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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
 Posted - 11/04/2009 : 08:04:21
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Leafs fans......don't plan that parade just yet, but Kessel sure looked good in his Leaf debut. Well, aside from the HUGE blow he took from Ohlund which sent him to the dressing room briefly?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY7duXf9uqA
Overall, a pretty nice debut in which he could have had a few goals with any puck luck. I only saw the highlights as the game wasn't televised here but between what i saw, and what i read, it was pretty impressive for game 1. 10 shots on goal (not sure that includes the crossbar he hit) and almost 24 mins of ice time? Well, he must have been keeping in shape if nothing else?
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 08:53:26
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I thought Kessel was done for at least a month when he got smoked, my heart just about stopped.
The guy got back up and only missed a shift, im glad to see hes tougher than i thought.
He threw over 20 shots at the net, missed a couple times, had a couple blocked shots, hit the post at least twice and hit the net 10 times. He looked awesome despite the rust.
The leafs should have won that game by at least 3 or 4 goals if they had any finish, so many bounces just went against them. Im glad they are picking up points (points in their last 5 games) but i want to see some wins, man this has been a tough start to the season.
please stop saying "plan the parade.."
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 10:07:36
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I watched the whole game online, because I was damn curious as to how Kessel would look in his first game back.
Despite the low score, it was an exciting, fast-paced game to watch, and was well worth it!
My thoughts on Kessel:
- on the hit in the first period: a bad circumstance for hit where he was coming in at half speed, puck in the feet, and Ohlund was blocked from view somewhat. My heart sank, I had my head in my hands, and was in shock for a few minutes . . . then, Kessel came back out of the dressing room, licking his bloody lips (might have bit his tongue or lost a tooth even, commentator was saying), with a look of determination. He's ok!
He gamely played on, and had a few great chances in the next couple of shifts to end the period. What a gamer, I thought . . . where was this "soft" reputation? 'Cause that was a pretty solid hit from Ohlund . . .
- 10 or more shots: Man, was he robbed a few times! I know many will, based on results, say he was rusty . . . but to me, he didn't look rusty - the goalie (Nittimaki) looked awesome. Give credit to the goalie for keeping Kessel off the scoresheet, because he was a threat to score every shift, and could have easily had 3 or 4 goals (I know, ifs and buts . . .)
- Skills: he's pretty fast! Is this at 3/4 speed because of his long lay-off? I am excited at the prospect that he can be even faster, at any rate, he looked good. His puck control was good, his maneouverablity was excellent . . . and what a wrister! That's one of the deadliest and quickest wrist shots I have seen in a while. The kid has serious game, I am pleased!
- game shape: I was actually raising my eyebrows on the fact that he had SO much ice time, but I trust Kessel and the coach I guess. At any rate, he looked fine physically, and proved it when he came back after that hit without missing a beat.
OVERALL:
Very impressive debut, and he gets the highest rating I can give without getting a point, -A. There is hope yet, Leafers! 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Guest6815
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Posted - 11/04/2009 : 11:29:57
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Typical Leafers....pinning all their "team" aspirations on a single player.
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Guest9838
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Posted - 11/04/2009 : 11:39:26
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Typical leaf basher making unfounded assumptions.
The only thing people are saying is the Kessel looked decent, and the future is a little brighter with him than without him. |
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brentrock2
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
571 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 12:35:13
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HAHA LEAFS FANS!!
I would just love to keep watching that over and over again. lol
HABS RULE!!
brentrock2 |
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Sensfan101
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
500 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 12:48:24
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quote:
Originally posted by brentrock2
HAHA LEAFS FANS!!
I would just love to keep watching that over and over again. lol
HABS RULE!!
brentrock2
That Is exactly what I did Great clean hit by Ohlund |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 13:48:41
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It was a great hit, no doubt. kessel will be a little more careful from now on i think.
we are not pinning all of our hopes on 1 guy, we are just happy to have a good player finally. get more in here burke!
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Porkchop73
PickupHockey Pro
640 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2009 : 16:17:19
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Fully expected the leaf bashers to come out again in this thread, the title invites it.
But there is not a person who can say that Kessels first game back was nothing but impressive. Anybody who denies how good of a game he played knows nothing about hockey.
I was at the game and this is what I saw.
Good clean hit by Ohlund, he caught Kessel with his head down. I think Burke probably needed a defibrilator when Kessel was hit. I have never seen the ACC crowd go from so excited to dead silence in a heartbeat like it did when Kessel left the ice.
To come out of that hit and still manage to play the game he did was very impressive.
I also say he was the 3rd best player on the ice, the first being Niittymaki, the second being Gustavsson.
No other player stood out in the game the way Kessel did.
For leaf fans it highlighted something very big in my mind. It highlighted exactly what a player of Kessels calibre can bring to a team. The leafs certainly have not had that in a long time. Perhaps that is why leaf fans are so excited about Kessel.
If Kessel playes like that every night then Burkes risk pays off in spades.
