PHIL KESSEL WINS STANLEY CUP

[Nik]

Get out and vote tm you don't want the wrong person elected! #pk2017 pic.twitter.com/XV4R1LyJYJ

— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) November 8, 2016

[CarltonTheBear]

On this Election Day there is only one clear choice. #ImWithPhil #MakeAmericaSkateAgain pic.twitter.com/DXGnvMX1Of

— NHL (@NHL) November 8, 2016

www.twitter.com/NHL/status/796019348443832320

Whichever intern is running the NHL's twitter account right now needs a promotion.

[Arn]

I love Phil Kessel

Invalid Tweet ID

[herman]

I love Phil too

Phil Kessel everyone. pic.twitter.com/sUPfaMvguE

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 14, 2017

www.twitter.com/mirtle/status/897204345950883841

[herman]

https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-simmons-thinks-phil-kessel-petty-stanley-cup-hot-dog-photo-160135959.html

Some solid butthurt right here.

[Nik]

I have no problem with beating up on Simmons for that column but I do kind of reject the idea that columns like it had any real effect on the Leafs attempt to trade Kessel or what they got in return. Let's all remember that even the Penguins were willing to walk away from the deal without salary relief and I don't think that's because of anything written by the Toronto press.

The Leafs traded Kessel because they finally knew they needed to rebuild. The price they got for him was determined in large part by his own limitations as a player(and specifically his bad final year with the team). He's been good in Pittsburgh but he's more or less vindicated anyone who said that his deal with the Leafs didn't make sense for the Leafs.

[cabber24]

https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-simmons-thinks-phil-kessel-petty-stanley-cup-hot-dog-photo-160135959.html

Some solid butthurt right here.

F YOU Steve Simmons! Own it bud.

[Bill_Berg]

https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-simmons-thinks-phil-kessel-petty-stanley-cup-hot-dog-photo-160135959.html

Some solid butthurt right here.

F YOU Steve Simmons! Own it bud.

Yeah, I really don't like that guy either. Terrible.

I agree with Nik too, he, much like most sports writers, have little to no influence on Team decisions. Maybe there is a marginal impact to the psyches of management if much of the media in town is down on a guy. But there would have to be a host of other reasons as well.

[AvroArrow]

Atta boy Phil! Enjoy it!

[cabber24]

https://sports.yahoo.com/steve-simmons-thinks-phil-kessel-petty-stanley-cup-hot-dog-photo-160135959.html

Some solid butthurt right here.

F YOU Steve Simmons! Own it bud.

Yeah, I really don't like that guy either. Terrible.

I agree with Nik too, he, much like most sports writers, have little to no influence on Team decisions. Maybe there is a marginal impact to the psyches of management if much of the media in town is down on a guy. But there would have to be a host of other reasons as well.

I am just glad he's getting called out for being a douche bag. Low brow cheap shots at someone on their way out are not necessary.

[Nik]

Ah, Phil. You're better than that.

[CarltonTheBear]

Oh god that was painful to watch. And it was probably the "best-case scenario" for how it went down.

[herman]

Ryan Reaves did a post-game interview:

This is an unreal tee. pic.twitter.com/1qvDKBPvJ4

— Dan Riccio (@DanRiccio650) November 5, 2017

[herman]

I think about Phil Kessel a lot

You know what's not fair? Phil Kessel's shot.
https://theathletic.com/178584/2017/12/08/phil-kessels-shot-is-as-terrifying-as-ever/

On top of all that in the article, he apparently switches sticks 5-10 times a game, each with different configurations (blade lie, kick points, flex, etc.), so even if a goalie gets squared to Phil, he has no idea when or where the release will be. His scoring posture is also usually counter to what his stick is doing, and Phil still knows exactly where the puck will go.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-erik-karlsson-trade-rumours-ottawa-senators/

11. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe had an interesting story from Matt Murray about Phil Kessel. Murray said Kessel uses several different sticks per game, featuring different stiffness and specifications. I had a chance to ask Kessel about it when they practised in Toronto. He says what he adjusts is the height of the stick; he’s finicky about how long or short it is and can feel the slightest difference in his ability to control the puck.

It was a fascinating conversation, very similar to stories about Ichiro Suzuki and his bats. How many sticks do you use during the season? “Maybe 200,” he answered. Word is that, while in Toronto, Kessel went through 240 in one season and only Dion Phaneuf was anywhere close. Listening to players talk about their craft or their tools is really something.

[Nik]

Phil Kessel. Nice guy, tries hard, loves the game.

https://deadspin.com/phil-kessel-makes-penguins-fan-cry-1821430985