Phil Kessel

[nutman]

This is why I want the Leafs to eliminate the Bruins in the playoffs, however unrealistic that wish may be.  Nothing would be more exciting than to have Kessel scoring the OT winning goal IN BOSTON to wrap up the series.  Thank you Kessel.  Ok, it'll probably never happen.

No it probably won't happen but I agree what a moment it would be.

I do however think the Bruins are one of the teams the Leafs could beat. They aren't the same animal they have been. They look a bit off this year, without the same snarl as they have had in the past.  The Leafs are not intimidated by them as they have been, plus with Bergeron dealing with concussion issues, their best forward is missing.

I want to avoid the Caps and Pens at all costs... especially the Caps right now.  Any other team I'm game for the Leafs having a chance to beat.

Even the Pens... if those lingering health issues continue, and their goaltending turns into a fireshow again... who knows?

The East isn't really that strong this year.

I don't know about that, Buf is the only team that has missed the playoffs so far.

 

[TML fan]

This is why I want the Leafs to eliminate the Bruins in the playoffs, however unrealistic that wish may be.  Nothing would be more exciting than to have Kessel scoring the OT winning goal IN BOSTON to wrap up the series.  Thank you Kessel.  Ok, it'll probably never happen.

No it probably won't happen but I agree what a moment it would be.

I do however think the Bruins are one of the teams the Leafs could beat. They aren't the same animal they have been. They look a bit off this year, without the same snarl as they have had in the past.  The Leafs are not intimidated by them as they have been, plus with Bergeron dealing with concussion issues, their best forward is missing.

I want to avoid the Caps and Pens at all costs... especially the Caps right now.  Any other team I'm game for the Leafs having a chance to beat.

Even the Pens... if those lingering health issues continue, and their goaltending turns into a fireshow again... who knows?

The East isn't really that strong this year.

I don't know about that, Buf is the only team that has missed the playoffs so far.

The Eastern Conference.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Nice little piece.  I'm surprised Siegel didn't draw some fair conclusion that the rounding out of Kessel's overall game may well be in no small part because of his early season struggles.  He was shooting so much, and had so many near goals that resulted in so few actual goals, it now seems as often as not that Kessel is more than willing to make the great pass as to take the great shot.  Kessel seems to be shooting far less now than he did in the early season, but is overall putting up more points courtesy of his many assists.

I haven't added them up and averaged it out or anything, but just from a quick look at his game log he doesn't really seem to be shooting less (or at least not significantly/noticeably less) than earlier in the season: http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8473548&season=20122013&view=gamelog

Stop bothering me with facts!  I guess I was considering how in the very early going he was averaging around 5 shots a game and was leading the league in shots with nary a goal.  He's now 9th in shots and 3.4 shots/game, including about 3.1 shots/game after his first 7 games.

He was probably shooting it a bit more to begin with, but he's had another similar stretch: from Mar 28 - Apr 13 he avg'd 4.2/shots over 7 games (compared to 4.7 first 7 games), and scored 5 times towards the end of that stretch.  I think it's just the ebb and flow of how he performs, but I'm sure he was pressing at the start like you alluded to.

 

[oakl0008]

Nice to know that Nonis and the media have already thrown Kessel their leading scorer under a bus and the series hasn't started yet.

yes, I would love to hear more of him from the media. But if he has nothing nice or good to say, I like that he says nothing.

But no, these guys just have to run him out of town.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/04/29/kessels-disappearing-act-starts-early/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Kin]

Nice to know that Nonis and the media have already thrown Kessel their leading scorer under a bus and the series hasn't started yet.

I don't see how saying that skipping out on talking to the media isn't acceptable is tantamount to Nonis throwing Kessel under a bus. I'm sure dealing with the media isn't Phil's favourite part of the job but as a leader on the team, by default if nothing else, he has to take his lumps like everyone else.

 

[oakl0008]

Nice to know that Nonis and the media have already thrown Kessel their leading scorer under a bus and the series hasn't started yet.

I don't see how saying that skipping out on talking to the media isn't acceptable is tantamount to Nonis throwing Kessel under a bus. I'm sure dealing with the media isn't Phil's favourite part of the job but as a leader on the team, by default if nothing else, he has to take his lumps like everyone else.

By the Leafs own GM feeding the media on this AT ALL on this right before a series like this when almost every article whiffs of "Kessel better prove his worth here" after being a leading scorer for years, is just making a bad situation worse. And why is Nonis kissing these guys a$$es? The media in Toronto like to create "Skandal" on every misinterpreted word. Considering that Kessel pretty much does his job on the ice and then some, I would let him avoid the pressure for a bit. I swear, the guy has a bullseye on his back right now. That being said, Kessel was awol with the press ever since the Ottawa game. He was good with the media (except one incident) last year right up until this year and then nothing. I hope things are ok. Again, I'd like to see him talk to the press more but they either ask the same 5 questions or stir the post to sell papers. It's not going to help the team either way. They have plenty of players to interview.

