Kessel finally set to play in Toronto
by James Mirtle on Nov 3, 2009 8:44 AM CST
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Up to now, Kessel said, he’s been able to travel about Toronto anonymously because a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff kept him off the ice and out of the fans’ field of vision. That will change tonight – although Kessel said the pressure he feels will not come from the overweening expectations of the hockey public.
"There’s always pressure when you play hockey," he said. "You just feel it because you want to help the team win, get in the playoffs or at least compete for a playoff spot."
I'm off to the Air Canada Centre, where everything is sure to be all about Phil Kessel all day. The Leafs are taking on the Lightning tonight, and Toronto's latest "saviour" is expected to play his first game with his new team.
He hasn't played a game since May, so perhaps we should temper expectations just a bit.
UPDATE Here's the latest entry in the Kessel Watch. Also had a chance to listen in on Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis on the Lightning side of things, and should have more from them later.
Could be a decent game tonight. Toronto has yet to win at home, Tampa has yet to win on the road, so something's about to give. Gustavsson versus Niittymaki in goal after Mike Smith was bombed out yesterday against the Flyers.
UPDATE Seen Stamkos? And how he's been out playing Lecavalier so far? A lot of people are beginning to wonder what that might mean for both of their chances with the Canadian Olympic team.
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Nah, it’s a terrible trade if he doesn’t score like 18 goals tonight, come on now.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 3, 2009 9:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
I mean, we can spread the goals around to past games in order to give us more wins, right? We’re just trying to make up for lost man games.
by koopa kid on Nov 3, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Perspective?
Good luck. If no one in the media is going to have any then why should the fans.
Insanity all around!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Nov 3, 2009 9:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Indeed. I had a little chuckle about the concept of tempering expectations in Toronto.
Like it or not, Kessel has the weight of an entire franchise on him right now. If he doesn’t perform quickly…..
by Resolute on Nov 3, 2009 9:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
perhaps we should temper expectations just a bit.
So, like maybe, 4 goals for Phil tonight instead of 5? I could easily be happy with 4. A hat-trick would just be flat-out disappointing and deflating. Also, could tonight be the first time in NHL history that a team was awarded 3 points for a win? I think if Phil plays the way he supposed to, it could happen.
by general borschevsky on Nov 3, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
On the plus side...
… Kessel could be one of the 50 worst forwards in the NHL and still be by far the best forward on the Leafs.
by HockeyinHD on Nov 3, 2009 10:46 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
It’s funny because it’s crazy.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Nov 3, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Pressure!
1) What kind of pressure does this kid have now? Big contract=big expectations anywhere but in The Hockey Capital, it has to be extreme!
2) Unless he’s changed from what his persona was in Boston we just don’t see him handling his well. He best get off to a good start!
I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else
by Fauxrumors on Nov 3, 2009 1:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
what persona?
also, he’s been through something far more serious than the pressure of playing in Toronto – facing cancer. The kid’s got a decent head on his shoulders and is over the moon to be a Leaf, so he’ll be fine.
I’m not counting on the good start, though, his timing will be off and it’ll take him a few weeks to adjust to the game after such a long layoff.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Nov 3, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Pressure?
Really you think he will feel pressure to perform? I don’t know but when I was 21 and I had a doctor tell me I had cancer, that’s pressure.
"There's been four different Cup winners the last four years, and I got one of them (Anaheim) and it was a fighting team. We're playing it that way regardless." - B. Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM
by BlueBuds on Nov 3, 2009 5:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Based on this year and last, it’s really hard to see Lecavalier on Team Canada. We need for it to take more than reputation to make that team.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Nov 3, 2009 3:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
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