I don't know Phil Kessel, I am Phil Kessel

Give an example of Ovechkin vs. Patrice Bergeron - I think if they had a choice between the two players 75% of fans would pick Ovechkin to be on their team, I would pick Bergeron - Ovechkin will get you twice as many goals and points, score hilite reel stuff and sell tickets, but do nothing to help you win.

Bergeron will just be an efficient 2 way hockey player (maybe the best two way player in the league) and play every shift to win and to make his TEAM better, not just his stats. one has won - one hasn't.

One player put in the work and did all the things from his time as a teenager to learn to play winning hockey (D play, shut down play, faceoffs) the other invested his time on moves and 1 on 1 scoring and not taking the time to learn the game to play it to win.

Scoring is only 1 part of being a great player, Kessel is a great scorer, I just don't think he is a great player (or a great teammate for that matter, look up his photo on NHL.com and tell me this is the doube chin of a man that is committed to do his best)
- tuna99

Some players are better at certain avenues. Karlsson is fantastic at offense. So he puts most of his effort into that. Same with players like Kane, Kessel.

Is Kane not a winner?

I;m glad you're learning so much, stick around, you may one day realize Kessel is American for Kesselov

And Kesslov couldn't have signed in Arizona because the coach would of asked him to play 2-way hockey and he doesn't want to do that, ir even know how.

Kesselov's weirdoness and his lack of off-season conditioning has been well covered in the media so this is not me on a campaign against Kesselov, this is Kessel showing up in Toronto 20 pounds overweight after he signs a huge deal and me saying "this guy can't be serious about winning"

it would be like if you showed up to work hung-over and without any of your notes, people might know you are talented but they would think - this guy is not ready to work at all. You might be able to pull some poop out of your ass because you are talented and get through the day, but eventually everyone catches on that you aren't taking it seriously and your true colours come through
- tuna99

I didn't know he was 20 pounds overweight when he showed up in Toronto. I knew he had good fitness scores though. Bobby Ryan is sure doing a lot to help his team win this year hey? Yeah great contract he signed.

Some players are better at certain avenues. Karlsson is fantastic at offense. So he puts most of his effort into that. Same with players like Kane, Kessel.

Is Kane not a winner?
- david22

Kane is skinny follow along!

Alfie isn't a winner. Just like Kessel and Heatley
- ClarksonDavid

I take it this confirms that Mats Sundin is a loser.

I didn't know he was 20 pounds overweight when he showed up in Toronto. I knew he had good fitness scores though. Bobby Ryan is sure doing a lot to help his team win this year hey? Yeah great contract he signed.
- ClarksonDavid

Go look at his photo on NHL.com, find me a double chin that big in the NHL and I will mail you $100

I just don't think Kesselov is for real, even Semin scored some NHL goals and then he went away, I think Kesselov goes away. He's 26 so he can bounce back from no off season conditioning, but you don't bounce back as fast when you;re 28 or 30, time will catch up with Kesselov because he hasn't done the work.

Spezza is a good example of a player who just never took the 2-way coaching his coaches harped on him and look at him now, great point getter but he's -5 on a winning team. Can't hide on NHL ice

Go look at his photo on NHL.com, find me a double chin that big in the NHL and I will mail you $100

I just don't think Kesselov is for real, even Semin scored some NHL goals and then he went away, I think Kesselov goes away. He's 26 so he can bounce back from no off season conditioning, but you don't bounce back as fast when you;re 28 or 30, time will catch up with Kesselov because he hasn't done the work.

Spezza is a good example of a player who just never took the 2-way coaching his coaches harped on him and look at him now, great point getter but he's -5 on a winning team. Can't hide on NHL ice
- tuna99

What the hell is with the "Kesselov"?

What the hell is with the "Kesselov"?
- YzermanIsTheMan

his sister already took Kessel-turd

his sister already took Kessel-turd
- tuna99

You're confusing.. and apparently not attracted to hot chicks.

Go look at his photo on NHL.com, find me a double chin that big in the NHL and I will mail you $100

I just don't think Kesselov is for real, even Semin scored some NHL goals and then he went away, I think Kesselov goes away. He's 26 so he can bounce back from no off season conditioning, but you don't bounce back as fast when you;re 28 or 30, time will catch up with Kesselov because he hasn't done the work.

