Coach killer: what coach did he "kill"? pretty sure Therrien is still behind the bench in MTL (which is what pisses off most Habs fans)...

Coward: how so? it's been awhile, but he's dropped the gloves before. I'm also sure nobody on the team wants him to fight because it's in their best interest that he's on the ice.

Heartless: I don't buy this at all. The guy has heart bursting through the seams.

Lazy: while the Habs were spiralling downwards last season, he was one of their best and most consistent players. I never saw any "laziness" in his game.

No intensity: you're nuts. Most people describe him as one of the most "electrifying" players in the game. If anything, he has too much intensity.

No grit: I wouldn't say "no" grit, but I've seen him lay out some pretty solid hits. I'd agree that he could maybe use a little more sandpaper in there, but he's no flake.

And finally:

Terrible role model for the young players / prospects: yea, none of those kids have anything to learn from a Norris trophy winner and philanthropist. One of the best Dmen in the game right now.

If you were to say something like he's "too risky" or even "selfish", sure, okay, I get it. But all your BS adjectives without any rationalizations or connection to reality is a disgrace.

With respect to his character/personality in the dressing room, nobody knows anything about that except the players and staff that are in there and none of them (obviously) are admitting any truth to the rumours. Reality is, he has a larger than life persona and this puts a target on him from the media which allows rumours to run rampant. It's not like he's Slava Voynov out there abusing women. That would be a "terrible role model".
- GstrangWondah

Ummmmm.... Kessel maybe?

Ummmmm.... Kessel maybe?

- marklaprise

he was talking about Subban

he was talking about Subban
- GstrangWondah

wait a second....... maybe he.... wasn't???

i don't even know anymore...

wait a second....... maybe he.... wasn't???

i don't even know anymore...
- GstrangWondah

Don't worry. This whole thread has been everytime Kessel is mentioned

he was talking about Subban
- GstrangWondah

If you read back to the start, you realize he's talking about Kessel; whom the blog is also about. I reread the comments as well just to make sure.

wait a second....... maybe he.... wasn't???

i don't even know anymore...
- GstrangWondah

- marklaprise

Haha, yea, i totally forgot about Kessel visiting the children's hospital in Toronto.... my bad... his opinion is nowhere near as absurd as I thought it was.

Certainly now that he is gone, its fantastic to see all of the "caring" and "heart" that he seemingly now possesses.

Unfortunately, for the fans that "paid" his salary all of the years that he was a Leaf, those personality traits were rarely seen when we needed them to be.

Yes, the team assembled around him was borderline AHL quality, but his and the other "core" of the team at that time's professionalism was nowhere to be found.

I'm glad he won the Cup, but in no way do I miss his presence on the Leafs whatsoever.
- clintyboy

Please!

The Leafs organization has been pathetic for decades and the new management came in and rather than telling it like it is, instead through Kessel under the bus and you fans ate it up.

Fact is Kessel is not a player you pick up to lead your team, there was nothing in his game prior to the trade that ever said he would be a defensive player, there was nothing in his demeanour that ever said that this guy is captain material.

Coach killer? How about your management did nothing but hire terrible coaches. Wilson was absolute garbage, Carlyle isnt much better. A good coach is able to get the most out of his players and inspire them elevate their game... all the evidence you need of that is to look at what Kessel became when he played for a real coach.


Trading Kessel was in Toronto's best interest because they were so poorly constructed that there was no other option but to burn it to the ground. The problem in Toronto was never Kessel, never once.

Certainly now that he is gone, its fantastic to see all of the "caring" and "heart" that he seemingly now possesses.

Unfortunately, for the fans that "paid" his salary all of the years that he was a Leaf, those personality traits were rarely seen when we needed them to be.

Yes, the team assembled around him was borderline AHL quality, but his and the other "core" of the team at that time's professionalism was nowhere to be found.

I'm glad he won the Cup, but in no way do I miss his presence on the Leafs whatsoever.
- clintyboy

It's nice to finally see him receive some praise. He was ridiculed by the media and non-Leafs fans.

Phil is genuine not a phony

I really can't wait until Toronto turns on Auston Matthews. I give it three years.

I've always liked Kessel. He was brought to the Leafs heralded as "the American Crosby", but he never could be that guy. And that's not his fault in any way... He was however, an amazing offensive talent with speed to burn and a shot guy's can only dream about. He gave a lot to the city of Toronto and was repaid with having to deal with scuzziest of the scuzzy in Toronto's sports media. I'm happy for him and I hope the rest of his career goes well for him. It's too bad we chased him out of town. But I love where the team is going now. Maybe he'll come back in a few years as a veteren and help bring the cup to us, like he wanted to..

I really can't wait until Toronto turns on Auston Matthews. I give it three years.
- hardnosed

I will take the under.

I really can't wait until Toronto turns on Auston Matthews. I give it three years.
- hardnosed

I don't see it happening. It was easy to turn on Phil. He was awkward around the media and never came across as a guy who hated to lose. Matthew's knows how to handle media. And with no disrespect to Phil, he's in a completely different class. This kid has a better 2 way at 18 than Phil may ever have. And to a city that has a much greater knowledge of the game than most, this will make the kid much more endearing to the fans, than Phil ever could be. Toronto is gonna love Matthews. Balee Dat!