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2009 : 00:50:40
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Porkchop.....trust me, i wasn't trying to "invite" the Leaf bashers out by the thread title, but i guess i should have known better? Anyway, i'm the furthest thing from a Leaf fan, however, i was giving my honest opinion of Kessel's first game, and i was very impressed.
Yeah, you're gonna get some guys loving the Ohlund hit, but you gotta expect that. No where did i see any Leaf fans claiming that Kessel was gonna make them a cup contender but you know the bashers will have at'er with stuff like that.
Anyway, i look forward to seeing how this kid can help improve the Leafs whether i like them or not! |
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Guest6815
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Posted - 11/05/2009 : 07:56:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest9838
Typical leaf basher making unfounded assumptions.
The only thing people are saying is the Kessel looked decent, and the future is a little brighter with him than without him.
At least I'm in the majority.... Leaf bashing is third or fourth on the most favourite list of Canadian passtimes. The glimmer you see at the end of the tunnel is just that....a glimmer. One player change for the Leafs does not make the team that much (dispropotionately) better imho. They still have a long way to go if they want to turn the tide of their current misfortune.
Leaf basher indeed. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2009 : 09:35:57
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6815....like i said, i'm not a Leaf fan, so it's weird i'm actually kinda sticking up for them, but please, show me where one of the posters here in this thread says anything that implies they're "pinnining all their teams aspirations on one player"? I made a post complimenting Kessel on his impressive first game back. (If anyone wasn't impressed considering the circumstances, they don't know hockey.) Matt and Slozo then replied with their agreement that he played well and that the Leafs coulda/shoulda won the game, as well as Slozo going a little deeper in his assessment including complimenting the opposing goalie.
I don't get it. If i see someone bashing a Leaf fan cuz their team is struggling, fine. If i see someone bash them because they think the Kessel trade was bad, fine, that's their opinion, but why put words into someone's mouth and claim that they think Kessel's their saviour???? 
Go back and read guest9838's comment. Short reply, but pretty much sums up what the Leaf fans on this thread were implying. |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2009 : 10:51:22
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Every single time the leafs get a new player someone comes on here and says "Leaf fans think that so and so is going to come in and be their savior"
It happened with Brad May last year... i mena c'mon, there wasnt a single leaf fan who thought that Brad May was going to do anything except beat up a couple of Habs and teach the kids about being an NHLer.
Gustavsson got the same treatment, we thought he was going to be a good goalie for us, the bashers told us to plan a parade route. Now with Kessel its the same thing, a leaf fan says "Finally a great young player on the team" and the bashers hear "We are going to win the cup this year".
Thats just the way it is I guess, I cant really blame them though. If I hated the Leafs Id probably have a lot of fun making fun of then too.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Guest4662
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Posted - 11/05/2009 : 13:22:21
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you cannot say that leafs fans dont say any of those things.. there are many delusional leafs fans who did in fact label the monster and kessel as saviors of the franchise and also claimed how great of an addition may was.
Im not saying all leafs fans but many.
kessel is skilled but he still has a lot to prove. savard was on the ice for many of his goals last year and for the ppl who dont think that makes a difference are pretty whacked. even when savard didnt gift wrap beautiful set ups for kessel. He was the one drawing all the defensive attention because he was the best player on the ice and that opened up room for kessel
now kessel has to work with the fact that he is the best player on the ice and defenses will be working to shut him down.
all he has proved so far is that he can shoot the puck alot and not score either and the leafs already have that problem |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2009 : 13:34:25
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Alright you've got a point there, i think im just trying to fight blanket statements.
Savard was on the ice for alot of Kessels goals is a great point. They were Kessels goals. Savard wasnt shooting the puck for him, I think Kessels role in all of these goals is very underrated.
Seriously, I implore you to youtube the best of Phil Kessel, you will see that he creates alot of his own chances and scores alot of goals stricly because of his shot and his speed. Obviously, having an elite setup man helps, but what good is the setup man if the guy he is feeding cant finish?
There is no doubt that the Leafs are now in the market for a centre for Kessel to play with, and Savard may end up being that guy if he gets to free agency, but as long as someone can feed kessel the puck on the rush in the neutral zone, or set him up on the powerplay (Kaberle) he should be able to produce just fine.
