What's that white, stringy stuff I see behind the goalie?

Mesh?

I didn't know they still had that - I haven't seen that in years.
- Atomic Wedgie

Someone posted a comparison of 2014 canadian olympic team VS 80' MTL team.


Difference is astounding.

Try not scoring 50 when goalie gear was like this:


- 1979AD

Not really different from today's goalies:

Kessel stats on any other team and he is a franchise player but on Toronto he is one dimensional, hell fans of other teams can't even come to grips saying he is elite.

Pretty sad.
- LeafMan

You're elite after several seasons of being in the top 10 or so players. Until then it may just be anomaly. Jason Blake once scored 40 goals.

All I know is that Kessel is a damn good player. Two way game is a lot better than it was and his playmaking has really developed over the past few years. Add in an amazing shot and yeah that's a nice player to have on your team.

Certainly things that he can do better, but that's something thrown at anyone. Think his style of play is a good one for the sake of longevity.

Kessel is good.

Kessel stats on any other team and he is a franchise player but on Toronto he is one dimensional, hell fans of other teams can't even come to grips saying he is elite.

Pretty sad.
- LeafMan

Couldn't agree more. Hockey in this town is over analyzed and we can't be happy with what we have. Sure Phil isn't the best player in the world but he is easily a top 5 offensive player and that's something to be proud of.

Kessel stats on any other team and he is a franchise player but on Toronto he is one dimensional, hell fans of other teams can't even come to grips saying he is elite.

Pretty sad.
- LeafMan

I don't know.

I guess I am unconvinced that any winger can be a "franchise player."

Although I guess we would have to agree on the definition of that.

I'm struck by this one thought:

Rick Vaive potted 50+ three times.

And now we are hoping Kessel can get 40.

Gawd, the goaltending was bad back then.
- Atomic Wedgie

Equipment size is a factor.

Im sure you've heard this a lot in your life.

I disagree, when he got his hair pulled by Burrows that proved to me once and for all he is not a wuss

- xxCHRISTOFIRExx

You mean when got an angry look on his face and flailed his still gloved hands around a little bit?

I'm struck by this one thought:

Rick Vaive potted 50+ three times.

And now we are hoping Kessel can get 40.

Gawd, the goaltending was bad back then.
- Atomic Wedgie

Vaive was pretty special AW....the problem was his back, that's why he wasn't able to sustain it.

I don't know.

I guess I am unconvinced that any winger can be a "franchise player."

Although I guess we would have to agree on the definition of that.
- Atomic Wedgie

Brett Hull...bobby hull....Teemu Sellanne....Pavel Bure.....I can go on.

Vaive was pretty special AW....the problem was his back, that's why he wasn't able to sustain it.
- mykokes

Dude: nobody was a bigger fan of Vaive than me.

I was his paperboy and neighbor.

But the man couldn't skate worth a damn. He wasn't a complete player.

I once saw Tarzan Dan at a Leafs game. He had "Tarzan Dan" on the back of his Leafs jersey.

You just don't do that.

Ever.
- Atomic Wedgie

I hated the guy. I hated how he always read 12 year old girl's replies to him where they said how hot he was. Now I hate him even more.

You're elite after several seasons of being in the top 10 or so players. Until then it may just be anomaly. Jason Blake once scored 40 goals.
- sanfordnson

it's been several now..

People went waaaaaay overboard on that one.

Was it inappropriate? Sure.

But c'mon, people - he wasn't deliberately trying to offend the families of Boston bombing victims.

Sheesh!
- Atomic Wedgie

Agreed

Dude: nobody was a bigger fan of Vaive than me.

I was his paperboy and neighbor.

But the man couldn't skate worth a damn. He wasn't a complete player.
- Atomic Wedgie

Neither could Brett Hull and Dave Andreychuk.

Not really different from today's goalies:


- Atomic Wedgie

Looks like Lu had an accident.

Neither could Brett Hull and Dave Andreychuk.
- mykokes

Brett Hull...bobby hull....Teemu Sellanne....Pavel Bure.....I can go on.
- mykokes

Brett Hull? Nope. All he did was score. He didn't do anything else.

I don't really remember Bobby.

Teemu? I guess we need to decide what a "franchise player" is, but I don't think Teemu has ever been the guy on the team who made the biggest difference.

And I've always thought that Bure was over-rated. Linden was the straw that stirred the Canucks.

Lots of Kessel love in the replies... I'm not one that joins the group though.

Phil is good. Phil has an awesome shot. Phil is still one dimentional.

It's funny, one of the commentors mentioned that:
I, on the other hand, believe that Phil has 2 moves when he starts taking it up the wing. Either he pulls up along the boards just over the blue line and waits for the trailer to come down the middle to pass the puck off to or he takes a wrist shot from outside of the face-off circle. He doesn't have the guts to take it to the net and every defenseman knows it.

Another commentor said that:
Again, not a reality. Phil doesn't make anyone around him better. He isn't a leader at all. He disappears against tougher teams. He doesn't compare to Crosby, Getzlaf, Ovechkin, Stamkos. Yes, he can put the puck in the net when he is open or when others do all the work for him, I'll give him that, but he definitely isn't and will never be the cornerstone of a team.

Personally I wish the Leafs had traded him at the trade deadline last year for a player, top prospect and a first round pick instead of signing him to such an outrageous contract. The Leafs may not have been in contention for a wildcard spot this year without him but they would be better off in years to come without Phil tying up $8mil a year.
- jack_oat67

Phil doesn't make anyone around him better?!?! I'm pretty sure the stats speak for themselves with anybody that's been on his line the last couple years. Just look at the difference between Lupul's numbers with and without Kessel. I find this one dimensional talk crazy. Yes, he's got a ridiculous shot and shoots (and scores) from way out wide coming down the wing a lot instead of cutting to the net. Until he stops scoring with that play who cares.

Anybody who watches a single Leaf game realizes that Kessel has grown leaps and bounds of the last couple seasons. He's an amazing playmaker, by far the best on the team. The entire power play is run through him. They just give him the puck along the side boards and let him do all the work whether it's him shooting or setting somebody up for a one timer or tap in. People just see the highlights night after night of him making goalies look stupid with his wrist shot and assume he's a one trick pony because of it.

It's getting a little old with people finding whatever they can to complain about with the guy when the fact is they haven't had a player this offensively dynamic since before I was born (1981). Just because he's not Crosby doesn't mean he's not an elite talent. I can find something that's not perfect from every player in the league if I look hard enough. Top five-ten scorers are rare and you pay max money for them or you don't have them on your team, simple as that. You don't trade one when he's just reaching his prime for a couple 1st round picks that may or may not even become decent players.

Brett Hull? Nope. All he did was score. He didn't do anything else.

I don't really remember Bobby.

Teemu? I guess we need to decide what a "franchise player" is, but I don't think Teemu has ever been the guy on the team who made the biggest difference.

And I've always thought that Bure was over-rated. Linden was the straw that stirred the Canucks.
- Atomic Wedgie

Did you miss his Winnipeg years?
He was pretty significant in Anaheim the first time through too.

Looks like Lu had an accident.
- Feeling Glucky?

Watch your mouth, Glucky.

For the next 12 days, Lu is the man.

Did you miss his Winnipeg years?
- mykokes

I'd go with Tkachuk.

And for the record, I absolutely hated Tkachuk.

Watch your mouth, Glucky.

For the next 12 days, Lu is the man.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'd rather win the gold game in regulation.

I'd go with Tkachuk.

And for the record, I absolutely hated Tkachuk.
- Atomic Wedgie

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000421993.html

Though I do find it funny you went with a winger over another winger.