James Neal vs. Phil Kessel - The Uber Early Rocket Richard Race
by FrankD on Oct 31, 2011 12:50 PM EDT
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It's far too early in the season to consider crowning a Rocket Richards winner, but who would've guess that James Neal and Phil Kessel would be the two guys duking it out atop the list of the league's leading goal scorers?
In the absence of Sidney Crosby, Neal has played phenomenally for the Pens. Hell, even if Crosby was in the lineup and he was playing like this, you'd have to give him a tip of the cap. Nine goals in 13 games (plus two assists) is great output from a guy like Neal, especially when compared to last season's one goal in the black and gold. This is the guy Ray Shero traded for at the deadline last season. This is the guy who played so well in Dallas before the trade. This is the guy who is keeping the Penguins in contention during the early part of the season.
As for Toronto's Phil Kessel, his 10 goals and eight assists has helped the Maple Leafs to 15 points, enough to lead the Northeast Division. Should this prove to not be just a hot start, and instead stick around for the better part of the season, then there's little reason to think Toronto will miss the playoffs. They've yet to go to the postseason since the NHL's lockout...in 2005.
The Penguins thankfully have a few days off between now and Thursday's game against the Sharks in San Jose. This should hopefully allow enough time for Jordan Staal to heal up whatever leg injury plagued him last week against the Islanders (and kept him out against Toronto). Speaking of the Islanders - Trevor Gillies was placed on waivers. I felt that was worth mentioning somewhere around these parts.
A short west coast swing starts Thursday against San Jose and wraps up Saturday against the Kings. Threads and the like will be posted as per the usual.
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Personally I’m not very surprised to see Neal up there. I am, however, surprised to see him doing it without Crosby in the lineup all together, and without Malkin for the majority of the games played.
As for Kessel he’s always had the skills, just not the team, to be a top scorer in the league. With a proper team around him he’s showing why he should be picked before last for the All Star game. But being first in points as well as goals is even more impressive, and definitely not something I saw coming.
That said, I probably wouldn’t have pegged them for first and second, but definitely somewhere in the upper echelon of goal scorers.
?
Is Big Head Kessel a meme around here? I am confused.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
No, I think the guy has a huge head.
Would you rather have a million dollars, or Phil Kessel’s helmet filled with pennies?
What's the difference?
The glare of the spotlight is harsh, and the pressure that success breeds immense. We revere our heroes, but expect much. And criticism can come as easily as praise.
Perspectives become reality.
Twitter: @shanecglass
The problem becomes re-signing Neal.
Now Shero has to figure out how to keep Neal at the same time he needs to look forward to extending Crosby and Staal. That’s a job I’m glad I don’t have.
An extension of Niskanen is the biggest question for me right now. With Despres, Samuelsson, Morrow, and Harrington in the pipeline, does Shero resign Niskanen as a UFA? And what about Bortuzzo and Strait? If he thinks Lovejoy or Engelland can handle the #6 D role, it’s more likely that Niskanen leaves and a guy like Strait or Bortuzzo is resigned for 2 years at league minimum (see Lovejoy’s progression).
The wild-card is still Despres. It’s entirely possibly that he’ll be ready to play regular third-pairing minutes in Pittsburgh next year. In that case, why give Niskanen $2M+/season when you could pay $840k for two years to Despres, or $600k to Strait/Bortuzzo? An extra $1.5M/yr could mean the difference between Staal staying or leaving.
DUE TO THE LENGTH OF NHL HOCKEY
SKATE ELECTRIC WILL NOT BE SEEN
thank you for answering your own question. Niskanen is not a priority in any way shape or form despite how well he has started off the year. Shero is not going to do anything to jeopardize re-signing Crosby, Staal, or Neal at this point.
Neal will be assimilated into the core.
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Oct 31, 2011 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Only if he drinks the Kool-Aid.
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Oct 31, 2011 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think all three of Crosby, Staal, Malkin (plus now Neal) will be with the club long term (ie after Malkin’s deal is up in two years). Obviously the CBA is coming up, but I always thought that if Staal could be a great (instead of just good) number 2 as he has seemed to be this year (he has been a good number 1 so great number 2), that Malkin could be out the door.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
It will be interesting to see
what Shero does. He has to keep in mind Letang and Fluery will need new deals in the next several years as well.
My thought is that most of the wingers re-signed this year will be gone by the time the big guns contracts are up, and therefore they will be resigned and play with weak wingers as we saw several years back. The defense will need to lighten up the wallet too, maybe Martin or Michalek are dealt 2-3yrs down the road? Niskanen will surely be gone by this time. Hopefully the cap continues to slowly rise and a new CBA doesn’t effect it. If that is the case enough money should be available to retain many of these players.
Worst case scenario give them Kovalchuk esq contracts to spread the money out and save on cap hit.
Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott
I think it all depends on what happens this year. If they win it all, or even go really deep, say Finals, than I think these four figure out a way to stay and take some home town discounts for the chance to be the next dynasty. I’m looking more at Sid to take a pay cut to do this, because he doesn’t need the money with all of the endorsements.
External observer here
Niskanen is let go if he wants much more than a mil. His production can be replaced internally or cheaply by guys who are always available (see Campoli) if necessary..
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
10 in 11 is better than 9 in 13! Wooooooo!!!!!
Hehehe I am just messing around, not trying to actually troll here. When traded to the Pens I thought he could be a 30+ goal guy easy and flirt with 40. But he is doing way better than I expected and doing it for the most part without being fed by your two elite passers.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
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