Phil Kessel

I have tried to watch as much as I can of Phil Kessel this year and last after he exploded onto the scene in last year's world juniors. There is no question in my mind he has top-level NHL speed and stickhandling skills, but what he honestly hasn't demonstrated to me is the VISION for the game that Sidney Crosby possesses. He hasn't proved to me that he can make all his teammates better as Crosby did throughout his Junior career, and is now doing in the NHL.

Erik Johnson on the other hand, impressed me. He too is a young draft-eligible, but in the WJC's I don't recall him getting beat one-on-one, once. He's huge, he's strong, he's skilled with the puck and a strong skater. He is going to be a standout NHL defenceman for many years. Jack Johnson too, although without quite as much size.

Kessel will be a gifted point-producer, I'm fairly sure of that. But when he starts showing the heart that Johnson and Johnson did, and learns to utilize his teammates more to increase his creativity, he'll be a more complete player. Teams started realizing in the WJC's that he is fairly predictable with the puck. Yeah, he has blazing speed and very soft hands, but when they started watching for the old Kessel "fake out, dangle it back in and beat you to the middle" bit and giving him a little more leaway, the D were eliminating his effectiveness on the rush, which is his real strong point. The game against Canada, in particular, demonstrated that D men who focus on the film of Kessel before the game can shut him down.

Still, I'd rather be an 18-year-old who skates like Modano and shoots like Hull but needs to learn some vision, than a slow skater who couldn't shoot through a wet paper bag but had Gretzky's vision. Hopefully he'll continue to develop.

I think he would be forced to improve in this way better if he had opted to play Major Junior (OHL) hockey. The rinks are NHL sized instead of Olympic, there's more games and ice time, and he'd be adapting better to having less time and space with the puck. Just my two cents.

[llmitch]

Phil Kessel

He piled up some points in the World Junior championships but was not good enough to get the Americans a medal. There were lots of more talented players in the tournament than him. He will hopefully be an above average played.

thank you. he isnt playing well in the World Juniors 2006 and people are saying that Erik Johnson or Johnathon Toews will get drafted ahead of him so it just goes to show that Kessel isnt as amazing as he was once thought to be he got shut down against Evgeni Malkin

Er, Kessell is I mean

I think he is a bit overrated

No one is saying that Phil Kessel and NCAA Div 1 cannot compete with Crosby and Major Junior in Canada. However, Sidney Crosby has a lot more potential and is being compared to Gretzky; the greatest Canadian and hockey player to ever play the game. Kessel is being compared to Mike Modano, who isnt the best player to play the game. Just because he is outplaying all these NCAA players doesnt mean he is gona be as good or even better than Crosby. This year Phill Kessel hasnt dominated the WHJC 2006 Under 20 Tournament, and tonight watch the Canadians shut him down. Crosby has a better attitude and is more used to the press in Canada than Kessel in the US. So before all of you guys start saying that Kessell is gona be better than Crosby you better know your facts

wickenhieser

Does anybody remember Doug Wickenhieser? He was the top scorer coming out of Junior. In 1980 he was picked number 1 by Montreal. He was supposed to be the next great player. But look what happened. You never know what will happen. Crosby could become injury prone. ie Lindros. It will be an interesting year.

NCAA might be very good hockey i have no doubt in that, the speed is great aswell as the speed in Jr in hockey in canada. The difference between the two i beleive is that the stronger and bigger players are in the Jr systems. There is more hitting more fights which tends to be part of the game these days. NCAA D1 could play in the Jr leagues here, but they would get tossed around by CHL or jr league players. Size plays a huge role in hockey espically with confidence and intimidation factors.

Muledog

I saw him play against the Gophers this past Feb. and he was the best player on the ice. Many of the guys he was playing against were 3-5 yrs. older. He's a very strong and explosive forward who puts tremendous pressure on the defense. From what I have been hearing is being compared to Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick whereas Crosby is being compared to Gretzky. I've never had the opportunity to watch Crosby so I have no opinion. One thing that bugs me about the Canucks though is that they think Junior A is superlative to NCAA D1. Hey hosers, the top U.S. college teams would definitely compete with the top Major Juniors. Look at the 2002 MN Gophers. Their Nat'l Champiopnship squad had Leopold, Ballard, Taffe and Pohl, and Martin. Name many Major Jr. teams who had three defensemen with the talent of Leopold, Ballard, Martin.

[mdp64]

Phil

I saw Phil play twice this past season and the guy was amazing. It was obvious that he was far above the rest of the players on the ice. He will be a good NHL player but to be a superstar he will have to keep on track (especially with his attitude). Once I saw him take the puck in from around center ice, pass it off his own skate, put the puck through the defenseman's legs, and score an awesome top shelf goal. In a different game he played against locked out Red Wings in a charity game. He actually took the puck in on Hatcher and Chelios and scored a sweet goal against Manny Legace.

For sure as a pro he'll be better than Crosby...

Is Phil Kessel the next great american player compared to Joe Mullen. Is heoing to dominate the NHL in seasons to come? He plays for US-18 hockey and is going to Minnesota Golden Gophers next season. He is drafted by the Saginaw Spirt of the OHL. He is a Madison Wiscosin native. His dad is drafted in NFL by the Washington Redskins.

He may be the next Gretzky so watch out Sindney Crosby?

There is no way he will be as good as Gretzky!!! hahahaha. too funny. There will never be another Gretzky!!!! And he wont be as good as Crosby either. He will be good, there is no question, but not as good as crosby.

Joe Mullen 502 Goals 561 Assists 1063 Points 1062 Games Did Not Get A Chance In Nhl Until 24 Years Old. Lanny Mcdonald Has About
Same Stats But He Was 20 When He Got In League.

can't see how joe mullen made it to the hockey hall of fame. He should just be in the american hockey hall of fame.

[jerry]

Phil KESSEL

I think he is a very talented player.He played for his country at World Championships U-18 in Czech republic.I hope he will play in the N.H.L.very soon.GOOD LUCK!