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Originally Posted by kehatch
IMO The amount of misinformation on this player is crazy. Someone go find the myth busters because many of you need a reeducation.
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I put that in for accuracy as you are clearly one of those fans that believes statistics are the most important part of accessing a player's value. Also no we don't need to be re-educated. Most of us have followed his career closely seeing he's been a Leaf which means we have endured more articles and stories on him than most Flames over the years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
Regarding fitness: He is never injured. I have seen no sign of fitness issues on the ice. He scores very well in fitness training.
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He's the Nik Lewis of hockey. Fat but gifted. Problem being Nick Lewis career is effectively over in his early 30's because father time is hard on people that don't take care of their body and Phil has an $8 million cap hit until he's 34 years old. He won't be nearly the player he is today in five years if he doesn't start taking care if his body. The jury is out if he can change or if he's just another Dustin Penner who's never going to be able to get in proper shape.
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Originally Posted by kehatch
Regarding value: The bar was set with the Nash and Ryan trades. Your not talking Bennett. Your not talking garbage. Your talking about something like a first, Backlund, Poirier, and Wotherspoon.
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Likely for the team desperate enough to bite. Leafs won't get a homerun return simply because of the contract.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
Regarding contract: There is nothing wrong with 8-million for a player of this age and caliber.
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Well that all depends if you are fan of a strictly one-dimensional player with no leadership skills taking up a big chunk of your salary cap. I'm not and I imagine a lot of GM's also aren't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
Regarding attitude: I haven't seen a coach, GM, or team mate say anything bad about the players attitude.
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Carlyle was a pro in regards to not throwing anyone under the bus but he's biting his lip clearly in regards to the player and he also acknowledged that Kessel didn't get treated like other players and preferential treatment is classic loser team management hence the Leafs and Oilers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
He wouldn't just make us better, he would make us MUCH better for the next 5 years.
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Lets not forget that the Flames were missing the playoffs with Iginla who was scoring at clips as good or better than Kessel. Flames success last year wasn't because of a single player but because of the team play. The Flames were top 10 in scoring last season and while Kessel would likely contribute offensively lets not pretend that he and Hartley would ever be on the same page. Sven didn't get the 'special' treatment and nor would Phil and it remains to be seen how many goals and points Kessel could accumulate if he was forced to play a structured game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
Personally, I don't think we are far enough along in the rebuild to justify thus type of move. But some of the comments on here are completely uninformed.
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No we aren't but I don't think you drop a Phil Kessel into a team that is trying to establish a culture of hard work and team play. He's more the complementary player for a team that feels it's one player away from winning a cup.