The Kessel problem is kind of circular.
The Leafs have bad D. They need to score a lot to win. So Kessel is given free reign to score a lot (albeit always a minus as well). Kessel would be better and maybe more useful if he contributed defensively as well. But now not only has he been conditioned not to play that way, he actively refuses to change (see what Spott said and the talk of him refusing to switch wings).
Kessel's supporters always point to his point totals. But while he is obviously really good offensively, maybe his stats are as high as they are every year because he has been the only real scorer on a bad team, which tends to mean more ice time, all the PP time, etc. Like Maruk back in the day.
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