He was playing terrible in ANA and it looked like a bad deal if that continued for the next 3 years. But everyone had him pegged on Malkin's line with Kessel. Nobody thought the HBK line would be a top force in the playoffs.
- sammy87

Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel was a very good line before Geno got hurt. Hagelin was instantly successful here.

Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel was a very good line before Geno got hurt. Hagelin was instantly successful here.
- Victoro311

Hags is tailor-made for the style that GMJR & HCMS wanted the Pens to play. He was a bad fit for an Anaheim team that wasn't built for just plain outskating every team they play against.

I was a Kessel complainer until the last 3 or 4 weeks of the regular season. When the games started really mattering he stepped it up, just like the playoffs. So in saying this, I'll probably start disliking him around Christmas time next season...but now I know that this guy comes to play when things are on the line. His effort levels when things aren't on the line will still frustrate from time to time though, no doubt.
- MattStrat

don't think it was things being on the line that started him. think there was 1 game at the end of feb where he played really good and he never went back to sucking after that. think it just was sullivan that helped kessel get his confidence back and he gave kessel a posistion to succed at.

He was playing terrible in ANA and it looked like a bad deal if that continued for the next 3 years. But everyone had him pegged on Malkin's line with Kessel. Nobody thought the HBK line would be a top force in the playoffs.
- sammy87

I was talking about Kessel though. I've never, ever* had a problem with Hags and didnt have any problems with the trade.

*except when he scored OT winner for the Rags last year.

Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel was a very good line before Geno got hurt. Hagelin was instantly successful here.
- Victoro311

It was. People seem to forget they were dominant because Malkin got hurt soon after.

I too complained about Kessel after a couple of months. Putting players in positions/systems to succeed isn't rocket science......I'm looking at you MJ.

don't think it was things being on the line that started him. think there was 1 game at the end of feb where he played really good and he never went back to sucking after that. think it just was sullivan that helped kessel get his confidence back and he gave kessel a posistion to succed at.
- martox

For me it wasnt until March that he consistently brought an A game every night.

Those days when you wake up and realize the Pens have Carl Hagelin for 3 more years.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

morning wood

And Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Kessel basically until they retire
- Victoro311

and this makes me lose morning wood

Looks like the west may already be decided. Two of the easiest playoff shutouts in a while!

I was talking about Kessel though. I've never, ever* had a problem with Hags and didnt have any problems with the trade.

*except when he scored OT winner for the Rags last year.
- MattStrat

Ah....Kessel has stepped up big time and is enjoyable to watch. The regular season he still was near career lows in goals and was just flat out lazy at times.

Pens will have some top 6 needs to address this offseason. It will be interesting to see how they do it.

Looks like the west may already be decided. Two of the easiest playoff shutouts in a while!
- Thorny87

I love that.....because I hate HitchCOCK. He's the bloated douchebag that started all the Crosby hate. Coaches that talk about players on other teams are nothing more than whiners and losers. Like Hitch and Torts.

Looks like the west may already be decided. Two of the easiest playoff shutouts in a while!
- Thorny87

Funny about how all these teams get their Richards sucked for being rough and tumble like the Caps, the Blues, Anaheim, the Kings, and so on, and yet it looks like two speed/finesse teams are going to make it to the finals this year.

“I’ve long had a theory on Kessel, and this year it’s being proven true.

“People get ripped because they’re not leaders. I don’t rip people who aren’t leaders. I think we all recognize in life there are some people who are leaders, there are some people who are followers, and there are some people who are kind of in the middle.

“I don’t think everyone can be a leader, and that isn’t a complaint. It’s a fact. I think sometimes people take that as a rip. It’s not. You have to understand the way guys are built and what they’re made to do.

“Phil Kessel is a guy who – he should never be your leader because he just isn’t built that way. But if you put him on a good team with a couple of other guys who take the spotlight, I think that’s when he will do great things for you. And Pittsburgh is built that way. He doesn’t have to be your leader. You’ve got your Crosby. You’ve got your Letang. You’ve got those guys. And instead you can plug him in and say, ‘Phil, we need you to do what you do.’

“And they found a chemistry there. This is the perfect situation for Kessel. You don’t have to say, ‘Phil, lead us to the Promised Land.’ You can say, ‘Phil, help us to the Promised Land.’

“And that’s what he’s built to do.”

that was from freidman this morning

Ah....Kessel has stepped up big time and is enjoyable to watch. The regular season he still was near career lows in goals and was just flat out lazy at times.

Pens will have some top 6 needs to address this offseason. It will be interesting to see how they do it.
- sammy87

So Kessel has been getting a lot of (well deserved) love over at DK, and it made decide to do some #math. If Kessel had played at the level he's been playing during the post season during the regular season, he would have broken 40 goals with about 4 more to spare. If I remember correctly, the stat analysis that RW ran or blogged about at the beginning of the season put Phil at around 43/44 goals. And the funny thing is, i think The Phil is still leaving goals on the ice.

