What's wrong with Phil Kessel?

He doesn't give a flying (frank). That's what's wrong with Phil Kessel.

Funniest (and most accurate) comment i read from that video of Mitch Marner that you did was, MM has done more back checking as a 4 year old than PK ever did in his whole career.

Tanner stick to just covering oel, you lack General NHL and team knowledge to start writing and commenting on any other franchises.

All you do is troll for hits bc no one could in here to read about the dumpster fire coyotes franchise

Tanner stick to just covering oel, you lack General NHL and team knowledge to start writing and commenting on any other franchises.

All you do is troll for hits bc no one could in here to read about the dumpster fire coyotes franchise
- DDM-Coga

Oh yeah, here we go. Same guys every time. Buddy, I'll put my knowledge up against your sad troll shtick any day.

Oh yeah, here we go. Same guys every time. Buddy, I'll put my knowledge up against your sad troll shtick any day.
- James_Tanner

Oh yeah, here we go. Same guys every time. Buddy, I'll put my knowledge up against your sad troll shtick any day.
- James_Tanner

You bring it upon yourself when you post ridiculous claims and insights into a team you don't know anything about.

Here's a tip, avs traded mcginn too, so they needed to replace him in the top 9, that's where a cheaper than mcginn comeau comes into play.

So he isn't part of ror "replacement" when you try and skew the cap situation. It's taking two pending 2016 in mcginn and ror for the same cap space they used to get soderberg, comeau, zads, Grigo. Ror is a hell of a player but the move helps balance the roster, it's never easy trading a guy like him but the avs did well with what they added to their roster

And soderberg is a decent replacement for now, he had a similar offensive production as ror with having Kelly and eriksson as linemates vs the new linemates of Landy and Mack that ror had. So to mock that shows lack of knowledge of the team and players.

You bring it upon yourself when you post ridiculous claims and insights into a team you don't know anything about.

Here's a tip, avs traded mcginn too, so they needed to replace him in the top 9, that's where a cheaper than mcginn comeau comes into play.

So he isn't part of ror "replacement" when you try and skew the cap situation. It's taking two pending 2016 in mcginn and ror for the same cap space they used to get soderberg, comeau, zads, Grigo. Ror is a hell of a player but the move helps balance the roster, it's never easy trading a guy like him but the avs did well with what they added to their roster
- DDM-Coga

To be fair (and please don't think i'm defending Tanner), you were completely wrong about the phenomenal two-way players that are Statsny and ROR.

Oilers are one of the best teams in the NHL...god you are a straight loon Tanner..

To be fair (and please don't think i'm defending Tanner), you were completely wrong about the phenomenal two-way players that are Statsny and ROR.
- walshyleafsfan

Wrong in what regards?

I'm an Avs fan. I've watch ROR play since he has been there. Don't get me wrong... He is a skilled player and any team would love to have him but for those of you singing his praises and acting like he is the second coming of Datsyuk or something... Well, he ain't. Or rather, he hasn't shown NEAR that potential.

17G, 38A and a -5 last year for the Avs. And you might say, "Yeah, but that team wasn't very good". Well, the year before when the Avs WERE a good team, he had, 28G, 36A and was -1.

Yeah, those are pretty decent numbers but are they really WORTH paying $7.5mil a year for? When did that happen that that sub-30 or sub-20 goal-scorers are getting mega contracts for long term?

I wish good luck to both Buffalo and ROR but making that remark about it being a bad decision (and the smart-arse comment about how the team is becoming known for them), well, that remains to be seen.

It all comes down to performance and pay and so far ROR hasn't performed anywhere NEAR that amount.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read with the Voynov situation that he would be deported? Wouldn't that make him ineligible for the NHL regardless because he couldn't leave home country?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read with the Voynov situation that he would be deported? Wouldn't that make him ineligible for the NHL regardless because he couldn't leave home country?
- arichardson22

Deportation is a separate issue by a different agency. lakingsinsider.com has the full details if interested.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read with the Voynov situation that he would be deported? Wouldn't that make him ineligible for the NHL regardless because he couldn't leave home country?
- arichardson22

Forgive me if I'm not remembering correctly.

