Game 66: Bruins @ Leafs 7:00PM SNET-0

[DieWilsonDie]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here. 

 

[DieWilsonDie]

As for Kessel leading Seguin in the scoring race, its a moot point.  Kessel is abysmal against the Bruins, while Seguin already has a Stanley Cup ring, not too mention a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel.  I guarantee you that Seguin will surpass Kessel in point totals in the next season or two, without a doubt.  Kessel maybe the quietest scorer I've seen since Jeff O'Neil.  When the going gets tough he is dogging it.   

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

Seguin has a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I believe I read somewhere yesterday that Kessel and Grabo are competing for the best Corsi numbers on the team right now.  Those are usually a good indicators of defensive performance, the jist of the article was that Kessel is working very hard on his defensive game this year as opposed to other years and is perhaps being hamstrung in that regard by his linemates.

I think Kessel has worked harder this year than in previous years, but that really has me questioning the validity of a stat when it is calling Kessel our best defensive forward.  He's a big part of the reason why that line get hemmed in their own zone for multiple shifts a game.

Corsi is more of a puck possession stat than it is a defensive stat (it's basically a +/- for the amount of shots directed on net). Taylor Hall is among the league leaders in that stat and I'm not really sure I'd call him a defensive stud.

Grabs, MacArthur, and Kessel are the three Leafs forwards with the highest Corsi rating, but there's a rather significant gap between Grabs and the other two so saying they are competing is a bit of a stretch.

 

[#1PilarFan]

As for Kessel leading Seguin in the scoring race, its a moot point.  Kessel is abysmal against the Bruins, while Seguin already has a Stanley Cup ring, not too mention a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel.  I guarantee you that Seguin will surpass Kessel in point totals in the next season or two, without a doubt.  Kessel maybe the quietest scorer I've seen since Jeff O'Neil.  When the going gets tough he is dogging it.   

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

Seguin has a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel?

Phil Kessel is 5th in points and 3rd in goals playing with a third line centre and a 28 year old who already topped his career high in points.

How is he a complimentary piece?

 

[pnjunction]

How is he a complimentary piece?

I wouldn't downplay him that much but I can see why people feel that way.  He might be the best periphery player in the league, but he's still peripheral player.  That means he struggles defensively and when the going gets tough.  He needs a big centre with defensive ability to play with if we want to see his line rack up goal differential instead of just goals.  Bozak is doing an OK job, it would have been good enough for playoffs if not for other deficiencies in the team, but we need someone better if we want to take it to the next (contender) level.

However you could just as easily say that the big centre is the complimentary piece to Kessel not the other way around.  (Gretzky played with bigger guys was he a complimentary piece?) I think it will have to work out that way because even if we get a big centre to play there he's probably not going to have Kessel's skill level unless by some miracle we actually get Getzlaf.

 

[Andy007]

As for Kessel leading Seguin in the scoring race, its a moot point.  Kessel is abysmal against the Bruins, while Seguin already has a Stanley Cup ring, not too mention a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel.  I guarantee you that Seguin will surpass Kessel in point totals in the next season or two, without a doubt.  Kessel maybe the quietest scorer I've seen since Jeff O'Neil.  When the going gets tough he is dogging it.   

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

Seguin has a significantly higher ceiling than Kessel?

Phil Kessel is 5th in points and 3rd in goals playing with a third line centre and a 28 year old who already topped his career high in points.

How is he a complimentary piece?

Seriously. I realize it's been a frustrating season and the team has more problems than a Lohan family member but the Kessel vitriol is a bit much. Maybe when the team has an actual 2nd and 3rd line, as well as a 1st line centre, oh and also a NHL calibre goaltender, we can debate the merits of Kessel's Corsi ranking.

 

[bustaheims]

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

I'm sorry, but that's absolute BS. Kessel already is a game breaker in the NHL. Right now, he's the only player in the league to have scored 30+ goals in each of the last 4 seasons, and, when it's all said and done, there will be maybe half a dozen other guys who will be able to make that claim.

 

[Bender]

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

I'm sorry, but that's absolute BS. Kessel already is a game breaker in the NHL. Right now, he's the only player in the league to have scored 30+ goals in each of the last 4 seasons, and, when it's all said and done, there will be maybe half a dozen other guys who will be able to make that claim.

