I would say he has been the media's whipping boy.
- AdamFrench

And fans of the other 29 teams as well.

Hey Marty......... me thinks Ryan White never wears the Habs jersey again.

What you think?
- faceto27

He's done. Finito.

Also, he's a (frank)ing idiot.

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 4m

Carlyle apparently went into room in second intermission last night and jokingly ripped on players. Had them all laughing going back on ice.
- faceto27

I heard that last night. I loved it.

It reminded me of a game from the late 90's or early 2000's... Brodeur only had to face 5 shots after two periods.

A coach can't yell and scream and flip out all the time or the players tune him out. Carlyle is just so far ahead of Wilson, it's unreal. This is a guy who knows how the game works. He knows how people work.

He's done. Finito.

Also, he's a (frank)ing idiot.
- Pecafan Fan

Did Price change his pads?

And that's not even mentioning his superb passing skills. He's not just a goal scorer anymore.

Kessel is the best player 4 years later in the "Kessel" deal. Tnd it's supposed to be the worst in NHl history? Shouldn't Kessel be terrible or on another team if that was the case?
- RogerRoeper

I find it funny how conventional wisdom says that whoever got the best player won the deal.

Except when the Leafs got the best player.

I have never been shy about not liking the deal and why. I think it is ridiculous to say that, at this point, the Leafs didn't get the best player. Kessel is also just entering his prime for like the next 5 or 6 years so it isn't like we gave up youth for an old guy.

And fans of the other 29 teams as well.
- RogerRoeper

Who Kessel?


He gets lots of flack from Leaf fans... last night folks were crapping on him till he woke up and scored.

Kunitz is the 2013 version of Anson carter. He is a good player but producing at a level only because of his linemate. Remember Mario Lemiuex made Rob brown an all-star. When he got traded he was in the minors within a year. Kunitz without crosby is a 40 - 50 pt player. Im not saying he is bad but to think he is worthy of a top 10 player in the NHL is laughable. I wouldnt even put him in the top 30.
- Bluechip23

Outside of this year most players playing with Crosby haven't really exploded offensively. Hossa didn't magically score more goals, Kunitz was a 20-25 goal scorer in Anaheim before the trade and still was until this year and he played with Crosby before. Dupuis was a 10-20 goal guy, now he's over 20 so you can make him this "Rob Brown" player, yet his play without Crosby has been nuts APR 13 '13 PIT @ FLA 0 1 1 1
APR 11 '13 PIT @ TBL 1 2 3 3
APR 9 '13 PIT @ CAR 1 2 3 3
APR 5 '13 NYR @ PIT 0 1 1 0 2
APR 3 '13 PIT @ NYR 1 0 1 0 0

You have to love Crosby, he's the best player in the game, but he's not really pulled a Joe Thornton, "hey stand in front of the net Jonathan while I bank pucks off you," year yet for anybody playing with him.

Once crosby returned last year. Kunitz was 28 pts in his last 28 games in 2012. I am sure crosby had something to do with that finish. Which essentially means he was 33 pts in 54 games without Crosby. So without crosby he is 50 pt player. Nothing special. Just a solid player.

I'll repeat the question.

Please, explain last year.
- Pecafan Fan

Malkin (took a guess)

Who Kessel?


He gets lots of flack from Leaf fans... last night folks were crapping on him till he woke up and scored.
- robin_steele264

dude the team had 5 shots through 2 periods lol everyone was getting dumped on except Reimer.

I find it funny how conventional wisdom says that whoever got the best player won the deal.

Except when the Leafs got the best player.

I have never been shy about not liking the deal and why. I think it is ridiculous to say that, at this point, the Leafs didn't get the best player. Kessel is also just entering his prime for like the next 5 or 6 years so it isn't like we gave up youth for an old guy.
- Aetherial

Leafs won the deal.

End of discussion

Who Kessel?