This will be his last year here.

 

[Brystine]

In terms of Seguin vs. Kessel, I'm pretty sure Phil doesn't do stuff like this:

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/04/23/seguins-no-homo-tweet-ignites-firestorm

You can't promote and push foul music like Hip-Hop then get pissed when your children start using those terms.

You either stop promoting the garbage, or you deal with the ramifications. Simple.

On Kessel: I fully expect him to struggle in this series. I expect him to be a non-factor. 9 Points and a -22 in 22 games against them in his career. Not really expecting much.

 

[Kin]

By the Leafs own GM feeding the media on this AT ALL on this right before a series like this when almost every article whiffs of "Kessel better prove his worth here" after being a leading scorer for years, is just making a bad situation worse. And why is Nonis kissing these guys a$$es?

He's not. He's answering a question honestly and directly as you'd want the team's GM to do. It's not acceptable for Kessel to decide unilaterally that he doesn't want to talk to the media and it's right for Nonis to say so. Kessel's a big boy, he can half-heartedly mumble cliches like the rest of the hockey world for a few minutes.

 

[Kin]

You can't promote and push foul music like Hip-Hop then get pissed when your children start using those terms.

You either stop promoting the garbage, or you deal with the ramifications. Simple.

Pretty sure hip-hop didn't invent those terms.

 

[Brystine]

You can't promote and push foul music like Hip-Hop then get pissed when your children start using those terms.

You either stop promoting the garbage, or you deal with the ramifications. Simple.

Pretty sure hip-hop didn't invent those terms.

Cam'ron of Dipset made 'No Homo' popular.

 

[Kin]

Cam'ron of Dipset made 'No Homo' popular.

But, again, didn't invent them. They grew out of societal attitudes that existed long before hip-hop was a cultural force.

 

[Brystine]

Nice to know that Nonis and the media have already thrown Kessel their leading scorer under a bus and the series hasn't started yet.

I don't see how saying that skipping out on talking to the media isn't acceptable is tantamount to Nonis throwing Kessel under a bus. I'm sure dealing with the media isn't Phil's favourite part of the job but as a leader on the team, by default if nothing else, he has to take his lumps like everyone else.

By the Leafs own GM feeding the media on this AT ALL on this right before a series like this when almost every article whiffs of "Kessel better prove his worth here" after being a leading scorer for years, is just making a bad situation worse. And why is Nonis kissing these guys a$$es? The media in Toronto like to create "Skandal" on every misinterpreted word. Considering that Kessel pretty much does his job on the ice and then some, I would let him avoid the pressure for a bit. I swear, the guy has a bullseye on his back right now. That being said, Kessel was awol with the press ever since the Ottawa game. He was good with the media (except one incident) last year right up until this year and then nothing. I hope things are ok. Again, I'd like to see him talk to the press more but they either ask the same 5 questions or stir the post to sell papers. It's not going to help the team either way. They have plenty of players to interview.

This will be his last year here.

Yeah, Nonis wasn't really... 'centered', I guess, in his response to the reporters. Kessel is going into a real meat-grinder here against the Bruins. He probably has the most pressure on him of every player in the series. Let him do whatever he needs to do mentally to get over this mountain, because if he does, we'll be a far, far better team for it. Not like the Media is worth much anyway, they'd probably just ask him about the trade, the Bruins etc.

 

[Brystine]

Cam'ron of Dipset made 'No Homo' popular.

But, again, didn't invent them. They grew out of societal attitudes that existed long before hip-hop was a cultural force.

Ugh. I doubt Seguin was thinking "I hate gay people!" When he tweeted that. No Homo is a term made popular from Hip-Hop.

Yawn, I despise when politics become polarized and everyone has to bow to political correctness. Political Correctness can kiss my ass... No homo.

Having said that, Seguin has always seemed like an idiot to me, so meh.

 

[Kin]

Ugh. I doubt Seguin was thinking "I hate gay people!" When he tweeted that. No Homo is a term made popular from Hip-Hop.

But, again, the issue is the cultural attitudes that are being reflected, not invented. It's not the musics fault, any more than rock and roll was at fault for teenagers being so darn rebellious.

Yawn, I despise when politics become polarized and everyone has to bow to political correctness. Political Correctness can kiss my ass... No homo.

You're just a whole big bag of cats, huh?

 

[Brystine]

Ugh. I doubt Seguin was thinking "I hate gay people!" When he tweeted that. No Homo is a term made popular from Hip-Hop.

But, again, the issue is the cultural attitudes that are being reflected, not invented. It's not the musics fault, any more than rock and roll was at fault for teenagers being so darn rebellious.