You do have a great point about the other team focusing on Kessel though, he is obviously the best forward the leafs have and every coach will single him out before the game. That will be a tough test for Phil. But at the same time, with the other teams focusing on Kessel it should create some room for guys like Blake, Hagman, Kulemin and Ponikarovsky.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Guest4662
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Posted - 11/05/2009 : 15:22:44
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i didnt say kessel didnt have a part in the goals he scored. i just meant having savard makes it much easier for kessel to get those chances. and a little bit of time makes a good scorer very dangerous. kessel will need to prove he can produce point as the top player. I do agree defences will focus on kessel which will open up chances for other leafs players. on the same note tho. kessel is no savard and the other leafs are no kessel.
he may prove he is a top player in the league and be a player the leafs can build around. or he may prove to be only a 50-60 point player and be a good support player.
until he proves to be the premier building block player. i am going to believe he is the same support player he was in boston |
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Matt_Roberts85
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
936 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 07:18:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest4662
i didnt say kessel didnt have a part in the goals he scored. i just meant having savard makes it much easier for kessel to get those chances. and a little bit of time makes a good scorer very dangerous. kessel will need to prove he can produce point as the top player. I do agree defences will focus on kessel which will open up chances for other leafs players. on the same note tho. kessel is no savard and the other leafs are no kessel.
he may prove he is a top player in the league and be a player the leafs can build around. or he may prove to be only a 50-60 point player and be a good support player.
until he proves to be the premier building block player. i am going to believe he is the same support player he was in boston
Hard to disagree with what you said. Ive got to beleive that Burke sort of feels the same way actually. While only 22 and lots of room to grow as a player, Kessel will definatley need some support around him. Burke has a 6 year deal and this is really his first full season as GM. You know he is going to target a few big name UFA's this summer (assuming guys like Marleau, Savard, Frolov, Jokinen or Kovalchuck make it to UFA) to augment what he has started.
Kessel will be a peice to the puzzle, but he is definatley not the final peice. The Leafs need help at centre ice big time and a power winger is needed as well. The hope is that Kadri will be a #1 or #2 centre for this team long term and Christian Hanson becomes that power winger the leafs need. IF they are able to get a few UFAs to go along with the young players already in the system, the Leafs roster could look drastically different, and drastically improved next year.
The leafs have approx. 22 mil coming off the books this year. Poni, Stempniak, Stajan, Mayers, Primeau, Exelby and Toskala are all UFA and they have a couple players who will be RFA. The window will be there for Burke to make the neccessary changes and try to build around the young core the leafs finally have. They just need to be patient with the young players and try to trim the fat. If they can get rid of Blake that would be huge.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E". |
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Guest6815
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Posted - 11/06/2009 : 10:11:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
6815....like i said, i'm not a Leaf fan, so it's weird i'm actually kinda sticking up for them, but please, show me where one of the posters here in this thread says anything that implies they're "pinnining all their teams aspirations on one player"? I made a post complimenting Kessel on his impressive first game back. (If anyone wasn't impressed considering the circumstances, they don't know hockey.) Matt and Slozo then replied with their agreement that he played well and that the Leafs coulda/shoulda won the game, as well as Slozo going a little deeper in his assessment including complimenting the opposing goalie.
I don't get it. If i see someone bashing a Leaf fan cuz their team is struggling, fine. If i see someone bash them because they think the Kessel trade was bad, fine, that's their opinion, but why put words into someone's mouth and claim that they think Kessel's their saviour????
Go back and read guest9838's comment. Short reply, but pretty much sums up what the Leaf fans on this thread were implying.
Quoting Slozo (an obvious Leafer) above.....
There is hope yet, Leafers!
What part of that DOESN'T sound like the Leafs fans are doing exactly as I implyed? Reading comprehension is not your long suit....obviously. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 15:40:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest6815
Quoting Slozo (an obvious Leafer) above.....
There is hope yet, Leafers!
What part of that DOESN'T sound like the Leafs fans are doing exactly as I implyed? Reading comprehension is not your long suit....obviously.
WTF? I have the reading comprehension problem? Here's what you "implied": "Typical Leafers....pinning all their "team" aspirations on a single player."
How does Slozo saying "there is hope yet Leafers" imply that they're pinning ALL of their hopes on one player? He's making a comment which to me implies that he feels, after a surprisingly strong first game, Kessel improves their club. Can you deny that? Did he say they're NOW a playoff team or better? Your next comment about Kessel not making them that much better, is your opinion. You even state that. That's a very general statement in that "that much" is difficult to gauge. I feel he makes them better, in fact, that's more than an opinion, it's pretty much a fact.
Ahhhh, forget it. Why do i bother with guys like you? It's clear to me that you're just simply a typical Leaf basher who'll twist words to help your cause. I regret even starting this thread now. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 22:49:38
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There is hope yet, Leafers!
. . .
Kessel is gonna take us to the promised land! Chaaaaaaaarge!!!
. . .
different.
Guest 6815: What was the big tip for you that I was a Leafs fan . . . the use of the word "we" when descibing the the Leafs roster/team? Use of the word "Leafers"? That big maple leaf symbol I have below my name?
Here is a poem for Guest 6815 on reading comprehension:
There once was a player named Kessel,
Who skated like Hogan could wrestle.
He came to the Leafs,
Who had their beliefs,
That Kessel might just make them a decent amount better than before because he was a pretty skilled young guy who had a wicked wrister and could skate hard.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 00:54:15
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Okay Slozo....maybe moderator isn't a paid position, but surely you must make a few bucks off that beautiful prose?
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Don't plan the parade route just yet..... 