I don't see it happening. It was easy to turn on Phil. He was awkward around the media and never came across as a guy who hated to lose. Matthew's knows how to handle media. And with no disrespect to Phil, he's in a completely different class. This kid has a better 2 way at 18 than Phil may ever have. And to a city that has a much greater knowledge of the game than most, this will make the kid much more endearing to the fans, than Phil ever could be. Toronto is gonna love Matthews. Balee Dat!
- Gusto

I feel like the majority of Toronto fans didn't/don't hate Kessel anyways. Just the dummies who buy into the media's awful, lazy narratives.

Phil was a point per game player on the Leafs, what do TO fan expect?
The rest of the team sucked, nobody could have carried that sucktitude.

Haha, yea, i totally forgot about Kessel visiting the children's hospital in Toronto.... my bad... his opinion is nowhere near as absurd as I thought it was.
- GstrangWondah

His opinion is still very absurd.

Please!

The Leafs organization has been pathetic for decades and the new management came in and rather than telling it like it is, instead through Kessel under the bus and you fans ate it up.

Fact is Kessel is not a player you pick up to lead your team, there was nothing in his game prior to the trade that ever said he would be a defensive player, there was nothing in his demeanour that ever said that this guy is captain material.

Coach killer? How about your management did nothing but hire terrible coaches. Wilson was absolute garbage, Carlyle isnt much better. A good coach is able to get the most out of his players and inspire them elevate their game... all the evidence you need of that is to look at what Kessel became when he played for a real coach.


Trading Kessel was in Toronto's best interest because they were so poorly constructed that there was no other option but to burn it to the ground. The problem in Toronto was never Kessel, never once.
- stackthepads

They should have traded the real heartless players and kept Kessel, he would look great beside Mathews.

Like i've said many times, Shanny had to hit the reset button by trading Phil and Dion. It was a bad mix of some good players, which he said straight out. Everything worked out for the Pens and the Leafs' rebuild is looking up. All good.

I don't see it happening. It was easy to turn on Phil. He was awkward around the media and never came across as a guy who hated to lose. Matthew's knows how to handle media. And with no disrespect to Phil, he's in a completely different class. This kid has a better 2 way at 18 than Phil may ever have. And to a city that has a much greater knowledge of the game than most, this will make the kid much more endearing to the fans, than Phil ever could be. Toronto is gonna love Matthews. Balee Dat!
- Gusto

Matthews will also have much more support and much better coaching and management. And Leafs Nation is fully on board with what the team is doing. They will be happy as poop next year and the jersey throwing ugly vibe will be nowhere to be seen.

The guy donated 10 million dollars to the Montreal Children's Hospital... but yea, lacks "good human being skills"...
- GstrangWondah

Yep that was a great move by his PR staff. Tons of players that make far less do the same thing and it doesnt become common public knowledge. Prob because they dont do it as a PR move.

Please!

The Leafs organization has been pathetic for decades and the new management came in and rather than telling it like it is, instead through Kessel under the bus and you fans ate it up.

Fact is Kessel is not a player you pick up to lead your team, there was nothing in his game prior to the trade that ever said he would be a defensive player, there was nothing in his demeanour that ever said that this guy is captain material.

Coach killer? How about your management did nothing but hire terrible coaches. Wilson was absolute garbage, Carlyle isnt much better. A good coach is able to get the most out of his players and inspire them elevate their game... all the evidence you need of that is to look at what Kessel became when he played for a real coach.


Trading Kessel was in Toronto's best interest because they were so poorly constructed that there was no other option but to burn it to the ground. The problem in Toronto was never Kessel, never once.
- stackthepads

You know what? I totally agreee with everything you posted here. It is not incorrect.
The issue was the fact that Phil's on-ice attitude bespoke of someone who was only content to go hard whenever it suited him. That is extremely frustrating to watch...especially when he is/was being paid what he is.
He definitely deserved better...but so did we (as Leaf fans).

The Pens don't win the cup without Phil. Fact.

The more I learn about the Leafs, the more I learn that while they're a legendary team, Toronto may be the toughest city to be a hockey player in. The media seems a millions times worse than NY or MTL.

Even before Phil was a Penguin, I would see lots reports about him and tapes of these media scrums. Those guys are vultures up there.

The more I learn about the Leafs, the more I learn that while they're a legendary team, Toronto may be the toughest city to be a hockey player in. The media seems a millions times worse than NY or MTL.

Even before Phil was a Penguin, I was see lots reports about him and tapes of these media scrums. Those guys are vultures up there.
- Rinosaur

I truly believe that slowly and surely, this is all being rectified by the Leafs management and the "vultures" such as Simmons et al are (ironically) being exposed for their pathetic story scrounging that they have been doing for years.
The medium certainly is the message and they are all being exposed by the very same mwthods that they use to expose their dirt.
It happenwd to Berger and it is certainly happening to Steve Simmons.
Their access to the team is now extremely limited and it looks so good on them all.