Yawn, I despise when politics become polarized and everyone has to bow to political correctness. Political Correctness can kiss my ass... No homo.

You're just a whole big bag of cats, huh?

Tyrion, what say you?

Political correctness be damned.

 

[oakl0008]

By the Leafs own GM feeding the media on this AT ALL on this right before a series like this when almost every article whiffs of "Kessel better prove his worth here" after being a leading scorer for years, is just making a bad situation worse. And why is Nonis kissing these guys a$$es?

He's not. He's answering a question honestly and directly as you'd want the team's GM to do. It's not acceptable for Kessel to decide unilaterally that he doesn't want to talk to the media and it's right for Nonis to say so. Kessel's a big boy, he can half-heartedly mumble cliches like the rest of the hockey world for a few minutes.

They were, yet again, going to ask him about Boston and possibly "the trade". This guy has a bullseye on his back and it's not even his fault. It's a team sport and yes he gets paid the big bucks and he knew the deal coming here, but right now it's a bit unfair. And the media made this into a headline "Leafs aren't happy with Phil Kessel's latest disappearing act" The Sun went so far as to say that Kessel has embarrassed the management. Yes, Kessel could have prevented that. But Nonis should have said no comment to the media and then handled it "internally" to Kessel's face before blabbing to the media as if he were his grade school principal.

And honestly, I could do without the 50,000th blabbering hockey cliche. And considering that many things said to the media that isn't a cliche by hockey is usually something misogynistic, homophobic, just plain rude or just plain dumb (hockey players aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree), I strongly prefer the right to be silent.

But again, on the other side of it, Kessel was good with media before, for being the what appears to be the introverted guy he is. Not sure what;s making him clam up now. Problems? Dunno but I hope not.

By Brystine:

Yeah, Nonis wasn't really... 'centered', I guess, in his response to the reporters. Kessel is going into a real meat-grinder here against the Bruins. He probably has the most pressure on him of every player in the series. Let him do whatever he needs to do mentally to get over this mountain, because if he does, we'll be a far, far better team for it. Not like the Media is worth much anyway, they'd probably just ask him about the trade, the Bruins etc.

This.

 

[Kin]

They were, yet again, going to ask him about Boston and possibly "the trade". This guy has a bullseye on his back and it's not even his fault. It's a team sport and yes he gets paid the big bucks and he knew the deal coming here, but right now it's a bit unfair.

So, as my grandfather liked to say, is life. If the worst part of Phil Kessel's day is that he gets asked about the Seguin trade he lives a life so charmed that whining about it and being incapable of facing that challenge makes him look so spoiled and self-centered that it's a wonder he's able to tie his own shoes. 

And the media made this into a headline "Leafs aren't happy with Phil Kessel's latest disappearing act" The Sun went so far as to say that Kessel has embarrassed the management. Yes, Kessel could have prevented that. But Nonis should have said no comment to the media and then handled it "internally" to Kessel's face before blabbing to the media as if he were his grade school principal.

Nonis is under no obligation to lie to the media to protect Phil Kessel's feelings. If Kessel is going to act like a whiny child, then he absolutely needs someone to act like a grade school principal with him.

And honestly, I could do without the 50,000th blabbering hockey cliche. And considering that many things said to the media that isn't a cliche by hockey is usually something misogynistic, homophobic, just plain rude or just plain dumb (hockey players aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree), I strongly prefer the right to be silent.

I don't disagree about the value of these interviews in general but that's not the point. The point is that the team has a policy on dealing with the media and that Phil Kessel doesn't get to unilaterally get to decide what team rules he wants to follow and which ones he doesn't. 

 

[Kin]

Political correctness be damned.

That sentiment probably carries more weight coming from someone who hasn't shown his true disdain to be with the "correctness" half of the term.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I don't disagree about the value of these interviews in general but that's not the point. The point is that the team has a policy on dealing with the media and that Phil Kessel doesn't get to unilaterally get to decide what team rules he wants to follow and which ones he doesn't.

I think the larger issue is that's it's not just any team policy, there's stipulation about player availability in the CBA that is expected to be followed.

Personally, I just wish they'd leave him alone.  He really has nothing he is willing to say or to reveal, and frankly watching him talk makes me feel uncomfortable.  I think he's truly and extremely phobic of social situations, as whatever kind of social anxiety disorder one might label it as.  Anyway, if he's required to talk, he's got to talk, and they'll either make a story of how little he says or of how hard it is to make him say so little.

 

[pnjunction]

I can see why Kessel would want to avoid the obvious flurry of questions from the media, and don't think Nonis' comments about it were that bad, but Kessel might have been better off just getting an interview over with now.

If the Leafs don't get off to a decent start in Boston it's only going to get worse.