GhostofPotvin29
New member
Peter D. said:
Actually best part is how Feschuk can't even own the question. He says "it's been suggested that.." to imply that oh it's other people who think this, not me.
Carlyle fired
- Thread starter GhostofPotvin29
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Actually best part is how Feschuk can't even own the question. He says "it's been suggested that.." to imply that oh it's other people who think this, not me.
Boston Leaf
New member
I like how Phil just starts laughing
Strangelove
New member
Kessel's the face of a franchise that hasn't come close to winning since his arrival. I don't agree with the way Feschuk did it but it's more than fair to question Phil's long-term value to the franchise and his role in what has been a total losing culture. It also doesn't help that he often comes off as petulant and immature, despite his age.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Kessel shipped out within the next year or less.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Kessel shipped out within the next year or less.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Strangelove said:
He really doesn't. What do you consider petulant and immature that he's done?
And Feschuk isn't "questioning Phil's long-term value to the franchise" with that question - he's trying to rile up a reaction from a player he has written hatchet-jobs on numerous times before.
Strangelove
New member
Potvin29 said:
Ducking away from the media. One word answers. Snide responses to questioning. There's a fine line between being shy and being a prick.
I happen to think he's a smart, funny guy, but it can't be denied that his public persona is not very good.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Strangelove said:
It's all a matter of perception. Doug Gilmour walked out on one team - immature? Petulant? Hailed as character hero in Toronto and never brought up again. Certain guys can do no wrong, some can do no right and in many cases doing similar things.
But that's why I try to stay away from talking about a player's character or whatever. I'd probably at points react the same way as Kessel - I'm more introverted, I wouldn't like being asked certain things if I was in certain moods. Good "character" guys respond in curt, aggressive ways at times too.
Basically I don't think any of what happens in these scrums means anything.
bustaheims
Active member
Feschuk gonna Feschuk.
As for Kessel, while I can't provide direct knowledge, what I've been told is that Kessel just really dislikes answer the same cliched questions over and over again. That's why most reporters only get one word answer and such out of him. On the rare occasions he's actually asked something interesting, he's been known to be quite happy to answer with some detail.
Also, the whole ducking the media thing gets overblown. The media often ignores him after games because they know he's not a good quote. Also, sometimes the media in this city cross the line. Guys have waited to ambush Kessel after he's already changed and is leaving to go home. By that point, the time for interviews has long passed, and you should expect a snide response if you get aggressive about getting a guy to talk. On top of that, others in the media just make up pure BS from time to time, and sometimes, it sticks. We're generally smart enough to ignore it around here, but, if you check some of the other hockey boards, that BS is accepted as the gospel truth.
As for Kessel, while I can't provide direct knowledge, what I've been told is that Kessel just really dislikes answer the same cliched questions over and over again. That's why most reporters only get one word answer and such out of him. On the rare occasions he's actually asked something interesting, he's been known to be quite happy to answer with some detail.
Also, the whole ducking the media thing gets overblown. The media often ignores him after games because they know he's not a good quote. Also, sometimes the media in this city cross the line. Guys have waited to ambush Kessel after he's already changed and is leaving to go home. By that point, the time for interviews has long passed, and you should expect a snide response if you get aggressive about getting a guy to talk. On top of that, others in the media just make up pure BS from time to time, and sometimes, it sticks. We're generally smart enough to ignore it around here, but, if you check some of the other hockey boards, that BS is accepted as the gospel truth.
Kin
New member
I know it's a hard standard to live up to but with Kessel I can't help but think about just how well suited Sundin was to this city. I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with how Kessel speaks to the media but I do think that it feeds into the general atmosphere of weirdness that the team has. Sundin never added fuel to a fire and and was always sort of the perfectly bland corporate spokesperson for the team. In a way I think that was what drove some of the fairly muted criticism of him, he just wasn't even interesting in the way that Mumbles is interestingly weird.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
bustaheims said:
And when was the last time Feschuk asked a question of a similar nature like that to Carlyle? Ever ask him "there are suggestions that you're not a very good coach" etc.
He's just going after a player/person he hasn't liked for years.
crazyperfectdevil
New member
Nik the Trik said:
I'm not so sure. Most of the Sundin years were relatively good. The leafs made the playoffs on a regular basis. I think that is bound to reduce any form of criticism ..especially from the fan base. If this team had just made the playoffs for the last four seasons ..I think the halo effect would take care of the rest.
Chev-boyar-sky
New member
bustaheims said:
If a Wilson speaks in the forest, and no one is there to here it, does it make a sound?
Redleaf
Active member
I think Kessel has just been miscast here as the leader and face of the franchise. He is neither. I still think they need to find someone that can potentialy become that character leader and face of the team. A real captain. Phaneuf isn't that guy either.
I think Clarkson was brought in to be that guy. I really do. Unfortunately, an abundance of skill was a required for that role, and Clarkson just hasn't fit the bill.
If Kane is Chicago's comparable to Kessel, than the Leafs desperatly need a Toews.
I think Clarkson was brought in to be that guy. I really do. Unfortunately, an abundance of skill was a required for that role, and Clarkson just hasn't fit the bill.
If Kane is Chicago's comparable to Kessel, than the Leafs desperatly need a Toews.
bustaheims
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
Yeah. The amount of criticisms didn't really change. It was really just the nature of those criticisms that did.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
bustaheims said:
Sundin was almost unanimously praised by the media to the point that when a critical article appeared it would really stand out. The most criticism of him was typically what he wasn't: wasn't Gary Roberts/Wendel Clark/Doug Gilmour - wasn't exciting like those players, didn't electrify like those players and all that.
But I don't recall there being reporters like Feschuk during that time who would get in his face.
crazyperfectdevil
New member
Nik the Trik said:
not at all..I think it's still within the context of the team. Sundin came in shortly after Gilmour before Gilmour the leafs had gone through another prolonged crap fest that was most of the 80s. I think the city was still somewhat living in that glow. So long out in the wildnerness and now suddenly a legitimate team for almost a decade. So a lot of the fan base that had to endure the late and post Sittler years were still happier about the state of things.
Of course the team was still being critiqued. After all if you don't win the cup you've still failed but I don't see the attacks as all encompassing as they are now. If you brought Sundin to this team I think his traits would be seen in a more negative light. As it was his early years with the team were marred with many people questioning his leadership abilities. I remember the question of whether or not we could really expect Sundin to be able to put up points in the playoffs. Things weren't perfect in the Sundin days but at one point the leafs were a regular fixture in the playoffs and more importantly they got by the first round frequently. I think the fan base was more forgiving of that teams foibles then this one.....but then that's normal isn't it? We should like more successful teams over less successful ones.
bustaheims
Active member
Potvin29 said:
Maybe Sundin escaped criticism more than Kessel, but the amount of criticism the team received hasn't really changed. The were questions about why they couldn't break through to the next level, why they struggled with teams like Philly and New Jersey, why they couldn't find players to play with Sundin, etc. They may not have been quite as aggressive, but they were there.
And, there were definitely some pretty significant criticisms pointed at Sundin in his first few seasons as captain, and a number of articles about whether or not he should be traded.