He is not playing like Blake at all. Hes had what...6 posts and like 20 legit scoring chances so far? Hes playing far better than Blake, but you dont notice it because all you're looking at is his 0 goals and comparing that to Blake.
- systemtool

blake had his share of posts and near misses as well

anyways i am done with this.

my point.

until kessel starts taking it to the inside his scoring problems will continue

He is not playing like Blake at all. Hes had what...6 posts and like 20 legit scoring chances so far? Hes playing far better than Blake, but you dont notice it because all you're looking at is his 0 goals and comparing that to Blake.
- systemtool

"Jason Blake" has become a lazy shorthand for "has a low shooting percentage".

SO HOW BOUT THEM BLUE JAYS

oh (frank) i give up

if you guys cant see the similarities between kessel slumping and constantly shooting from the outside and blake's game i dont know how to convince you otherwise

things is.. kessel has the talent to be much much more.. blake at his A game is equal to Kessel when he is slumping

thats all i have been trying to say all this time.
- Dozzer

thank you.
cause comparing kessel to blake in any way, shape or form is just silly.

Ovi got benched.. why not Kessel? And Kessel is hardly their best player now.. I'd be more inclined to take a hard look at Kadri over him.. say what you want but nazem is better defensively and has a better all around game and can get physical.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Because Kessel is playing far better than Ovi, and has been doing it since last year.

SO HOW BOUT THEM BLUE JAYS
- big_dion

They started chanting that last night...More of that and it's gonna get nasty in Leaf land..

I get what you are saying.

I just take issue with the notion that Kessel isn't doing anything right now - I still think he looks dangerous when he collects the puck in the neutral zone and starts moving. And I think he's still doing that regularly.
- Atomic Wedgie

would it be better if i clarified i meant kessel in the offensive zone?

i think you guys think i am saying that kessel IS jason blake.. i am not trying to say that at all and if i came across that way, i apologize, that was not my intent.

the only time that kessel goes to the net is when there is a clear lane right now. when he is scoring he takes it to the net and takes the bump of the defender who is there. he isnt doing that right now.

"Jason Blake" has become a lazy shorthand for "has a low shooting percentage".
- Leeman4Gilmour

Seems like it.

I also dont get this notion that Kessel has only been shooting from the outside, or making poor choices when shooting. He hasn't been doing anything different from his multiple 30 goal compains. The only difference seems to be...well...luck.

That goal would have lifted the team right back into the game. Instead, it set them back and 2 penalties later (almost a full 5-3) the game was all but over.
- systemtool

For me, the turning point of the game was McClemment's stupid unsportsmanlike penalty.

Simply unnacceptable. If I was Carlyle, he wouldn't see the ice again for the rest of the week.

Let's send a message: selfish plays will be punished.

Severely.

would it be better if i clarified i meant kessel in the offensive zone?

i think you guys think i am saying that kessel IS jason blake.. i am not trying to say that at all and if i came across that way, i apologize, that was not my intent.

the only time that kessel goes to the net is when there is a clear lane right now. when he is scoring he takes it to the net and takes the bump of the defender who is there. he isnt doing that right now.
- Dozzer

Why dont we just leave Blake out of this all together?

Great. Because he's consistently led the team in that category.

Next.
- Leeman4Gilmour

I didn't say that was a perfect stat dumbass. I said it was as close to one as you could get.. When he's scoring 10 more goals then anyone else then he should have the most. If you think Kessel isn't streaky and doesn't score a lot of untimely goals then you don't know poop about poop.

Seems like it.

I also dont get this notion that Kessel has only been shooting from the outside, or making poor choices when shooting. He hasn't been doing anything different from his multiple 30 goal compains. The only difference seems to be...well...luck.
- systemtool

How long can he go before"bad Luck" gets removed from the situation??

For me, the turning point of the game was McClemment's stupid unsportsmanlike penalty.

Simply unnacceptable. If I was Carlyle, he wouldn't see the ice again for the rest of the week.

Let's send a message: selfish plays will be punished.

Severely.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed. That was a boneheaded penalty to say the least. That said, that goal was good and it would have helped the Leafs gain back alot of the momentum they lost from the 1st period.

