James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Richards, Kessel & Vermette Plus, tons more!

Kessel was in shape compared to the average Joe but he was not conditioned like a professional athlete. Inconsistency and disappearing acts are the result. Not sure where you get your facts from but when the assistant coach is telling people that Kessel showed up to camp carrying an extra 15 pounds it's hard to argue.

Yes he took the heat but he was the highest paid player playing in a fish bowl. It comes with the territory. If he didn't see it coming, he was just as unprepared mentally as he was physically.

The situation was what it was. Kessel has the right to do whatever he wants and keep himself however he wants but when things go sour, he leaves himself open to be criticized. Not having a good relationship with the press only made it worse.

If Kessel was the player you make him out to be he wouldn't have been traded twice in his twenties.

Great post. Agree with you 100% on the Kings/Richards debacle, and I echo your sentiments regarding Voynov.

I don't think all the blame is place upon Kessel, if it was the coach and GM wouldn't have been fired for the teams performance. And making fun of people is just part of life, right or wrong, it just is. I'm sure you've made fun of someone before, if you say you haven't, you're lying. Poking fun at him just happens to be in the media.

Re: Richards - being in the corporate Oil & Gas industry for 25 years I've seen companies have "issues" with employee's before. It's really difficult to fire someone these days unless you've built a documented case against them, or, they completely act in an unethical way. The Kings are just doing everything in their power to rid themselves of someone who's no longer useful to them. Right or wrong....it's just business.

Re: Leafs - it'll be interesting in the coming years to see how their strategy pans out for them. They've still got some dead-weight on that team though, much work to be done.

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Richards, Kessel & Vermette
Plus, tons more!
- James_Tanner

I did like the green lantern movie as well. I was sad they never made a sequel

- tomburton99

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Kessel was in shape compared to the average Joe but he was not conditioned like a professional athlete. Inconsistency and disappearing acts are the result. Not sure where you get your facts from but when the assistant coach is telling people that Kessel showed up to camp carrying an extra 15 pounds it's hard to argue.

Yes he took the heat but he was the highest paid player playing in a fish bowl. It comes with the territory. If he didn't see it coming, he was just as unprepared mentally as he was physically.

The situation was what it was. Kessel has the right to do whatever he wants and keep himself however he wants but when things go sour, he leaves himself open to be criticized. Not having a good relationship with the press only made it worse.

If Kessel was the player you make him out to be he wouldn't have been traded twice in his twenties.
- habmanj

What inconsistency? He's literally one of the most consistent NHL players of the last five years. This is exactly the non-sense that prompted me to write that post.

And he is the one of the fastest players in the league. He isn't out of shape, I call BS>

Regarding Kessel, we should all be "out of shape" and that filthy rich.

Great post. Agree with you 100% on the Kings/Richards debacle, and I echo your sentiments regarding Voynov.
- BroadSTmayhem

Good to hear. Appreciated.

I did like the green lantern movie as well. I was sad they never made a sequel
- drummer829

Good to know it's not just me.

I don't think all the blame is place upon Kessel, if it was the coach and GM wouldn't have been fired for the teams performance. And making fun of people is just part of life, right or wrong, it just is. I'm sure you've made fun of someone before, if you say you haven't, you're lying. Poking fun at him just happens to be in the media.

Re: Richards - being in the corporate Oil & Gas industry for 25 years I've seen companies have "issues" with employee's before. It's really difficult to fire someone these days unless you've built a documented case against them, or, they completely act in an unethical way. The Kings are just doing everything in their power to rid themselves of someone who's no longer useful to them. Right or wrong....it's just business.

Re: Leafs - it'll be interesting in the coming years to see how their strategy pans out for them. They've still got some dead-weight on that team though, much work to be done.
- LeftCoaster

I make fun of people all the time. I don't by into the sensitivity of our times. I think the Kessel stuff went from making fun to fictional narrative that people actually believe though, and that's my problem.

It should be hard to fire someone. Business ins't just business, it's how people make their living and I'll always side with the real person. That's why I support the players in lockouts, listen to Billy Bragg and often ride in boxcars.

James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Richards, Kessel & Vermette
Plus, tons more!
- James_Tanner

Phil Kessel looks absolutely effortless when he plays defense. Because he's not using any effort.

One More

Tanner, good blog.

