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Phil Kessel

Bozak is up to 241st in shots.  71st among centers!  Now the opposition won't know where the puck is coming from. 

I still like the idea of a OV/Grabovski/Komarov line.  Although like said, questions of OV's health would have to be raised.  To me it seems like the team also got tired of OV's act.
 
Some players do well in big games. When it's a gold medal or a stanley cup on the line there are certain players that step it up. Gilmour was one. Clark was one. To a lesser extent (for me anyway) Sundin was one. Outside of the Leafs we all know many examples of players like this. They are able to take that nervous energy and adrenaline and turn it into results.

Other players are not like that. Other players feel that nervous energy and they either tense up or worry about failing (or whatever it is) and they just can't rise to the occasion. The occasion is bigger than them.

I think it might just be that simple and I think Kessel is in the latter group not the former. That is why he is an awesome complimentary player and not the go to clutch guy. Wanting Kessel to be the former rather than the latter is a bit like wanting a zebra to lose it's stripes.

Thinking about it this way I am finding it a lot easier to lighten up on Phil. I genuinely think this slump is taking a toll on him. And the longer this goes the more it takes it's toll and the worse it seems to be for him. I feel bad for him. He is trying and it is weighing on him.

Like many others I think when he gets one he will lighten up on himself and suddenly get several.

 
Kessel has 6 assists in 10 games, sure no goals yet, but is that because teams are covering him more? Leaving the kid line open more? Who knows, but if Kessel was having a bad season, he'd have fewer points and his defensive play would be like past years. This year his defensive play has improved a lot, the goals will come. So to the people wanting Kessel gone because all they can look at is the goals total from him, go cheer for another team, Kessel's goal total is the least of the problems right now, considering the rest of his play.

Go Leafs Go
 
As per my earlier post here. I honestly would not mind seeing Kessel tried at centre.

Lupul Kessel JVR (both his goals last night he came down on off wing)

Would certain open space for Kessel and spread the scoring pressure around. He's a great passer and has an improved work ethic. His speed would certainly make it interesting coming down the centre of the ice.

Question marks are can he be defensively responsible enough and face-off. When he was drafted though he was considered a centre. Kind of smallish as main corner guy any wayu?

Your thoughts?
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
I'd like to see a Powerplay with Kessel-Kadri-Frattin-Phaneuf-Grabo.

I think Grabo and Kadri could rotate as the setup man on the point, we'd have Frattin or Phaneuf as the net presence. I'd also be willing to swap JVR out with Phaneuf and have him at the net.

Time to think outside the box, what they are doing isn't working and a lot of teams are trying forwards on the point.
Click to expand...

I like the creativity, but you want to run a PP with either 5 forwards, or 4 forwards and one defenceman, and then have the defenceman in front of the net?
 
RyanSH12 said:
Kessel has 6 assists in 10 games, sure no goals yet, but is that because teams are covering him more?
Click to expand...

Kessel is also playing 21+ minutes a night with nearly 5 of those minutes coming on the power play. As last night's game demonstrated pretty well, you can get a couple of assists and not have much to do with either goal.
 
RyanSH12 said:
Kessel has 6 assists in 10 games, sure no goals yet, but is that because teams are covering him more?
Click to expand...

No. Kessel's always been the biggest scoring threat on the team and has always drawn the most attention from the defense.  Also, if teams are trying to cover him more, they wouldn't appear to be doing a very good job --- I doubt they are going for the defensive strategy of "we're going to let him take the most shots in the league because it's Kessel and he doesn't score when he shoots"
 
moon111 said:
Bozak is up to 241st in shots.  71st among centers!  Now the opposition won't know where the puck is coming from. 

I still like the idea of a OV/Grabovski/Komarov line.  Although like said, questions of OV's health would have to be raised.  To me it seems like the team also got tired of OV's act.
Click to expand...

I think he'd find his game and play awesome for the Leafs if they could ever get him. He loves the attention, and where else would he get more than in Toronto?

Kessel, Franson and a 2nd for OV. I might even switch beer brands for a while if Nonis could pull that off.  ;)
 
It's hilarious that Holzer gets a goal on a weak shot in his first game and Kessel can't buy a goal.
 
Nik Gida said:
RyanSH12 said:
Kessel has 6 assists in 10 games, sure no goals yet, but is that because teams are covering him more?
Click to expand...

Kessel is also playing 21+ minutes a night with nearly 5 of those minutes coming on the power play. As last night's game demonstrated pretty well, you can get a couple of assists and not have much to do with either goal.
Click to expand...

Kessel is denied several goals out of happenstance:  That's a paddlin'.
Kessel is credited with several assists out of happenstance:  That's a paddlin'.
 
Nik Gida said:
Kessel is also playing 21+ minutes a night with nearly 5 of those minutes coming on the power play. As last night's game demonstrated pretty well, you can get a couple of assists and not have much to do with either goal.
Click to expand...

What was wrong with Kessel's pass to Kostka that set up Holzer's goal?

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=802&id=199140&lang=en
 
Heroic Shrimp said:
Kessel is denied several goals out of happenstance:  That's a paddlin'.
Click to expand...

Wayne Gretzky: The Luckiest Hockey Player Ever by Heroic Shrimp, coming soon to a remainder bin near you.
 
Michael said:
I think it might just be that simple and I think Kessel is in the latter group not the former. That is why he is an awesome complimentary player and not the go to clutch guy. Wanting Kessel to be the former rather than the latter is a bit like wanting a zebra to lose it's stripes.

Thinking about it this way I am finding it a lot easier to lighten up on Phil. I genuinely think this slump is taking a toll on him. And the longer this goes the more it takes it's toll and the worse it seems to be for him. I feel bad for him. He is trying and it is weighing on him.

Like many others I think when he gets one he will lighten up on himself and suddenly get several.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure that one necessarily has anything to do with the other. Players who get up for big games and score big goals are still prone to slumps. And, for what it is worth, Kessel's playoff numbers are actually pretty good 9 goals and 15 points in 15 games on his first contract isn't that shabby...

Where we agree, though, is that he's frustrated by the slump, and that once he starts scoring, it is likely going to come in droves.
 
Rob said:
What was wrong with Kessel's pass to Kostka that set up Holzer's goal?
Click to expand...

Well, A) it was to Fraser, not Kostka and B) nothing was wrong with it. It was a perfectly good pass to the back end before Fraser held it for a while before passing it to Holzer who shot it through a bunch of players while Kessel was still on the side boards.
 
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