@joecool:

Dude... That might have been the worst take in this thread in a while and you're competing with some real doozies.

Why did Kessel not win the Conn Smyth in 2016? Because of the Toronto media vote. He lost by two (count em') TWO votes if I recall correctly, or some absurdly small margin, and the Toronto media voted MVC (most valuable Canadian) in part because of tradition and in part because they wanted to spite Phil. Do you even remember 2016? Kessel was nuts that playoffs and played a good 2 way game. We all saw it.

I could see them trading Phil Kessel for picks and a prospect then turning around and signing a guy like Brian Gionta who could phil that RW spot and has plenty of left in the tank for a 30-40+ point season depending on who his line mates would be in Pittsburgh.
- jjwelker1015

In what world does Brian Gionta have "plenty left in the tank" and in what world does 35 points replace what Phil Kessel puts up?

Rumours are that it's Malkin that has the biggest problem with Phil Kessel. If that is true,it would make it a Phil Kessel problem,and only a Phil Kessel problem.

Rumours are that it's Malkin that has the biggest problem with Phil Kessel. If that is true,it would make it a Phil Kessel problem,and only a Phil Kessel problem.
- 2centz

http://www.post-gazette.c...-Cup/stories/201706130119

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2017/06/13/Phil-Kessel-Evgeni-Malkin-friendship-Penguins-Stanley-Cup/stories/201706130119
- IronCity

The rumor literally spawned from that one game Phil yelled at Malkin in between bouts of talking to himself. Makes me wonder why "Crosby's bad relationship with Hornqvist may lead to a Hornqvist trade soon" isn't a thing. When those two are on the same line they yell at each other literally every game they're together.

The rumor literally spawned from that one game Phil yelled at Malkin in between bouts of talking to himself. Makes me wonder why "Crosby's bad relationship with Hornqvist may lead to a Hornqvist trade soon" isn't a thing. When those two are on the same line they yell at each other literally every game they're together.
- Victoro311

Malkin's best friend, James Neal, would go back and forth with Geno every game. It stays on the ice.

Rumours are that it's Malkin that has the biggest problem with Phil Kessel. If that is true,it would make it a Phil Kessel problem,and only a Phil Kessel problem.
- 2centz

Rumour has it Mcdavid has a big problem with RNH. Must be a RNH problem and only a RNH problem

Rumour has it Mcdavid has a big problem with RNH. Must be a RNH problem and only a RNH problem
- 668710

Rumour has it, RNH has a yuuuge Johnson. That must be a problem, but it ain't RNH's.

Kessel is a proven PPG playoff performer. Highest scoring playoff player the past two seasons and just coming off a 70 point regular season.....Your team has a cap hit of 5.5 mill per the next 5 seasons for a currently 31 year old Ladd who only had 31 points last season.

Kessel would be great on Tavares' wing....
- MattStrat

Like he was great on Crosby's wing?

Kessel doesn't drive or sustain possession in any way, which is why Crosby doesn't like playing with him. Tavares won't like playing with him either.

Kingerski had an article suggesting Lowry as a target. He laid out a list of reasons why he could be available...

I would be very interested....would go a long way towards injecting some size and is quite good defensively.

Not sure about value though...

I wish more of our players were like kessel during the regular season. Our talent level alone should win us a lot of games. I've been begging Letang for years to take up some of "kessels" so called bad habits during the regular season. If the goal is to win cups then avoiding hits/blocking less shots will reduce injuries during the regular season.

No disagreement that you need to do that stuff during the playoffs. But for the highest skill team in the league we do not need to take injury risks to win games during the regular season. Make the product as safe and entertaining as possible.
- sditulli

Tell me how many shots Kessel blocked in the playoffs then...but you can count it on two finger or less...

- j.boyd919

Jboyd, please elaborate on why that is wrong???

Like he was great on Crosby's wing?

Kessel doesn't drive or sustain possession in any way, which is why Crosby doesn't like playing with him. Tavares won't like playing with him either.
- W_1

Are you talking about 2-TIME STANLEY CUP CHAMPION Phil Kessel?

Like he was great on Crosby's wing?

Kessel doesn't drive or sustain possession in any way, which is why Crosby doesn't like playing with him. Tavares won't like playing with him either.
- W_1

Crosby tell you that?? ...He and Crosby have looked pretty good together in their limited time but there's no need of it when there's other wingers that work so effectively with Crosby.....and Kessel and Malkin seem to have great success together...

Youre acting like Kessel is a possession abomination. He certainly doesn't drag down lines haha. His career corsi is 49.6 and his first season in Pittsburgh it was 54.4. Last year injuries and shifting line mates were definitely a culprit in his dropping.

Tavares would probably have more goals with Kessel because of Kessel's outstanding play making ability.

So last night for a bedtime story I put on cup winning game 6 vs. the Sharks. Some things really stood out to me:

1) Man is Letang ever good. So f'n good. How in the hell did they get it done without him this year?

2) Maatta/Lovejoy was used quite a bit and they were quite effective.

3) Kessel was definitely smaller and a bit faster a year ago.

4) The team as a whole was noticeably faster than this years playoff team...probably because most of this years team went all the way the year before and also because they were so banged up this year. For a few of the players their first game after a long layoff this season was a playoffs game. Hopefully there's more resting than partying this summer....

