Ryan Wilson: My Attempt At Projecting Phil Kessel's 2015-16 Goal Total in Pittsburgh My Attempt At Projecting Phil Kessel's 2015-16 Goal Total in Pittsburgh

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These are just stupid numbers they mean nothing. There are so many variables that are impossible to quantify and you're not taking the huge jump up in quality of teammates, not just linemates but the team as a whole into consideration enough. He could very easily score 45 goals and just as easily get 25 again, numbers be damned.

And the other forward on the line could get 20 tap-in goals based on the work of Crosby and Kessel.

I agree... just let him play with sid or geno and on left side wall on pp. He will be good...

The big question is how do the pens get rid of scuds and sign franson?? I hope if anything he goes to cbj. Even tho they are an ohio team, I like them...

Today @ 6:31 PM ET
These are just stupid numbers they mean nothing. There are so many variables that are impossible to quantify and you're not taking the huge jump up in quality of teammates, not just linemates but the team as a whole into consideration enough. He could very easily score 45 goals and just as easily get 25 again, numbers be damned.

How do you quantify what effect quality of teammates or linesmates will have on any given player? Every player is effected differently by those factors, some players are more comfortable being the lead dog and playing with lesser complementary players as linemates, while others excel being that complementary player and feed off of playing with better players.

For all the talk about how great Sid & Kessel will be because they are both so skilled, very few people acknowledge the possibility that even though they are both extremely skilled there's the chance that they will be water & oil on the ice and playing together will actually hurt both players production. The same could be true from Kessel/Malkin. The fact of the matter is that people can use all the projectable data they want but until we actually see them together in live action none of us can possibly know if adding Kessel was a good or bad move.

How do you quantify what effect quality of teammates or linesmates will have on any given player? Every player is effected differently by those factors, some players are more comfortable being the lead dog and playing with lesser complementary players as linemates, while others excel being that complementary player and feed off of playing with better players.

For all the talk about how great Sid & Kessel will be because they are both so skilled, very few people acknowledge the possibility that even though they are both extremely skilled there's the chance that they will be water & oil on the ice and playing together will actually hurt both players production. The same could be true from Kessel/Malkin. The fact of the matter is that people can use all the projectable data they want but until we actually see them together in live action none of us can possibly know if adding Kessel was a good or bad move.
- jaydogg1974

Kessel scored 30 with Joey freaken Crabb as his center, I think you're safe with Crosby

Wondering what difference Kessels presence will make for Sid? How many more goals/points will Sid score having the D concentrating on someone else for a change?

Play Kessel with Bonino and roll 3 offensively terrifying lines.

Perron Crosby Hornquvist
Plotnikov Malkin Kunitz
Kessel Bonino Bennett

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- madmike71

Goals.
Not cheeseburgers.

Goals.
Not cheeseburgers.
- mlindsay

Wondering what difference Kessels presence will make for Sid? How many more goals/points will Sid score having the D concentrating on someone else for a change?
- Aussiepenguin

Kessel always has more assists than goals his play making flies under the radar,
very underrated passer

- Fruitcakenipple

typical Hab fan, bashing everything that is, was or will be a leaf

Kessel always has more assists than goals his play making flies under the radar,
very underrated passer
- the_eye

Sid - 35-40 goals? (100% healthy)

Sid - 35-40 goals? (100% healthy)
- Aussiepenguin

Kessel will love dishing it off to Sid, for once he won't have to do all the work

Play Kessel with Bonino and roll 3 offensively terrifying lines.

Perron Crosby Hornquvist
Plotnikov Malkin Kunitz
Kessel Bonino Bennett

No thanks, plus you have Kessel on the wrong wing, and you have Kunitz on the wrong wing. We are going to go with 2 great lines and 1 really good line and 1 decent, as good as most teams third line line.

Play Kessel with Bonino and roll 3 offensively terrifying lines.

Perron Crosby Hornquvist
Plotnikov Malkin Kunitz
Kessel Bonino Bennett
- belcherbd

That's just crazy enough to work! I would replace Bennett with Dupuis, but I think the idea as a whole has merit.

Play Kessel with Bonino and roll 3 offensively terrifying lines.

Perron Crosby Hornquvist
Plotnikov Malkin Kunitz
Kessel Bonino Bennett

No thanks, plus you have Kessel on the wrong wing, and you have Kunitz on the wrong wing. We are going to go with 2 great lines and 1 really good line and 1 decent, as good as most teams third line line.
- Dcoms

And teams with a great top 4 and good defensive forwards will still be able to shut them down. It remains to be seen if the 3rd line will be "really good". I have my doubts. Bonino? M'eh. Bennett? Bleh.

I loved... loved this blog. It highlights to PERFECTION the bias behind the objective numbers in any analitics argument. one can prove just about anything with numbers if one wants.

"I'll just set my numbers and combine them with this guys numbers and BOOM statistically accurate prediction.


This is why the new analyticis guy should have a seat at the table... but a woobly seat he needs to grow into to dance with the big boys. (seriously though, good luck ventura)

Kessel's speed and wrist shot are well known, but I've said it for a few years now watching him, he is an elite playmaker as well. And his shot scares and backs up D and goalies, which helps his passing even more. I can't tell you how many times he served up a perfect pass back to Bozak going to the net, and Bozak didn't do anything with it. Obviously Crosby is going to put those in the back of the net. I really think they are going to be deadly as a duo.

I don't know how often the Pens put all the big guys on one line, like on the PP or something, but a Crosby/Malkin/Kessel unit would be really disturbing to watch.

Play Kessel with Bonino and roll 3 offensively terrifying lines.

Perron Crosby Hornquvist
Plotnikov Malkin Kunitz
Kessel Bonino Bennett

No thanks, plus you have Kessel on the wrong wing, and you have Kunitz on the wrong wing. We are going to go with 2 great lines and 1 really good line and 1 decent, as good as most teams third line line.
- Dcoms

Imagine how angry Kessel would be if he went from playing with Bozak to playing with Bonino when he's on a roster with Malkin and Crosby?!?

Imagine how angry Kessel would be if he went from playing with Bozak to playing with Bonino when he's on a roster with Malkin and Crosby?!?
- mw630

That's a good point. He could descend into a deep depression and eat himself out of the league.

Or the Pens could score goals like it's the 1980s and everyone's happy!

I fee like Kessel has destiny on his side.

#50&50

I knew Crosby and Malkin bumped up production, but damn I didn't know it was that much. I figure Kessel will finish with 30-40 goals and 65-75 points. I think Kessel's center (87/71) will be the real beneficiary as teams won't be able to focus strictly on them like in year's past. I could see Crosby going for 90+ points this year with Kessel.

That won't happen unless they reduce the size of goalie gear.