Couldn't agree more with the 6.5 mil freed cap space for Kessel.
The fan's in TO only think they know hockey.
Think back to when Larry Murphy played here after winning cups in Pittsburgh. He was booed out of town. He heads to Detroit to win again.
Kapenen was one of Pittsburgh's best player's last training camp. Give him time.
As you said, be the worst team or the best team, aiming to just make the playoffs with vets on your team is the worst position (See Carolina). Edmonton's D is very promising.
Nurse and Reinhart are big, nasty and can play at both ends of the ice. Sekara is one of the most under-rated D in the game. Add in Klefbom and that is one heck of a top 4 one day Edmonton has done well in addressing their D.

I make fun of people all the time. I don't by into the sensitivity of our times. I think the Kessel stuff went from making fun to fictional narrative that people actually believe though, and that's my problem.

It should be hard to fire someone. Business ins't just business, it's how people make their living and I'll always side with the real person. That's why I support the players in lockouts, listen to Billy Bragg and often ride in boxcars.
- James_Tanner

I think you have to look at it on an individual basis as each case is unique unto it self. Generalizing and putting everyone in the same context is not fair, some people deserve to move on. Not saying that's the case with Richards though...need more facts.

Re: Mike Richards.

I don't know, I think if I was underperforming at my job and was busted on a federal charge (actually, kind of a big deal) I'd expect to be fired also. I am pretty well versed on the NHL's SABH program, having sought employment there in the past. Under the contract, the league has to offer Richards treatment, but the team is not obliged to employ him. Whatever he had, it wasn't in an RX bottle with his name on it, or this wouldn't be an issue.
On Oilers topic, I think their rate of improvement will be how long it takes their young talent to learn disciplined hockey systems, which they've never had. It's more than creating new habits here, it's breaking them of the old bad habits they've grown accustomed to under poor coaching. I actually am excited for them, and look forward to hopefully seeing them in the playoffs, just for something different.

Exciting time in oil country what a disgusting amount of young talent

and one more thing. I saw John Prine at the old Ontario Place concert area. It was unbelievable. What a talent. Perfect for chillin' around a camp fire these summer nights.
"Sam Stone..."

Exciting time in oil country what a disgusting amount of young talent
- Snagglepuss

When a team tanks every year. You tend to get some pretty good players.

James. You and I know each other pretty well, but I must admit that I'm shocked that you would admit something so agregious. No one and I mean no one should admit to liking the Green Lantern movie

Tanner, good blog.

Couldn't agree more with the 6.5 mil freed cap space for Kessel.
The fan's in TO only think they know hockey.
Think back to when Larry Murphy played here after winning cups in Pittsburgh. He was booed out of town. He heads to Detroit to win again.
Kapenen was one of Pittsburgh's best player's last training camp. Give him time.
As you said, be the worst team or the best team, aiming to just make the playoffs with vets on your team is the worst position (See Carolina). Edmonton's D is very promising.
Nurse and Reinhart are big, nasty and can play at both ends of the ice. Sekara is one of the most under-rated D in the game. Add in Klefbom and that is one heck of a top 4 one day Edmonton has done well in addressing their D.
- Monitor1

Are you freaking kidding? Ryan O'Reilly is way overpaid. Guaranteed new lockout coming.

Re: Mike Richards.

I don't know, I think if I was underperforming at my job and was busted on a federal charge (actually, kind of a big deal) I'd expect to be fired also. I am pretty well versed on the NHL's SABH program, having sought employment there in the past. Under the contract, the league has to offer Richards treatment, but the team is not obliged to employ him. Whatever he had, it wasn't in an RX bottle with his name on it, or this wouldn't be an issue.
On Oilers topic, I think their rate of improvement will be how long it takes their young talent to learn disciplined hockey systems, which they've never had. It's more than creating new habits here, it's breaking them of the old bad habits they've grown accustomed to under poor coaching. I actually am excited for them, and look forward to hopefully seeing them in the playoffs, just for something different.
- jeffgouldonfire

The point isn't to say a federal drug charge (if that's even what it is) is not a big deal. The point is that it's sort of super convenient to void one of the worst contracts in the league, and that it's disgustingly hypocritical to encourage and thrive and make money in/on a culture that encourages and glorifies playing through injuries and then turn around and void his contract when he develops a problem with drugs given to him in the first place because of his job. (Again, if that's the case. Speculating on rumours here).

"When a team tanks every year. You tend to get some pretty good players."
- Kings67

see you next tuesday