The DA said that Voynov would be deported after he served his sentence or whatever. The judge said it was a decision for immigration not criminal court so the matter is still unresolved.

First of all, I don't hate the Kings. I would say the exact same thing about any team that did this, so give me a little credit for integrity.

Last time I checked, it isn't OK to do the wrong thing and say "hey it's just business."
- James_Tanner

Heh, amen. One of the older excuses used by pathetic people. But, as was pointed out, we will never know the real details which is why we're left to speculate. I'd like to think if we were Kings Mgmt, we would have wanted rid of the problem players too. How they went about it is the big question mark.

The Kessel enigma. A guy that can move like that isn't out of shape, he's blowing by other players who are as fit as can be. What? He's not allowed to indulge in other foods once in awhile? Sure his defensive game can be improved but let's not call one of the fastest players out there out of shape. Statements made by people who are likely far slower than Kessel!

People will always be critics even when they have no credibility. It seems to be a human trait to criticize one another. We don't have the right to judge another person and yet we do it. It's something we all have to work on.

And the people who say the Oilers should be improved for tanking year after year...sad part is, they weren't always tanking. As far as the picks...this many years removed from the playoffs...picks don't mean much when the fanbase has suffered this long. Talk to the season ticket holders, ask them if that was money well spent. Picks quite often are duds so I'll take a winning season over picks any day.

You bring it upon yourself when you post ridiculous claims and insights into a team you don't know anything about.

Here's a tip, avs traded mcginn too, so they needed to replace him in the top 9, that's where a cheaper than mcginn comeau comes into play.

So he isn't part of ror "replacement" when you try and skew the cap situation. It's taking two pending 2016 in mcginn and ror for the same cap space they used to get soderberg, comeau, zads, Grigo. Ror is a hell of a player but the move helps balance the roster, it's never easy trading a guy like him but the avs did well with what they added to their roster

And soderberg is a decent replacement for now, he had a similar offensive production as ror with having Kelly and eriksson as linemates vs the new linemates of Landy and Mack that ror had. So to mock that shows lack of knowledge of the team and players.
- DDM-Coga

This.
Seriously Tanner missed the entire trade and focused on 2 players that equal salary to ROR. What a flawed concept/argument.

Forgive me if I'm not remembering correctly.

The DA said that Voynov would be deported after he served his sentence or whatever. The judge said it was a decision for immigration not criminal court so the matter is still unresolved.
- PoketheBear

Correct unresolved until DHS rules on his immigration status.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I read with the Voynov situation that he would be deported? Wouldn't that make him ineligible for the NHL regardless because he couldn't leave home country?
- arichardson22

Pretty sure Lebrun mentioned that since he pleaded to a misdemeanor, he avoids deportation. On a side note, I don'the post often but this blog had some very good thoughts. Don't necessarily agree with all of them, but thought provoking nonetheless.

Kessel is paid like an absolute top-tier player but in reality is an excellent complementary player. That is why his value is somewhat low. Also he's coming off a lousy season.

----

That Oilers' defensive depth chart is not very impressive. It looks like Sekera (who is 100% legit), one kid (Schultz) with offensive talent but cannot play defense in the NHL and three prospects, one of whom (Reinhart) is not nearly quick enough to play in the NHL yet.

The Oilers will be entertaining, but they are not anywhere close to being a top team in the league. Even the playoffs will be a stretch. I'll be impressed if they are still legitimately in the playoff picture come March. They obviously look better on paper now, but so do the Kings, Ducks, Sharks and Flames, while the Central Division is ALL content.

Crosby didn't lift the Pens to the playoffs as a rookie. Neither did Stamkos. Tavares didn't get there until season 4. I have no doubt McDavid will be good, but let's see him play a game first.

As for Mike Richards, word is that the Kings were ready to buy him out last summer. He pleaded for another chance and Lombardi granted it to him. While this all seems awfully convenient for the Kings now, I think they really were earnestly trying to work with him.

Mapanen is a book or bust prospect. He's a defensive liability on the ice. No way is he a two way player.

Oilers are one of the best teams in the NHL...god you are a straight loon Tanner..
- EnzoD

I guess I could be like everyone else and say that after Christmas. I just don't subscribe to the school of thought that says you to assume last seasons standings will be completely replicated.