Spezza is a good example of a player who just never took the 2-way coaching his coaches harped on him and look at him now, great point getter but he's -5 on a winning team. Can't hide on NHL ice
- tuna99

Who cares what his pictures look like.. He's got 6 goals and 14 points in 11 games and is plus 3 since you love plus minus so much. Act like you know what kind of shape he's in all you want but you don't.

Kane is skinny follow along!
- ClarksonDavid

He's like some sort of climate change denier or something; there's often just no reasoning with him

What the hell is with the "Kesselov"?
- YzermanIsTheMan

Get it, cause Kessel's all like, enigmatic and stuff? Sorta Russian-y?

For some reason he went with 'Kesselov' as opposed to 'Kessyluk', can't imagine why

He's like some sort of climate change denier or something; there's often just no reasoning with him
- Mr_Clean

It's kind of fun though, hard to tell if he believes what he types or not or if it's just a huge joke??

Get it, cause Kessel's all like, enigmatic and stuff? Sorta Russian-y?

For some reason he went with 'Kesselov' as opposed to 'Kessyluk', can't imagine why
- Mr_Clean

Kesselin
Kesselure
Kesselginy
Kessgalov
etc..

He's like some sort of climate change denier or something; there's often just no reasoning with him
- Mr_Clean

How do those people still exist?

How do those people still exist?
- YzermanIsTheMan

They're very rare.

I really think this homestand will go a long way to deciding Maclean's future in Ottawa. If we go 1-3 and are outshot every game and have a bunch of passengers like we have had this season I think rumblings will start and start loud.

He has to go at least 2-2 and probably 2-1-1 to keep the doubters at bay.

Luke is sitting there and he is going to be a fantastic NHL coach, I think Maclean isn't on thin ice but he knows a poor homestand and he could see the end very quickly.

let Alfie sign a 1 day contract to retire a Sen...but I bet the sour taste is still there for him, so it wont happen.
- Pyzik

I would love to see this happen.

I really think this homestand will go a long way to deciding Maclean's future in Ottawa. If we go 1-3 and are outshot every game and have a bunch of passengers like we have had this season I think rumblings will start and start loud.

He has to go at least 2-2 and probably 2-1-1 to keep the doubters at bay.

Luke is sitting there and he is going to be a fantastic NHL coach, I think Maclean isn't on thin ice but he knows a poor homestand and he could see the end very quickly.
- tuna99

A poor home stand in early November for a team that is not widely seen as a playoff team this season is going to put a target on Macleans back? I find that a little hard to see.

People have to start looking at the roster he is working with compared to the rosters he is playing against. I think people really miss that when evaluating this current roster.

Personally, first I want to see strong performances from the guys we are probably going forward with longterm. That includes guys like Turris, Karlsson, Macarthur, Ryan, Zibanejad, Ceci, and Lehner. Secondly, I want to see good efforts from players who are looking to take on bigger roles like Hoffman, Stone, Chaisson, Cowen, and Weircioch. To me from that entire list, only Macarthur, Ryan, and Chaisson have really stepped up. Cowen and Weircioch continue to struggle, while the rest are putting in decent performances here and there, but can be better.

The onus partly is on Macleans to get guys going and play them effectively. However, sometimes players can only do so much. This team is in a rebuild. We are missing some parts, but have some promising players coming. There will be a lot of hit and misses. To put a bullet on Macleans head in that kind of a season really isn't fair.

A poor home stand in early November for a team that is not widely seen as a playoff team this season is going to put a target on Macleans back? I find that a little hard to see.

People have to start looking at the roster he is working with compared to the rosters he is playing against. I think people really miss that when evaluating this current roster.

Personally, first I want to see strong performances from the guys we are probably going forward with longterm. That includes guys like Turris, Karlsson, Macarthur, Ryan, Zibanejad, Ceci, and Lehner. Secondly, I want to see good efforts from players who are looking to take on bigger roles like Hoffman, Stone, Chaisson, Cowen, and Weircioch. To me from that entire list, only Macarthur, Ryan, and Chaisson have really stepped up. Cowen and Weircioch continue to struggle, while the rest are putting in decent performances here and there, but can be better.

