this up to Torts being a poor team-builder, or do you think other coaches would have made the same move?

I'm just baffled that no one seems to notice Phil. Even a case can be made that he was deserving of a Conn Smyth, but that's more difficult to debate.

Bad breathe supposedly plus gremlin looks, league would rather not promote either.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Bad breathe supposedly plus gremlin looks, league would rather not promote either.

To be fair, "how's your breath" is an absolutely absurd question.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

To be fair, "how's your breath" is an absolutely absurd question.

Telling people your breath stinks on national TV is never a good move

 

[Apathetic]

League doesn't like him because he always ends up getting mustard stains on the All-star jersey making them impossible to auction for charity.