Kessel appears set for Leafs debut
Last Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009 | 7:48 PM ET
By Chris Iorfida CBC Sports
Phil Kessel's play is expected to go a long way in determining Brian Burke's legacy as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)Phil Kessel is expected to make his debut for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday when the Tampa Bay Lightning play in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs sent down forward Jiri Tlusty to the American Hockey League on Monday to clear a roster spot for Kessel, who requires final medical clearance.
"If I play, I'm going to be pretty excited," Kessel said.
Kessel, 22, was already on the mend from a torn labrum in his left shoulder when he was acquired with much fanfare from the Boston Bruins on Sept. 18. Toronto general manager Brian Burke gave up first- and second-round draft picks in 2010 to obtain Kessel, as well as a first-rounder in 2011.
Burke signed the Madison, Wisc., native to a five-year contract worth $27 million US.
The team said it wasn't planning on releasing examination results on Kessel's shoulder until after Tuesday morning's skate.
Kessel scored 42 goals in 81 regular-season and playoff games last year for Boston, his third full season in the league. But he often clashed with Bruins coach Claude Julien over the past two seasons, and the team was hard-pressed to retain him under the salary cap after opting to sign David Krejci.
Kessel practised Monday on a line with Jason Blake and Matt Stajan, according to reports.
"Well, we know that he can score goals," said Stajan. "I'm just going to go out there and play the way I do. I know he's going to find the holes and the soft spots where we can get him the puck and hopefully he'll be able to bury them like he has in the past."
Toronto is a league-worst 1-7-4 heading into Tuesday's game at Air Canada Centre, having settled for just one point in three consecutive overtime losses.
"There's always pressure when you play hockey," Kessel said. "You want to help the team win, get in the playoffs or at least compete for a playoff spot. I think we've been playing better the last four or five games here, so I think things are starting to turn around."
With files from The Canadian Press
