Pretty intense blog by Howard Berger about Kessel. I cant disagree with him either...
Phil Kessel has to be better than this. He just has to be.
No one expects the talented forward to put the Maple Leafs on his back anymore; he isn’t that type of player and never will be. But, invisible? That doesn’t cut it — not now, not tomorrow, not next month or next season. And, damned well not for $5.4 million of cap space and three draft choices, two of them first-rounders. Really, folks, this doesn’t fall on Brian Burke any longer. The trade with Boston will be debated for eons, but Kessel must hold up his end of the bargain. Right now, he is mailing it in… night after night after night. And that’s on his shoulders, nobody else’s.
Burke didn’t go after Kessel with a loaded gun. The Wisconsin native was happy to leave Boston, and thrilled to be showered with riches by the Blue & White. He worked hard to rehabilitate a wonky shoulder and performed with loads of zeal and gusto after pulling on a Toronto jersey for the first time 13 months ago.
Today, only the number on his uniform bares similarity to that player. There is no evidence that Kessel can or will do anything to justify his status as the club’s marquee figure. He has three lousy goals in the past 18 games – a tailspin that resembles the 2-in-24 calamity through the middle of last season. Heck, John Mitchell could do that, and for a lot less money.
If there’s an injury holding him back — something the Leafs are keeping quiet — Phil shouldn’t be on the ice. Period.
Kessel is treated with kid gloves in this city. You’ll hardly hear a peep of condemnation from Ron Wilson, who has occasionally tried to get through to the winger by planting his rump on the bench for a few shifts. But Wilson won’t go overboard, knowing his boss has staked a large chunk of reputation on No. 81. Reporters tip-toe around Kessel and his peculiar disposition, wondering if we’ll ever get more than the patented shrug; the pained smile, and the “Aw darn, it has to go in for me eventually” pretense.
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/noth ... e-ashamed/
