PHIL KESSEL WINS STANLEY CUP

[herman]

We should love Kessel (even) more.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/jim-rutherford-what-you-dont-know-about-being-a-gm/

In July, when it became clear that we had a shot at bringing in Phil Kessel, we had to make a big decision. Acquiring Kessel would cost us not only young talent and draft picks, but it would also come with a significant salary-cap hit. There’s always a cost. In this case, we had to be sure that Phil would fit into our room, and into our system.

In times like that, you have to rely on your box. Inside your box is all the stuff you can’t look up on the Internet. During your travels in this game, from city to city, hotel to hotel, you talk to a lot of people. You hear things. You learn all kinds of things about players. And you file it all away in your box. Over my 30 years as a GM, my box has gotten pretty full.

It was always my understanding from my intel around the league that Phil was a good guy. If I have one defining management philosophy, it’s that I really believe in second chances. If a player is a good guy, and he’s got talent, and you give him a second chance, he’ll give you everything he’s got.

The Kessel decision ultimately came down to a simple fact about the NHL that never seems to change: It’s hard to score goals in this league. It’s just hard. But Phil was a guy who had scored them year after year. He had been in a fishbowl in Toronto and he still scored 30 every year. I felt if we gave him a second chance, he’d really thrive in Pittsburgh.

So Phil came into our locker room that fall and, after watching him for a few weeks, I filed a new note into my box:

Phil Kessel isn’t a good guy, after all. He’s a great guy.

[Nik]

I am pro-Phil and wish him well but Jim Rutherford got a first-rate NHL wing for an incredible price so there's a limit to the extent that I care that he thinks Kessel is a swell fella to boot.

There's nothing to regret about the deal from the Leafs end but I don't think any of us should be happy about those circumstances either. Rutherford seems to have been willing to let the deal die if the Leafs wouldn't eat salary so it's not exactly an act of genius on his part either.

[CarltonTheBear]

That article had some great stuff about Phil and all but everybody needs to read it for the story about Trevor Daley and the promise his mom made him.

[CarltonTheBear]

I love the guy, but I don't think anybody would ever guess that Phil's one of the most gifted hockey players on the planet just by looking at him.

Also, you're seeing the President get your suit tailored man.

[Nik]

Also, you're seeing the President get your suit tailored man.

I was just coming here to post the same thing. Rumpled collar, poorly fitting suit...never change Phil.

[herman]

He looks like the unassuming Plot-twist Double Agent from Act 1 in a spy movie.

[mr grieves]

President Barack Obama trolls Phil Kessel during Pittsburgh Penguins' visit to The White House https://t.co/WiQLJX5ISh

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) October 6, 2016

[CarltonTheBear]

I know there's almost no chance Obama actually wrote that line but I'd really like to pretend that they're best friends and hang out on a regular basis.

[herman]

The last time the #Pens won the Cup, this secret service agent was a Penguins intern. Sid recognized him and stopped for a quick handshake. pic.twitter.com/Dkb0OIV2Fi

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 6, 2016

Adding Crosby to the list of superstars with near/eidetic memories. (LeBron James, Steven Stamkos, Joe Quenneville).

[herman]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZRgRDfJ_WI[/youtube]

[Nik]

pic.twitter.com/NrMPrJpimy

— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) October 11, 2016

On his feed there's also a shot of the front of the ring. They're quite spiffy.

[disco]

pic.twitter.com/78rYW90N0Z

— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) October 11, 2016

[Nik]

The Year of Kessel remains hilariously awkward:

Truth: Kessel loves country music
Truth: Kessel's dog is named Stella
Lie: Kessel is a wonderful singer
In the Room: https://t.co/xjYVhSUUiP pic.twitter.com/vVxyLiBFe1

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 18, 2016

[herman]

[CarltonTheBear]