People seem to cream their shorts about potential, but aren't that enthused about a guy top 5 in points in the whole league.

 

[bustaheims]

People seem to cream their shorts about potential, but aren't that enthused about a guy top 5 in points in the whole league.

And is only 24. It's not like we're talking about a guy at the tail end of his career here.

 

[Frank E]

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

I'm sorry, but that's absolute BS. Kessel already is a game breaker in the NHL. Right now, he's the only player in the league to have scored 30+ goals in each of the last 4 seasons, and, when it's all said and done, there will be maybe half a dozen other guys who will be able to make that claim.

People seem to cream their shorts about potential, but aren't that enthused about a guy top 5 in points in the whole league.

Some people do that.  Those people aren't worth debating anything with.  It's just a ridiculous point of view that isn't worth your time.

 

[Bender]

According to NHL scouts yes he does.  Kessel is seen as a guy who is complimentary, not a game breaker in this league.  Seguin has the potential to be a superstar.   

I'm sorry, but that's absolute BS. Kessel already is a game breaker in the NHL. Right now, he's the only player in the league to have scored 30+ goals in each of the last 4 seasons, and, when it's all said and done, there will be maybe half a dozen other guys who will be able to make that claim.

People seem to cream their shorts about potential, but aren't that enthused about a guy top 5 in points in the whole league.

Some people do that.  Those people aren't worth debating anything with.  It's just a ridiculous point of view that isn't worth your time.

I know, but I just can't fathom it. I mean, for me it's like we're content with these exaggerated expectations of players when we draft them and if they don't meet that either they aren't developing fast enough, the coach screwed up or something or the other, but when we have a player we're never satisfied. I just have to look at Sundin as a parallel.

Sundin: Oh, he didn't win a cup, can't lead, isn't Canadian, wasn't as good as his contemporaries.

Knock on Kessel: He's like Mogilny.

 

[TML fan]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here.

Because, as I said, it would be a pointless waste of time. You are obviously emotionally invested in your point of view, and i dont think you have the capacity to discuss it in a calm and rational manner. You're going to believe what you want to believe, and I'm quite content to let you do that.

 

[Bender]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here.

Because, as I said, it would be a pointless waste of time. You are obviously emotionally invested in your point of view, and i dont think you have the capacity to discuss it in a calm and rational manner. You're going to believe what you want to believe, and I'm quite content to let you do that.

Oh, where is Nik when you need him eh?

 

[Rebel_1812]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here.

Because, as I said, it would be a pointless waste of time. You are obviously emotionally invested in your point of view, and i dont think you have the capacity to discuss it in a calm and rational manner. You're going to believe what you want to believe, and I'm quite content to let you do that.

condescension always makes one appear like the bigger man.

 

[TML fan]

Oh please Bender. You're one to talk.

 

[TML fan]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here.

Because, as I said, it would be a pointless waste of time. You are obviously emotionally invested in your point of view, and i dont think you have the capacity to discuss it in a calm and rational manner. You're going to believe what you want to believe, and I'm quite content to let you do that.

condescension always makes one appear like the bigger man.

There's no condescension in there. He has a legitimate point of view. Just not one I have any desire to debate for the reasons I've said. Right off the bat, he stated that everything he said was 100 percent the truth. Sounds to me like his mind is made up.

 

[Bullfrog]

Thanks for making my point.

Why don't you stop the witless one liners and respond to me like a man... you know put some context in your argument to convince me I am wrong here.

Would it be acceptable if he responded like a woman?

 

[Bender]

Oh please Bender. You're one to talk.

LOL, chill out dude, it was a joke. Besides, I agree with your point.

 

[TML fan]

Oh please Bender. You're one to talk.

LOL, chill out dude, it was a joke. Besides, I agree with your point.

My bad. I was heading out for a double shift. Didn't catch that

 

[Courtnall]

I love kessels offensive game but his defensive game is atrocious. Unless he has the puck he is a liability out there. This last year he has improved his passing game quite a bit. But it seems hes just not getting any better defensively. I know +\- isn't the best stat but sequins +35 is pretty darn impressive.