Kessel scores how many?

[Coco-puffs]

Good article on Kessel and the success he's found in Pittsburgh:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/15857634/nhl-2016-stanley-cup-playoffs-pittsburgh-penguins-winger-phil-kessel-often-misunderstood-become-man-team-postseason

Nothing particularly revealing although I think it kind of hammers home that in the right situation the idea that Kessel is a bad locker room presence doesn't hold up.

I said it from the day he arrived.  He's a complementary player- but one you absolutely want to have on your team because he's a game-breaker.

The problem with Kessel is, if he's your leader, he doesn't lead by example very well.  He's great in the locker room in terms of camaraderie and lightening the mood- but when its time to be serious and show other players that hard work is required he's just not that type of player.

From that viewpoint, Toronto either needed to find someone to take the mantle as the leader of the team before the start of this year or they ABSOLUTELY needed to trade him so the young guys coming up weren't looking to him as a leader.

But I'd argue there are few clearer examples of "leading by example" than leading your team in scoring in the playoffs, when it is generally agreed that games are tougher.

Two problems with your argument.

1.  Leading a team in points in the playoffs doesn't make you the team's leader.  Crosby is clearly the Penguins "leader".  Toews had less points than Kane in the two most recent Chicago Cup runs.  Stamkos had less points than Johnson and Kucherov last year too.  (It also helps that Kessel's line is basically on the third line of the Pens.  Favourable matchups anyone?)

2.  Leadership isn't something you just turn on in the playoffs after not being a great example in the regular season.  How many years did Kessel "lead" the Leafs into the playoffs?  One.  Had it been a full season, they were on a trajectory similar to a big-rig going off a cliff- which happened numerous times under his "leadership" in Toronto.