Kin
New member
TML fan said:I'm good where I am.
Hold on. You mean you're not going to be reasoned out of the ridiculous stance you've taken that flies in the face of all logic?
Heavens, I feel a fainting spell coming on.
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TML fan said:I'm good where I am.
Saint Nik said:TML fan said:I'm good where I am.
Hold on. You mean you're not going to be reasoned out of the ridiculous stance you've taken that flies in the face of all logic?
Heavens, I feel a fainting spell coming on.
13 said:Just what the hell are you arguing here exactly?
Significantly Insignificant said:Saying that he can be intimidated does not mean that he is not effective. It just means that there is a way to take him off his game.
13 said:So Nik, what you're saying is you agree with these types of polls? Or SI is credible when it comes to hockey? Or ya think Kessel shoulda dropped the gloves with P K? Or you actually believe Kessel is "the easiest" all-star to intimidate? Or ya just like to argue in damn near every single thread in here? Or you're just real, real fond of posting and seeing your name alot? Just what the hell are you arguing here exactly?
Bullfrog said:Significantly Insignificant said:Saying that he can be intimidated does not mean that he is not effective. It just means that there is a way to take him off his game.
Exactly how I see it.
hockeyfan1 said:From: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/02/15/another-poll-another-jab-at-the-toronto-maple-leafs/
You get the feeling that the only reason Sports Illustrated or anyone else conducts anonymous polls of hockey players these days is a way to poke fun at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
...Toronto is going to end up as the punch line.
Coach no one wants to play for? Toronto?s Ron Wilson. Overrated player? Toronto?s Dion Phaneuf. Least likely to win a Stanley Cup? Worst in-game entertainment? Smelliest dressing rooms? Most boring mascot? Blandest concession food? Just fill in the blanks.
...Toronto?s Phil Kessel was named the easiest player to intimidate in the magazine?s Feb. 20th issue (receiving 15% of the votes from a survey of 145 players) in yet another anonymous poll conducted by SI, it was another jab and another reason to snicker at the so-called Centre of the Hockey Universe.
Saint Nik said:The point isn't that Semin is better than Kessel or that they're the same. I know some of the other questions raised about Semin. The point is that they're both "effective" player and that has a certain value. But, let's be fair, one of the reasons most people would be hesitant to throw a ton of money at Semin is that there are real questions about whether or not he can get it done when the chips are down.
Andy007 said:Saint Nik said:Sarge said:SURPRISE FOLKS... HE'S SOFT! So what? Move on.
So what? It affects the team. They're on a 4 game losing streak, barely hanging onto a playoff spot and that's an issue going forward.
It's an issue in the same way that Brown's lack of scoring is an issue. I think I'd like to see a goalie start winning games before Kessel taking a hit against the boards.
Bullfrog said:Definitely a valid point for discussion. Kessel's career average (in only 15 games) for points-per-game in the playoffs is 1.0. On it's own, that's impressive, but I don't know if it's considered statistically significant or not.
hockeyfan1 said:Did Gretzky bodycheck? No.
Mike Bossy? No. (He was checked much more than Gretzky ever was, the reason for his back problems and subsequent retirement at the age of 30).
Do the Sedins dish it out? No.
Saint Nik said:13 said:So Nik, what you're saying is you agree with these types of polls? Or SI is credible when it comes to hockey? Or ya think Kessel shoulda dropped the gloves with P K? Or you actually believe Kessel is "the easiest" all-star to intimidate? Or ya just like to argue in damn near every single thread in here? Or you're just real, real fond of posting and seeing your name alot? Just what the hell are you arguing here exactly?
Honestly, if you haven't been able to keep up now I've got serious doubts that slowing it down for you will help. However, being a man of the people, I'll spare a few secs to see if we can't get it down to your level and answer your questions in order:
1. This is tough as I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. Do I agree with the results? Or do I agree with the aims? In the case of the latter, I don't have any issue with the aims. SI polls players about hockey things. There's nothing sinister about that. As for the results, I genuinely don't know if Kessel is the easiest player in the league to intimidate. To know that, I think, you'd have to watch other players as much as I watch Kessel. I do think the results reflect the reality that Kessel is a player who can be intimidated and I think it's telling that his name came up the most when SI asked this particular question.
2. I think SI is as "credible" as just about anyone else when it comes to hockey. But their credibility isn't really the issue here. I believe that SI would, regardless of the sport, report the results of a poll honestly and, again, this is a poll of NHL players who I do think are fairly credible when it comes to hockey.
3. I genuinely don't care if he does or not. What's at issue is whether or not he can get knocked off his game by physical play.
4. Again, I don't have an opinion on whether he's the "easiest". I believe that his name came up the most when SI asked the 145 players and I think that reflects the reality I've seen with my own two eyes that Kessel can be knocked off his game.
5. I genuinely don't. I'd much prefer it if people read my opinions and just accepted them as bible law on account of them being exceedingly well reasoned. That people continue to disagree with me is actually a source of frustration.
6. I am fond of posting here. Enough to make me the #3 poster on the boards. There's 750 posts separating me and Sarge though, which really gets me down. Trying to catch him, I think, would really cut into my drinking and as much as I like posting, I don't like it that much.
7. It's hard to re-state it all but I think there are several key points. One, people shouldn't be such whiny babies when it comes to things like this. SI polls players. There's nothing inherently dishonest or conspiratorial about that. When SI released their player poll saying that Leafs fans were the most knowledgeable in the league nobody here said "SI? They don't know about hockey and they're just doing it to get page hits - wahhhh". Our opinions shouldn't be dictated by whether we're being flattered or challenged.
Second, it raises a fair point about the deficiencies of Kessel's game, no more, no less. If SI had accompanied a poll like this with an article calling Kessel a wimpy little girl, then I'd buy the bleating and the persecution complex but this is just the opinions of players and it rings true. How much you want to read into this is up to you but to attack SI as though they're being spiteful towards the Leafs or challenge the validity of the idea of taking a player poll doesn't make someone sound all that rational.
Third, like it or not, this is an issue for the Leafs going forward.