Phil is indeed a 1st liner. The problem with him is that he is THE go to guy on the Leafs. As far us posting good offensive totals, he can be THE go to guy. However, if the Leafs wanted to be a winning team and a threat to make a big splash in the playoffs, they need to find a true offensive leader. Not just a guy who can score, but a guy who can play all facets of the game, and a guy who can compliment Kessel as a linemate or at least as an option for having two deadly scorers at two different times. That guy should be a centerman too.
Basically this is Phil and Dion's team. Phil and Dion just need to be key contributors, not the leaders.
Put Kessel on the Penguins or the Hawks and watch him flourish and grow as an all around player. He would learn the other side of the game better and still put up great numbers. On those teams he is not THE guy, he is a guy who compliments the go to guys.
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