L K said:
With all of the talk about Kessel being "the softest player in the league" I honestly wonder how he will do in the playoffs if we don't have someone on his line to help intimidate or at least create some space for him. The neutral zone is going to be a tar pit in the postseason and Lupul/Kessel will never be able to take advantage of their speed game.
RE the cap drop, is the NHLPA really going to cave on that one with Fehr in place? The NHL created this cap system when they pretty much dominated the lockout in terms of having the ability to win every PR battle. Revenues grew every year under their system. Where is the incentive for the players to cut back their earnings? What could the NHL possibly give them in return?
Kessel is Moginly. He needs a Sundin. Not necessarily a centre, but a linemate who is the #1 guy. Mogilny was always at his best as a #2 and I think Kessel is the same.
I like Kessel a lot but like you said he needs someone both making room and taking attention away from him. Soft schmoft. When you are the key guy to shut down you get choked out no matter how gritty you are. His point totals in the playoffs show he can produce despite a small body of work to look at. But he needs a Sundin.
As for the CBA, I really don't see a rollback in the future. How can they when the cap is based on revenue that has gone up substantially every year. Maybe the cap floor drops which IMO is the only thing that should change and would lower the % of revenues for the players, which is of course what GB will be after given what happened to the NBA. The cap floor is unsustainable as it is now. Different discussion.