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Without proper pieces, a Kessel experiment would fail

September 9, 2009 04:23 PM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

Here is the deal on Phil Kessel: An incredible talent. But an exasperating one.

He's a walking contradiction. An almost total non-talker in public, but phenomenal when it comes to charity efforts in private. A guy who beat testicular cancer, but wouldn't play through last season's shoulder injury until teammates pointed out they were playing through worse.

Those who know him well understand why Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke covets Kessel's skill, recognizing the winger's game-breaking ability, puck-handling wizardry and speed. But, those same people also wonder why Burke seems so enamoured with someone who struggles to fit into the team concept. That's a concept Burke is pushing hard in Toronto.

Rebound season

Last year was a big one for Kessel, especially after his 2008 playoff benching against the Montreal Canadiens. Bruins coaches chose instead to play Jeremy Reich for a chunk of that series. When you consider that Reich did not play in the NHL last season, it shows the level of Claude Julien's frustration.

Kessel delivered on-ice with 36 goals in the regular season, six more in playoffs. (He had 11 points in 11 playoff games, although he was not considered one of Boston's best in the seven-game loss to Carolina.) He meshed perfectly with Marc Savard, who could bank passes off the boards, knowing that Kessel was fast enough to track them down. One of the great frustrations teammates had with Kessel two years ago was that he tried to carry the puck too much. He adjusted last season, understanding that he was best at going up and down the wing, full-tilt.

"He wants it in-stride, so he can just go," said one teammate.

But that same teammate - and others - warn that you must have certain pieces around him. And, without those pieces, a Kessel experiment would fail.

1) A centre like Savard.

Savard's had rocky relationships with teammates, but no one questions his on-ice unselfishness. Kessel needs to play with someone like that. He's got a terrific snapper and a great drag, inside-out move, but, like most scorers, needs someone who can get it to him in the proper positions.

2) Strong teammates around him.

The Bruins are not lacking in leadership, with a room full of guys who made it as much by work ethic as by anything else. Several of them compare Kessel unfavourably to Milan Lucic, who was nowhere near as highly decorated a prospect. (And please, don't give me any Canadian/American bias baloney. This is about personalities, not birthplaces.) Lucic arrived willing to do anything and everything necessary to succeed. It was no trouble getting him to do extra work on the ice or in the weight room. It was much, much harder to convince Kessel that the extra work is necessary. There is still a feeling that he doesn't understand how important it is. One teammate said, "He is still young (22 in October), so he will figure it out." Others are not so charitable.

It is instructive that the Bruins took care of David Krejci before Kessel. Krejci is popular in the room, one of the reasons being that he played through a painful hip injury last year without complaint. Kessel's salary demands are undoubtedly higher, but if he was a more important piece, a cap-strapped team would have found a way to get it done. Could the Bruins be worried that the money Kessel wants (reportedly in the $4.5 million US range) is too much for a player who doesn't yet fully understand what it takes to succeed?

3) A support staff that understands Kessel needs to be treated softly.

One of the reasons he dropped down to fifth in the 2006 NHL Draft were suggestions that he was coddled and not receptive to criticism. That label remains. Julien's had a tough relationship with Kessel because that's not his style. (The two even fought about the kind of stick Kessel used.) And, Ron Wilson isn't exactly Mr. Touchy Feely, either. However, the Bruins organization made sure there were a few "good cops" around. That would be critical in Toronto, as Kessel is one guy who would, initially, be extremely uncomfortable under the microscope.

Of course, the Bruins say they will match any offer sheet, since you don't want to lose such talent for nothing. But, there is skepticism that there is not a deal the Maple Leafs could make with Boston, assuming Luke Schenn is not part of it.

The bottom line is this: It is a mistake to acquire Phil Kessel without proper structure. The structure he already has in Boston.

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