The onus partly is on Macleans to get guys going and play them effectively. However, sometimes players can only do so much. This team is in a rebuild. We are missing some parts, but have some promising players coming. There will be a lot of hit and misses. To put a bullet on Macleans head in that kind of a season really isn't fair.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I agree that he isn't on the hotseat IF he handles the roster properly....meaning, Chris Neil and Zach Smith aren't getting 15 mins a night, while actual good players like Ryan and Zibby are playing less than that.

if he starts handling the roster like he did last year.....and it looked like it started creeping back in a bit on Saturday..........then i agree 100% that his job security should be looked at.

if he gives the team the best chance to win, by icing the best team game in and game out, and playing them accordingly, and simply gets beat by a better team......i can live with that.

Now I see how Neil get's so much playing time...


https://instagram.com/p/u...-mD/embed/captioned/?v=3#

July 5 2015:

Marc Staal 7 years $6 million per
Nic Foligno 5 years $5 million per

Mac - Turris - Ryan
Foligno - Lazar - Chiasson
9MM - Zibby - Stone
Smith - Leggy - Neil
Hoffman - Pageau

Staal - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Phillips - Wideman
Boro - Gryba

I agree that he isn't on the hotseat IF he handles the roster properly....meaning, Chris Neil and Zach Smith aren't getting 15 mins a night, while actual good players like Ryan and Zibby are playing less than that.

if he starts handling the roster like he did last year.....and it looked like it started creeping back in a bit on Saturday..........then i agree 100% that his job security should be looked at.

if he gives the team the best chance to win, by icing the best team game in and game out, and playing them accordingly, and simply gets beat by a better team......i can live with that.
- sensarmy_11

Paul Maclean is a 4 line coach. This is going to be even more the case with the route this team is going with a commitment to 2-way hockey. Every player who dresses will play decent minutes. That being the case, it's the General Managers job to get the right players to fill those roles. That's why it's important to realize what Maclean is working with. We all hate to see Neil play 15 minutes, but putting guys out there like Condra, Greening, Smith, etc to replace those minutes, aren't going to win you much more accolades. Murray and the gang have to give him good cards to play with. To me, this is more apparent with our defence at the moment.

July 5 2015:

Marc Staal 7 years $6 million per
Nic Foligno 5 years $5 million per

Mac - Turris - Ryan
Foligno - Lazar - Chiasson
9MM - Zibby - Stone
Smith - Leggy - Neil
Hoffman - Pageau

Staal - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Phillips - Wideman (?) 0 NHL games
Boro - Gryba
- tuna99

Interesting where all this money came from as Methot, Hoff, Stone, and Zibby all need to be resigned, and i can only asume Condra, Cowen, Wiercioch, Greening are the ones we traded lol ?

July 5 2015:

Marc Staal 7 years $6 million per
Nic Foligno 5 years $5 million per

Mac - Turris - Ryan
Foligno - Lazar - Chiasson
9MM - Zibby - Stone
Smith - Leggy - Neil
Hoffman - Pageau

Staal - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Phillips - Wideman
Boro - Gryba
- tuna99

I don't understand your obsession with bringing back useless ex sens players.......first you want to overpay for vermette and now foligno.


I also love that you now assume ottawa will be spending to the cap.....when considering you brutally overpay 2 UFAs, and extend methot, zibby, Hoffman, etc

July 5 2015:

Marc Staal 7 years $6 million per
Nic Foligno 5 years $5 million per

Mac - Turris - Ryan
Foligno - Lazar - Chiasson
9MM - Zibby - Stone
Smith - Leggy - Neil
Hoffman - Pageau

Staal - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Phillips - Wideman
Boro - Gryba
- tuna99

5 million for Foligno?
He's still yet to crack 20 goals in a season.

I always really liked him in ottawa, he always looked like he was finally going to develop into a top 6 player. But he never was able to make the jump. He shouldn't be in the top six of a contender. And 5 million is too much for him.

Pass.