5) Beautiful transitions....beautiful transitions everywhere

Jboyd, please elaborate on why that is wrong???
- joecool2931

Nah, I'd rather sit this one out and let your revel in your absolutely horrible take.

So last night for a bedtime story I put on cup winning game 6 vs. the Sharks. Some things really stood out to me:

1) Man is Letang ever good. So f'n good. How in the hell did they get it done without him this year?

2) Maatta/Lovejoy was used quite a bit and they were quite effective.

3) Kessel was definitely smaller and a bit faster a year ago.

4) The team as a whole was noticeably faster than this years playoff team...probably because most of this years team went all the way the year before and also because they were so banged up this year. For a few of the players their first game after a long layoff this season was a playoffs game. Hopefully there's more resting than partying this summer....

5) Beautiful transitions....beautiful transitions everywhere
- MattStrat

Complete night and day. Happy the Pens are back to back champs but (frank) was it ugly this season.

So last night for a bedtime story I put on cup winning game 6 vs. the Sharks. Some things really stood out to me:

1) Man is Letang ever good. So f'n good. How in the hell did they get it done without him this year?

2) Maatta/Lovejoy was used quite a bit and they were quite effective.

3) Kessel was definitely smaller and a bit faster a year ago.

4) The team as a whole was noticeably faster than this years playoff team...probably because most of this years team went all the way the year before and also because they were so banged up this year. For a few of the players their first game after a long layoff this season was a playoffs game. Hopefully there's more resting than partying this summer....

5) Beautiful transitions....beautiful transitions everywhere
- MattStrat

You get those with Letang playing half the game. He's irreplaceable. Here's hoping he can get through the season next year.

It is a bit of a miracle we got the 2nd cup on those tired legs and no Letang. That's why I'm glad JR is turning over the roster a bit.

Kingerski had an article suggesting Lowry as a target. He laid out a list of reasons why he could be available...

I would be very interested....would go a long way towards injecting some size and is quite good defensively.

Not sure about value though...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Lowry is interesting as a pure shutdown guy. Not really the guy you run a 3rd scoring line and Kessel with unless you think he has more upside.

Hard to figure what the cost would be though. Jets are actually reasonably deep everywhere and have a lot of young talent. They're just lacking in star power (outside of a very nice top line) and goaltending always sinks them.

Got to hear the Rutherford interview. He reiterated that he can get a center he feels comfortable with now, bit feels there are guys he likes better that aren't available right now but may be a little later. I'd also add they may want to see exactly what Sheary and Dumoulin get.

Lowry is interesting as a pure shutdown guy. Not really the guy you run a 3rd scoring line and Kessel with unless you think he has more upside.

Hard to figure what the cost would be though. Jets are actually reasonably deep everywhere and have a lot of young talent. They're just lacking in star power (outside of a very nice top line) and goaltending always sinks them.
- Tojo.

I can see the Pens and WPG making a trade. WPG has a full roster with a lot of centers and not as many skilled wingers. I remember Byfuglien needing to play RW for them not long ago. The Pens could upgrade their D and/or get a 3C from WPG. Of course, they would need to give up something to get a Trouba or Little.

Lowry or Perreault should be a little easier to get and I would be fine with either as 3C, depending on what the Pens give up.

Perreault would fit better with Kessel, but he would cost more than Lowry.

Got to hear the Rutherford interview. He reiterated that he can get a center he feels comfortable with now, bit feels there are guys he likes better that aren't available right now but may be a little later. I'd also add they may want to see exactly what Sheary and Dumoulin get.
- Tojo.

I agree, I don't see GMJR making the 3C move until he knows the price for Sheary & Dumo.

You get those with Letang playing half the game. He's irreplaceable. Here's hoping he can get through the season next year.

It is a bit of a miracle we got the 2nd cup on those tired legs and no Letang. That's why I'm glad JR is turning over the roster a bit.
- madmike71

Yeah and a big product of Letang being on the ice half the game is the rest of the D-men slot down and face lesser competition. Schultz was on the 3rd pair last year.

So last night for a bedtime story I put on cup winning game 6 vs. the Sharks. Some things really stood out to me:

1) Man is Letang ever good. So f'n good. How in the hell did they get it done without him this year?

2) Maatta/Lovejoy was used quite a bit and they were quite effective.

3) Kessel was definitely smaller and a bit faster a year ago.

4) The team as a whole was noticeably faster than this years playoff team...probably because most of this years team went all the way the year before and also because they were so banged up this year. For a few of the players their first game after a long layoff this season was a playoffs game. Hopefully there's more resting than partying this summer....

5) Beautiful transitions....beautiful transitions everywhere
- MattStrat

One advantage we had this year - I think every team from the conference finals on was incredibly banged up. If you put our team against a healthy average and fresh team we probably get cdrushed in the finals.

Kessel is a proven PPG playoff performer. Highest scoring playoff player the past two seasons and just coming off a 70 point regular season.....Your team has a cap hit of 5.5 mill per the next 5 seasons for a currently 31 year old Ladd who only had 31 points last season.

Kessel would be great on Tavares' wing....
- MattStrat

never said i liked ladds contract either......i don't