Phil Kessel, Cover Boy
The March 9 issue of The Hockey News graces its cover with the grim, stubbly face of Phil Kessel. The accompanying caption says (in small letters) "Is this the face of a COACH KILLER (in very large letters)".
The long article inside says some good things and some bad things about Phil. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the article:
"Phil Kessel is the awkward face of the, well, equally awkward Toronto Maple Leafs."
"You can't argue with Kessel's productivity, but he's an unlikable, miserable son of a bitch. Nobody wants to be around him." - from a "rival NHL team executive".
"A former teammate with the Boston Bruins who requested anonymity still speaks of Kessel with contempt, saying he was lazy, had no respect for the hierarchy of a dressing room and conducted himself with contempt and indignance. "Coaches have time for his skill, but no time for his personality," the former teammate says, "He's a smug, silver-spooned little bastard. And Boston got rid of him. What does that tell you?" "
"In 2011-2012 then-GM Brian Burke likened the season "akin to an 18-wheeler going off a cliff" but that's beginning to look like a fender-bender compared to this season."
"In 12 games under Horachek, he was being outscored by defenseman Cody Franson and journeyman checker Daniel Winnik." (JC: BOTH subsequently traded!)
"They were mired in the longest losing streak of the almost 100-year history of the franchise."
"In the first 725 minutes played under Horachek, they held a lead for exactly 78 minutes and 20 seconds."
"Kessel doesn't come out looking good when you crunch the numbers."
"Kessel has been labelled as uncoachable, a coach killer who doesn't work hard enough off the ice and clashes...with coaches when he doesn't agree with their methods."
"Spott said, "Phil hates coaches. He hates Randy. He hates me and I don't even know him yet," one of the youth hockey coaches was quoted as saying."
"Kessel goes through bouts of low productivity and sometimes goes missing when he's needed most. He does have an uncanny knack for going cold at the worst times."
"The Maple Leafs ...haven't had a Norris Trophy winner in their 98-year history and haven't had a legitimate # 1 or 2 defenseman playing in his prime since Thomas Kaberle."
"Kessel doesn't project the look of a star athlete."
"Kessel was making his way out of the rink one day when Bruins coach Claude Julien famously said, "Hey Phil, the weight room is that way." That reputation has stuck with Kessel throughout his career."
The March 9 issue of The Hockey News graces its cover with the grim, stubbly face of Phil Kessel. The accompanying caption says (in small letters) "Is this the face of a COACH KILLER (in very large letters)".
The long article inside says some good things and some bad things about Phil. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the article:
"Phil Kessel is the awkward face of the, well, equally awkward Toronto Maple Leafs."
"You can't argue with Kessel's productivity, but he's an unlikable, miserable son of a bitch. Nobody wants to be around him." - from a "rival NHL team executive".
"A former teammate with the Boston Bruins who requested anonymity still speaks of Kessel with contempt, saying he was lazy, had no respect for the hierarchy of a dressing room and conducted himself with contempt and indignance. "Coaches have time for his skill, but no time for his personality," the former teammate says, "He's a smug, silver-spooned little bastard. And Boston got rid of him. What does that tell you?" "
"In 2011-2012 then-GM Brian Burke likened the season "akin to an 18-wheeler going off a cliff" but that's beginning to look like a fender-bender compared to this season."
"In 12 games under Horachek, he was being outscored by defenseman Cody Franson and journeyman checker Daniel Winnik." (JC: BOTH subsequently traded!)
"They were mired in the longest losing streak of the almost 100-year history of the franchise."
"In the first 725 minutes played under Horachek, they held a lead for exactly 78 minutes and 20 seconds."
"Kessel doesn't come out looking good when you crunch the numbers."
"Kessel has been labelled as uncoachable, a coach killer who doesn't work hard enough off the ice and clashes...with coaches when he doesn't agree with their methods."
"Spott said, "Phil hates coaches. He hates Randy. He hates me and I don't even know him yet," one of the youth hockey coaches was quoted as saying."
"Kessel goes through bouts of low productivity and sometimes goes missing when he's needed most. He does have an uncanny knack for going cold at the worst times."
"The Maple Leafs ...haven't had a Norris Trophy winner in their 98-year history and haven't had a legitimate # 1 or 2 defenseman playing in his prime since Thomas Kaberle."
"Kessel doesn't project the look of a star athlete."
"Kessel was making his way out of the rink one day when Bruins coach Claude Julien famously said, "Hey Phil, the weight room is that way." That reputation has stuck with Kessel throughout his career."
