James Tanner: Well, That was Certainly Predictable

Kessel needs to play w/ a stud, or he's not going to do anything. Have a feeling he will be very underwhelming this year, at best, and maybe a cancer in the lockeroom/bench.

Kessel needs to play w/ a stud, or he's not going to do anything. Have a feeling he will be very underwhelming this year, at best, and maybe a cancer in the lockeroom/bench.
- rrentz

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S

Kessel is nothing but empty calories at this point in his career

He'll put up PP points and be the 2nd assist on 5v5 goals, but he'll also be on the Ice for a ton of 5v5 goals against

Kessel needs to play w/ a stud, or he's not going to do anything. Have a feeling he will be very underwhelming this year, at best, and maybe a cancer in the lockeroom/bench.
- rrentz

He scored at the same clip with Malkin as he did with Bozak. He does not need a "stud" to score. That's a myth that's been disproven long ago.

Remember the time James got owned by Bill Meltzer in his own blog?

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S
- James_Tanner

I guess Keller wont start playing a like 7.150 mil dollar until next year when the contract kicks in

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S
- James_Tanner

True story time:

I attended a coaching session put on by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fall of 2015 (complete waste of time).

Anyhoo, at the end of it, there was time for questions.

One guy stood up and asked, "I've been put into the head coaching position because the original coach's son was called up one level. I really don't like the current culture we have on the team - kids and parents. I'm trying to change it, but I'm finding it ingrained in the team, and I'm getting lots of resistance. Do you have any suggestions?"

Brendan Shanahan looked at the guy and replied, "I don't know how your league works, but can you ship out a player on your team to Pittsburgh?"

This was in front of probably 1,000 coaches - and every single one of them has re-told this story 100 times.

I loved Kessel.

It wasn't his fault he was brought into Toronto too soon in the rebuild.

And it may very well be that players love him (neither you nor I actually know the truth of this).

But make no mistake: management has hated him everywhere he has been. I don't know why, but I do know this is a fact.

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S
- James_Tanner

When he's happy he's great...you know, like when you're wining stanley cups.

When he gets unhappy he's a douche...maybe not to his teammates, but he whines to his coaches and is a nightmare to the GM, and in turn it creates a problem in the locker room. He can be a distraction. I'm not saying he's not liked or that he isn't funny, but sometimes he creates problems. Just like w/ him and Malkin. His constant problems with Sullivan pissed off Malkin who wanted him to just shut up and play.

Don't think he's a good role model for rookies and young players.

He scored at the same clip with Malkin as he did with Bozak. He does not need a "stud" to score. That's a myth that's been disproven long ago.
- claude1971

In his time with the Penguins he Avg. 75.75 Points per season and never missed a game which means he avg .924 PPG, In his time with TOR 65.667 Points per season with some time missed to injury and an avg .883 so he is marginally better (in terms of point production) with elite players. My concern with this analysis is his time in TOR was his prime, now hes 32 and is notorious for not being in the best "hockey shape" so i think the drop off in talent around him has a fair chance to mean a closer to .8 PPG average this year.

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S
- James_Tanner

I suppose that is a fact, right? You have interviewed people he has played with in multiple locations, or at least read first-hand information about this?

It has been reported many times, in multiple cities that he is the last one on the ice for practice and the 1st one off. Also, that he has more interest in playing ping pong than working on his game.
It's now coming out that one of the best players of the last 10 years threatened to demand a trade if he wasn't moved.
How could a guy like that possibly be a poor teammate, eh????

UofCguy says "hello".

True story time:

I attended a coaching session put on by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fall of 2015 (complete waste of time).

Anyhoo, at the end of it, there was time for questions.

One guy stood up and asked, "I've been put into the head coaching position because the original coach's son was called up one level. I really don't like the current culture we have on the team - kids and parents. I'm trying to change it, but I'm finding it ingrained in the team, and I'm getting lots of resistance. Do you have any suggestions?"

Brendan Shanahan looked at the guy and replied, "I don't know how your league works, but can you ship out a player on your team to Pittsburgh?"

This was in front of probably 1,000 coaches - and every single one of them has re-told this story 100 times.

I loved Kessel.

