In his five seasons as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Phil Kessel has solidified himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the entire NHL. With his unrivaled speed, paired with a snap shot that is more accurate and lethal than most, Kessel has proved that he has the skillset to potentially become one of the all-time Maple Leaf greats. Heading into the 2014-15 season, Kessel is poised to continue to improve in all facets of his game as he strives to become an even more complete hockey player, season after season. It seems as though there really isn’t anything that Kessel can’t do, thus making him the Leafs’ most coveted asset. Here’s a look at just how high the ceiling really is for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ superstar forward heading into this upcoming season.
Since becoming a member of the Leafs in 2009-10, Kessel’s journey as a top-line winger hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster ride right from the get-go. He’s been the brunt of jokes and chants every time he made his way back to Boston, multiple times a year. “Thank you Kessel” rung relentlessly through the rafters of the TD Garden, when the Bruins faithful wanted to remind Kessel of them winning the trade that inevitably sent Kessel to the Leafs and ultimately landed the Bruins Tyler Seguin. However, the shortcomings that Kessel has been forced to endure over his career as a Maple Leaf shouldn’t at all be put on him.
Up until the last couple of seasons, Kessel didn’t have much to work with in regards to his line-mates. The addition of James Van Riemsdyk just two seasons ago helped Kessel stay consistent on his rise to the top of the charts. With the help of JVR, he and Kessel quickly became the league’s dynamic duo right off the bat, and although the Buds failed to make the playoffs, both players were impressive the whole way through.
Even though Kessel finished his monster season with a team best 80 points, including 37 goals, there’s a key component to his game that is still missing: a legitimate top-line centerman to help him. An average at best Tyler Bozak has been given the job to hold down the middle of the ice between JVR and Kessel on a nightly basis. For Bozak, this hasn’t been an easy task. He clearly doesn’t have what it takes to help the likes of Kessel take his already potent game to a higher level. If the Leafs want Kessel to grow into the superstar that they are confident he can be, they will need to provide him with a centerman that will not only contribute, but make everyone else around them.
Kessel’s ceiling in regards to his overall performance is absolutely enormous. The sky is the limit for the USA Olympian when it comes down to what he should be able to accomplish at the professional level. However, he will only be able to excel and get better if he begins to play with a centerman that can keep up with him on a nightly basis while working together to be the best top-line in the NHL. The pieces are there, it’s just whether or not the Leafs’ front office will hold up their end of the bargain.