The Maple Leafs could get a large offensive boost on Tuesday night.
Phil Kessel is almost done recovering from shoulder surgery and could make his Leafs debut against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Air Canada Centre.
"(There's) a good chance of it, yeah," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said on Thursday afternoon after the Leafs practised at a suburban Buffalo arena.
Kessel didn't say much as he was hustled to the team bus by a Leafs staff member, but acknowledged he has been cleared for physical play in practice. As for suiting up versus Tampa, the 22-year-old took a wait-and-see approach.
"It's a few days away," Kessel said. "I'll see how it feels. I don't know yet."
The pressure on Kessel to produce will be enormous, and not only because the last-place Leafs are among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL with 24 goals in 10 games.
Leafs general manager Brian Burke put much of his reputation on the line in September when he traded first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, as well as a second-rounder in 2010, to the Boston Bruins for Kessel.
Kessel scored 36 goals for the Bruins last year, benefitting greatly from playing with centre Marc Savard, and the Leafs simply don't have a player as talented as Savard to get Kessel the puck.
Kessel had surgery in May to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder, delaying his Leafs debut.
Meanwhile, the Leafs, who are in Buffalo on Friday night to play the Sabres before finishing a five-game trip in Montreal on Saturday night, have recalled forward Jiri Tlusty from Toronto of the American Hockey League. Sent to the minors were rookie forward Viktor Stalberg, who has one assist in eight games, and goaltender Joey MacDonald. http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/29/11570411.html
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Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by dumbassdoorman(hahahaha@habssuck.ca) on Friday, October 30 @ 07:30:34 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
I really hope that, IF, they do play him Tuesday two things have happened. One that first and foremost, he IS ready to play. Though I do see him only playing if they are 100% sure. Burke will not want to look stupid letting him play too early. Two is that hopefully and somehow they manage to win two in a row. This will take pressure off of him to step and score a hat trick in his first game so to speak...lol. They are playing much better, but I feel sorry for anybody, on any team that comes in with the saviour tag on them.
To Boston fans I ask this question. How did you enjoy watching him play on your team? Was he really a floater and selfish player? Or did he actually play hard and care about the game? Cause this will help figure out for myself if my hunch about something that is crossing Burkes mind. thanks
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by jpmac on Friday, October 30 @ 10:02:52 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
Personally, I believe the pressure will immense on Kessel, he is going to expected to carry this team offensively, which is a huge task for a 21 year old in Toronto, no less. The question I have, is, if he doesnt perform this year, will Burke's job be on the line?
Also, why wouldn't Burke sign him to an offer sheet and keep the picks? He was a RFA, right?
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by the_word on Friday, October 30 @ 11:27:12 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
There seems to be some confusion about the Kessel deal. Had the Leafs signed him to an offer sheet the compensation would have been two 1st's, one second and one third. That is the compensationf for players signed between 5,231,249$ - $6,539,062. Kessel is signed at 5.4 a year so Burke pretty well paid that price considering we ship an Starlman to Calgary to get our second back.
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by the_word on Friday, October 30 @ 11:31:38 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
Also from day one I said Burke would work out a trade rather than go the offer sheet route. Burke has issues with offer sheets, he used the situation to leverage a deal. Burke wanted to avoid the retaliation from other clubs in terms of poaching his future RFA talent (i.e. Schenn, Kadri and any breakouts)
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by leafy on Friday, October 30 @ 13:25:12 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
Because he hasn't played in months, Kessel is going to need some time to warm up.
People realistically shouldn't expect Kessel to skate circles around defenceman right away.
Still, his first game might be pretty good because he'll be playing on adrenaline, just like when Gary Roberts came back from shoulder surgery in 2003.
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by the_word on Friday, October 30 @ 18:27:53 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
Poni is useless, open cage choke.
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by Magleaf on Friday, October 30 @ 19:04:47 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
sweeeeet another OT loss
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by HABSSTAR(loserleafs@hotmail.com) on Saturday, October 31 @ 01:45:19 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
I'm interested in knowing what leafs fans would consider to be a successful year for Kessel in TO, and does the team's standing at the end of the year play in to it?
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by dumbassdoorman(hahahaha@habssuck.ca) on Saturday, October 31 @ 07:03:28 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
I am wondering if anyone else out there thinks the Leafs should consider aquiring Nylander from the Caps? I mean he could feed Kessel the puck for sure, he just has such a high salary.....lol....just a thought
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by dumbassdoorman(hahahaha@habssuck.ca) on Saturday, October 31 @ 12:29:07 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
Not that this is in this post, but what would you think a fair price is for giving a team cap relief? What do you think teams like Wash and Chi will have to pay to get rid of contracts to keep the core pieces of their teams intact?
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by assman on Saturday, October 31 @ 14:22:16 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
kessel scores 60, for sure. this time. a full season, hes not stopped. habs take it thru the rear, they got nobody, no scorers. softies. habs suck. leafs r turned round. points 3 strait all games. all catching up. habs r worse team in east
Re: Leafs' Kessel could play Tuesday against Tampa (Score: 1) by leafy on Saturday, October 31 @ 17:35:24 MDT (User Info | Send a Message)
All right, here's my analysis of October, NOT based on points, but based on play:
3 BEST TEAMS
Chicago - With an elite goalie, they'd go all the way Pittsburgh- champs are rolling Philadelphia - playing really well
3 WORST TEAMS
Colorado - doing well because of Craig Anderson, not good play Edmonton - playing garbage hockey, sorry Oil fans Florida - they're terrible
Note: That's right, the Leafs are NOT among the bottom 3. They're actually not playing too badly; just not finishing combined with terrible goaltending when Gustavsson is hurt.
NOT PLAYING AS GOOD AS PEOPLE THINK
Washington - defensive play is fair Calgary - am I the only one who's noticed? They're playing nowhere near their talent
NOT PLAYING AS BAD AS PEOPLE THINK
Toronto - see note above Detroit - they'll bounce back in spades