He gets lots of flack from Leaf fans... last night folks were crapping on him till he woke up and scored.
- robin_steele264

Leaf fans have been the most critical of Kessel.

shame on them

I heard that last night. I loved it.

It reminded me of a game from the late 90's or early 2000's... Brodeur only had to face 5 shots after two periods.

A coach can't yell and scream and flip out all the time or the players tune him out. Carlyle is just so far ahead of Wilson, it's unreal. This is a guy who knows how the game works. He knows how people work.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Besides... it isn't like the every single player on the Leafs wasn't aware they were getting beaten everywhere on the ice at the time.

Really, what could the coach have said?

Malkin
- Aetherial

His stats have been pretty good his whole career. And no, he didn't play with Crosby his whole career.

Not sure why it's so hard to give him credit.... maybe it's because.... he's underrated?

I find it funny how conventional wisdom says that whoever got the best player won the deal.

Except when the Leafs got the best player.

I have never been shy about not liking the deal and why. I think it is ridiculous to say that, at this point, the Leafs didn't get the best player. Kessel is also just entering his prime for like the next 5 or 6 years so it isn't like we gave up youth for an old guy.
- Aetherial

When Bergeron and Krejci went down, and rather than rising to the occassion, Seguin was demoted to third line winger to shield him from the pressure, it certainly cast a new light on the deal.

I think that when all is said and done, Kessel will have been better than Seguin. It really all comes down to Hamilton at this point.

Mmmm coffee. Anyone else need some?

Edit: Kessel is awesome!!! I love that guy.

His stats have been pretty good his whole career. And no, he didn't play with Crosby his whole career.

Not sure why it's so hard to give him credit.... maybe it's because.... he's underrated?
- Pecafan Fan

I see what you did there... not bad

I think you got everyone going because you compared him to Kessel in a round about way. But I think we've all agreed Kessel is the far superior talent so we're kind of arguing in circles now

His stats have been pretty good his whole career. And no, he didn't play with Crosby his whole career.

Not sure why it's so hard to give him credit.... maybe it's because.... he's underrated?
- Pecafan Fan

he is a sollid 50 - 60 pt guy. No issue giving him credit like that. He isnt a 70 or 80 pt player unless he is playing with a Sid type player.

I see what you did there... not bad

I think you got everyone going because you compared him to Kessel in a round about way. But I think we've all agreed Kessel is the far superior talent so we're kind of arguing in circles now
- dragus84

Of course Kessel is better. Everyone will tell you that.

His stats have been pretty good his whole career. And no, he didn't play with Crosby his whole career.

Not sure why it's so hard to give him credit.... maybe it's because.... he's underrated?
- Pecafan Fan

yes he is

Of course Kessel is better. Everyone will tell you that.
- Pecafan Fan

Bring back Larry Robinson.

you need to change you gif based on mood... change the color of the card to yellow at times...

make it like a mood ring (for those of old enough in the crowd).
- BorjeFan4Ever

Maybe a green card for when everything is gravy?

Bring back Larry Robinson.
- Aetherial

2nd this

His stats have been pretty good his whole career. And no, he didn't play with Crosby his whole career.

Not sure why it's so hard to give him credit.... maybe it's because.... he's underrated?
- Pecafan Fan

Who did he play with mainly while he was in Anaheim? Any combination of Getzlaf/Perry/Selanne I would assume. He's has had a good career for a undrafted player, but he's benefited from playing with high end players pretty much his entire career.

Who did he play with mainly while he was in Anaheim? Any combination of Getzlaf/Perry/Selanne I would assume. He's has had a good career for a undrafted player, but he's benefited from playing with high end players pretty much his entire career.
- p_zub

Yeah, I really don't get the big deal.

He's a 50-60 point player on the downside of his career having a monster season (that appears to be an anamoly at age 34).

He plays with some of the most gifted offensive players in the league and it probably doesn't hurt that Pittsburgh is playing some wide open, run and gun hockey this year.