It wasn't his fault he was brought into Toronto too soon in the rebuild.

And it may very well be that players love him (neither you nor I actually know the truth of this).

But make no mistake: management has hated him everywhere he has been. I don't know why, but I do know this is a fact.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ha Shanahan is hilarious, that's a great story. Every team hes on does end up frustrated with him, no doubt.

I suppose that is a fact, right? You have interviewed people he has played with in multiple locations, or at least read first-hand information about this?

It has been reported many times, in multiple cities that he is the last one on the ice for practice and the 1st one off. Also, that he has more interest in playing ping pong than working on his game.
It's now coming out that one of the best players of the last 10 years threatened to demand a trade if he wasn't moved.
How could a guy like that possibly be a poor teammate, eh????
- Tonybere

Three years of 6.8 million dollar hell for the New owner of the Coyotes, GM, and coaches.

Ha Shanahan is hilarious, that's a great story. Every team hes on does end up frustrated with him, no doubt.
- James_Tanner

Wait! If he's such a great guy and teammate, why would he be a frustrating player, James?

I suppose that is a fact, right? You have interviewed people he has played with in multiple locations, or at least read first-hand information about this?

It has been reported many times, in multiple cities that he is the last one on the ice for practice and the 1st one off. Also, that he has more interest in playing ping pong than working on his game.
It's now coming out that one of the best players of the last 10 years threatened to demand a trade if he wasn't moved.
How could a guy like that possibly be a poor teammate, eh????
- Tonybere

According to Kessel's adjusted Corsi...he is one of the best teammates to ever play the game.

Wait! If he's such a great guy and teammate, why would he be a frustrating player, James?
- rrentz

Well I'm a great guy and teammate and I'm not in the NHL, so you can probably figure it out.

Dude, everyone who meets Kessel loves him. He's a nice guy and very easy going. There is not chance he's 'bad in the room'. That stuff is pure B.S

I hate to agree with Tanner but I have to on this one. Every former teammate gushes about how awesome he is. He's the quiet guy in the room that just likes to play hockey. You'll only be disappointed in him if you want him to be a leader.

So the Coyotes lose (again) and Tanner is genuinely confused of how this keeps happening.

Yeah, definitely deja vu.

Tanner I'm interested in how/why you consider Hayton "at worst - your third most talented forward."

Kessel is nothing but empty calories at this point in his career

He'll put up PP points and be the 2nd assist on 5v5 goals, but he'll also be on the Ice for a ton of 5v5 goals against
- TheGame316

Kinda like how he was 3rd on the Pens at 5v5 points and how 33 of his 43 5v5 points last season were primary points? Those kind of secondary assists? (frank) man. You’ve been gone for so long I forgot how brutal of a poster you are. It’s terrible.

When he's happy he's great...you know, like when you're wining stanley cups.

When he gets unhappy he's a douche...maybe not to his teammates, but he whines to his coaches and is a nightmare to the GM, and in turn it creates a problem in the locker room. He can be a distraction. I'm not saying he's not liked or that he isn't funny, but sometimes he creates problems. Just like w/ him and Malkin. His constant problems with Sullivan pissed off Malkin who wanted him to just shut up and play.

Don't think he's a good role model for rookies and young players.
- rrentz

poop man I didn’t know you played with Phil the Thrill. What are you Doing on HB?

Remember the time James got owned by Bill Meltzer in his own blog?
- Gertner

Good times!

Kessel needs to play w/ a stud, or he's not going to do anything. Have a feeling he will be very underwhelming this year, at best, and maybe a cancer in the lockeroom/bench.

Ummmm, so pick the "studs"
Bozak, Lupul, JVR...those were his linemates on the leafs and his lines were typically one of the more dangerous lines 2 years running. Which of those three excelled without Kessel? He's played with one "stud" as you put it and that's Malkin. Otherwise, he's been the best player on his line and has been quite successful.

Oh, and Hagelin and Bonino...so studly

James,

I also generally like Hinostroza. But the effort he gave on the winning goal when Fowler walked around him while he stood straight up and had a weak single hand on his stick was inexcusable. It happened right in front of me, and I was shocked he saw the ice again near the beginning of the third. I thought Tocchet was going to lose his mind.