I'm an Avs fan. I've watch ROR play since he has been there. Don't get me wrong... He is a skilled player and any team would love to have him but for those of you singing his praises and acting like he is the second coming of Datsyuk or something... Well, he ain't. Or rather, he hasn't shown NEAR that potential.

17G, 38A and a -5 last year for the Avs. And you might say, "Yeah, but that team wasn't very good". Well, the year before when the Avs WERE a good team, he had, 28G, 36A and was -1.

Yeah, those are pretty decent numbers but are they really WORTH paying $7.5mil a year for? When did that happen that that sub-30 or sub-20 goal-scorers are getting mega contracts for long term?

I wish good luck to both Buffalo and ROR but making that remark about it being a bad decision (and the smart-arse comment about how the team is becoming known for them), well, that remains to be seen.

It all comes down to performance and pay and so far ROR hasn't performed anywhere NEAR that amount.
- jratliff

The Avs weren't a good team the year before, they were a team that got lucky, went against the odds of probability and had success despite being brutally out-possessed. They weren't good.

This isn't meant as a shot against the Avs who I have nothing personally against, but 100% they are becoming known for making terrible decisions.

Also, I don't think plus minus means anything.

ROR is worth every penny.

As for Mike Richards, word is that the Kings were ready to buy him out last summer. He pleaded for another chance and Lombardi granted it to him. While this all seems awfully convenient for the Kings now, I think they really were earnestly trying to work with him.
- Snowblind

You are correct in this statement. So many fans wanted Richards gone including me. There were no signs of him improving and it came back and bit DL in the butt. It sucks what's going on right now with this team and the stupidity of these players who WERE employed by the organization at the time. Voynov being obviously the biggest idiot so far

Kessel is paid like an absolute top-tier player but in reality is an excellent complementary player. That is why his value is somewhat low. Also he's coming off a lousy season.

----

That Oilers' defensive depth chart is not very impressive. It looks like Sekera (who is 100% legit), one kid (Schultz) with offensive talent but cannot play defense in the NHL and three prospects, one of whom (Reinhart) is not nearly quick enough to play in the NHL yet.

The Oilers will be entertaining, but they are not anywhere close to being a top team in the league. Even the playoffs will be a stretch. I'll be impressed if they are still legitimately in the playoff picture come March. They obviously look better on paper now, but so do the Kings, Ducks, Sharks and Flames, while the Central Division is ALL content.

Crosby didn't lift the Pens to the playoffs as a rookie. Neither did Stamkos. Tavares didn't get there until season 4. I have no doubt McDavid will be good, but let's see him play a game first.
- Snowblind

Not one of those guys was on a team that could put out three centres 1-2-3 down the middle like RNH-McD-Draisaitl That in itself is going to be scary. What about the defense they can exploit with Hall, Eberle and Yakupov all on different lines?

Now they have a goalie, a de defacto #1. I think Schultz is a whipping boy, but his numbers are solid. I love the Talbot add. I love this team. Playoffs are a lock. 100% guarantee it.

I don't think all the blame is place upon Kessel, if it was the coach and GM wouldn't have been fired for the teams performance. And making fun of people is just part of life, right or wrong, it just is. I'm sure you've made fun of someone before, if you say you haven't, you're lying. Poking fun at him just happens to be in the media.

Re: Richards - being in the corporate Oil & Gas industry for 25 years I've seen companies have "issues" with employee's before. It's really difficult to fire someone these days unless you've built a documented case against them, or, they completely act in an unethical way. The Kings are just doing everything in their power to rid themselves of someone who's no longer useful to them. Right or wrong....it's just business.

Re: Leafs - it'll be interesting in the coming years to see how their strategy pans out for them. They've still got some dead-weight on that team though, much work to be done.
- LeftCoaster

People do make fun of people all the time, right or wrong. But you have a choice of going along with it, or standing up for others. I think James is just deciding to cut through the media BS and clarify what he thinks kessel is, which is worth him doing.

Mapanen is a book or bust prospect. He's a defensive liability on the ice. No way is he a two way player.
- jfkst1

Mapanen is a book? I should take your scouting report vs the eleven independent ones I've read? Why?