I really do think its time Frattin and Kadri saw more ice time, especially on the PP. Im sick of watching the predictable pass around just to set up Kessel or Phaneufs shot. Gotta change things up.

The problem with your point is that he is not just shooting from the outside. Hes shooting from every possible angle.
- systemtool

but he isnt creating lanes for himself

when he is scoring he drives the net regardless of a defender being there or not

i guess thats my point. he is staying to the outside too much. take the bump and go to the net. he will start scoring.

maybe if i put it this way:

poopty slumping kessel = blake at his best

kessel playing his A game = blake to the power of a billion

is that better?

A slump where he's doing everything right, and suddenly his three consecutive 30+ goal seasons (including his most recent where he finished 6th in the league in scoring) mean absolutely nothing.

We are now comparing him unfavorably to the most useless, hated Leaf in recent memory.

Is anyone starting to see why a top free agent would never sign here? People would eat Getzlaf alive.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Kessels entire game is scoring.. And he's not doing that. So clearly he's not doing everything right.

For me, the turning point of the game was McClemment's stupid unsportsmanlike penalty.

Simply unnacceptable. If I was Carlyle, he wouldn't see the ice again for the rest of the week.

Let's send a message: selfish plays will be punished.

Severely.
- Atomic Wedgie

That was a half ass snow job too. If hes going to take a penalty make it worth it.

oh (frank) i give up

if you guys cant see the similarities between kessel slumping and constantly shooting from the outside and blake's game i dont know how to convince you otherwise

things is.. kessel has the talent to be much much more.. blake at his A game is equal to Kessel when he is slumping

thats all i have been trying to say all this time.
- Dozzer

I hear what you're saying, but I've yet to hear somebody give some concrete examples of things he should be doing differently.

All you hear is basically a variation on the same "he needs to go to the net more" platitude.

How? If Kessel could drive the net on a 1-on-3, I'm sure he would. There is, in fact, nobody in the NHL who drives the net on a 1-on-3 successfully (aside the odd highlight reel goal that you see once per year).

The reason Kessel looks like a perimieter shooter is because he gets chances that literally nobody else on the ice would get. So what's he going to do? Dump the puck into the corner and head to the bench rather than take a shot?

It's like the error stat in baseball. Sometimes, very good defensive players get charged with errors simply because they fail to make a play on a ball that nobody else would get to.

New blog

Sickening

I didn't say that was a perfect stat dumbass. I said it was as close to one as you could get.. When he's scoring 10 more goals then anyone else then he should have the most. If you think Kessel isn't streaky and doesn't score a lot of untimely goals then you don't know poop about poop.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

What's your point?

That in the best approximation of how meaningful a goal is, Kessel's statistical leadership in that category is meaningless?

How long can he go before"bad Luck" gets removed from the situation??
- Fruitcakenipple

Cant give him too much more rope. But he does have the benefit of the doubt because he has proven to be a consistent 30 goal scorer. Takes time, especially coming off a lock out with no camp.

That said, I give him until the quarter point of the season, which isnt that far off.

blake had his share of posts and near misses as well

anyways i am done with this.

my point.

until kessel starts taking it to the inside his scoring problems will continue
- Dozzer

Good idea Bruce




P.S. You're still my favorite zebra

How long can he go before"bad Luck" gets removed from the situation??
- Fruitcakenipple

Last night, first period. Kessel put himself in perfect position for an easy tap-in.

And Bozak can't put the puck on his tape - the defenceman tips the pass.

That's not Kessel's fault - it's 100% Bozak.

Last night, first period. Kessel put himself in perfect position for an easy tap-in.

And Bozak can't put the puck on his tape - the defenceman tips the pass.

That's not Kessel's fault - it's 100% Bozak.
- Atomic Wedgie

Kostka made that pass across.

Cant give him too much more rope. But he does have the benefit of the doubt because he has proven to be a consistent 30 goal scorer. Takes time, especially coming off a lock out with no camp.

That said, I give him until the quarter point of the season, which isnt that far off.
- systemtool

Jim Ralpf said this morning that if he doesn't score this week the heat/pressure is going to start...


I agree with him..