“I’ve long had a theory on Kessel, and this year it’s being proven true.

“People get ripped because they’re not leaders. I don’t rip people who aren’t leaders. I think we all recognize in life there are some people who are leaders, there are some people who are followers, and there are some people who are kind of in the middle.

“I don’t think everyone can be a leader, and that isn’t a complaint. It’s a fact. I think sometimes people take that as a rip. It’s not. You have to understand the way guys are built and what they’re made to do.

“Phil Kessel is a guy who – he should never be your leader because he just isn’t built that way. But if you put him on a good team with a couple of other guys who take the spotlight, I think that’s when he will do great things for you. And Pittsburgh is built that way. He doesn’t have to be your leader. You’ve got your Crosby. You’ve got your Letang. You’ve got those guys. And instead you can plug him in and say, ‘Phil, we need you to do what you do.’

“And they found a chemistry there. This is the perfect situation for Kessel. You don’t have to say, ‘Phil, lead us to the Promised Land.’ You can say, ‘Phil, help us to the Promised Land.’

“And that’s what he’s built to do.”

that was from freidman this morning
- martox

"Help us, The Phil. You are our only hope."

Soooo...are we getting Horny tonight?......or is he injured?

Soooo...are we getting Horny tonight?......or is he injured?
- MattStrat

From what HCMS said yesterday, he should be playing tonight.

From what HCMS said yesterday, he should be playing tonight.
- cap1681

Perfect.

The Sharks are looking very good. If we can pull through, it's going to be a very tough Finals.

Not to get ahead of ourselves.

The Sharks are looking very good. If we can pull through, it's going to be a very tough Finals.

Not to get ahead of ourselves.
- brienstel

I'm holding onto the hope that the Blues are just that slow and making the Sharks look faster than they actually are

Soooo...are we getting Horny tonight?......or is he injured?
- MattStrat

He's probable.

Perfect.
- MattStrat

told ya

told ya
- martox

You did indeed.

“I’ve long had a theory on Kessel, and this year it’s being proven true.

“People get ripped because they’re not leaders. I don’t rip people who aren’t leaders. I think we all recognize in life there are some people who are leaders, there are some people who are followers, and there are some people who are kind of in the middle.

“I don’t think everyone can be a leader, and that isn’t a complaint. It’s a fact. I think sometimes people take that as a rip. It’s not. You have to understand the way guys are built and what they’re made to do.

“Phil Kessel is a guy who – he should never be your leader because he just isn’t built that way. But if you put him on a good team with a couple of other guys who take the spotlight, I think that’s when he will do great things for you. And Pittsburgh is built that way. He doesn’t have to be your leader. You’ve got your Crosby. You’ve got your Letang. You’ve got those guys. And instead you can plug him in and say, ‘Phil, we need you to do what you do.’

“And they found a chemistry there. This is the perfect situation for Kessel. You don’t have to say, ‘Phil, lead us to the Promised Land.’ You can say, ‘Phil, help us to the Promised Land.’

“And that’s what he’s built to do.”

that was from freidman this morning
- martox

All true.

“I’ve long had a theory on Kessel, and this year it’s being proven true.

“People get ripped because they’re not leaders. I don’t rip people who aren’t leaders. I think we all recognize in life there are some people who are leaders, there are some people who are followers, and there are some people who are kind of in the middle.

“I don’t think everyone can be a leader, and that isn’t a complaint. It’s a fact. I think sometimes people take that as a rip. It’s not. You have to understand the way guys are built and what they’re made to do.

“Phil Kessel is a guy who – he should never be your leader because he just isn’t built that way. But if you put him on a good team with a couple of other guys who take the spotlight, I think that’s when he will do great things for you. And Pittsburgh is built that way. He doesn’t have to be your leader. You’ve got your Crosby. You’ve got your Letang. You’ve got those guys. And instead you can plug him in and say, ‘Phil, we need you to do what you do.’

“And they found a chemistry there. This is the perfect situation for Kessel. You don’t have to say, ‘Phil, lead us to the Promised Land.’ You can say, ‘Phil, help us to the Promised Land.’

“And that’s what he’s built to do.”

that was from freidman this morning
- martox

I've thought about Kessel and Fleury's personalities. How would Fleury be perceived if he played on bad teams that expected him to carry a team? In our room where he's a 4th or 5th star his personality comes off fine. Not expected to be the leader but can be the humor. I wander if Kessel would have had a much better reputation if he was always on teams where he's the 4th or 5th guy.