Kesler Hits "Rock Bottom"
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 6, 2009 1:33 AM PST
in Canucks News
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PrintAfter the 5-3 loss to Carolina Ryan Kesler told the media:
"When the team loses and you're looked for to provide offence and you're not able to, that makes this loss even tougher for myself," said Kesler, who instantly knew it's been 14 games since he last scored. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't (frustrated). "I think this is rock bottom for me." It's only up from here." I'll keep staying positive and I'll get out of this slump."
Despite his 14-game goal-scoring slump, Kesler still has 5 goals and 20 assists in 29 games, 79 shots on goal and a -1 rating. His 20 assists rank him 17th overall in the NHL. It is fair for him to be a bit hard on himself, but there are others who should perhaps be a little more critical of themselves. Regardless, in his first 10 games of the season, he scored 3 goals and 5 assists. In the next 10 games he registered 1 goal and 8 assists. In his last 10 games he has no goals and 8 assists. While I can understand his desire to score goals, at least he is putting up assists
and decent point totals.
I hate seeing him nearly crucify himself in front of the media when guys like Mikael Samuelsson ( 2 goals and 4 assists in his last 10 games played), Kyle Wellwood (2 goals and 4 assists in his last 10), Steve Bernier (4 goals and 3 assists in his last 10) or Mason Raymond (2 goals and 6 assists in his last 10) are not doing the same. I know it's a contract year for Kesler, but he's not that much worse than several others.
Hang in there, Keslord, you'll bag one soon. Until then, keep up your great efforts.
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Goals and points
are not Kesler’s biggest contributions to the team when he’s playing like he should, I like the fact that he’s become a 2-way guy but it seems this year he’s concentrating more on offense and less on what made him so good last year, I haven’t really seen him be a force in a shutdown role like he did much of last year, at least not near as much, perhaps he’s looking to cash in on a big offensive season, but I think his value to the team is still more on the defensive side of the puck. Rather see him concentrate on winning the Selke but “slump” or not he’s on pace for significantly higher points than last year and significantly worse +/-.
Could it be that Sundin’s presence last year helped Kesler…..and the team…..more than we like to imagine?
Hey, I can’t lie, I have wondered the same thing. But not so much in Kesler’s point totals, because they are fine. We could use another top 6 player to play with him though. One who is more consistent. Maybe Grabner is a magic ingredient there when he returns, I don’t know for sure. Maybe Demitra will be.
Hell, if Kesler scored only 10 goals but 50 assists plus played Selke-like, as yoata alluded to, I’d be happy.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 6, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions
Kesler is playing with Raymond and whoever else is on that line. They aren’t a shut down unit. You want to have Kesler be a Selke candidate play him with Burrows and Hansen as a shut down unit and he will get 50 points and be a Selke nominee. I personaly am happy with Kesler being a very good two way center on a second line that provides offense. He is off to a better start offensively than ever before but just isn’t scoring goals at the moment. Not a big deal as I am sure he is going to get better as the team starts to play better.
by Section 312 on Dec 6, 2009 8:58 PM PST up reply actions
Again
he was on the 2nd line last year and didn’t play with Burr or any other “shut-down” mates, and yet was a Selke finalist…
another example is that Pavel Datsyuk has won the Selke 2 years in a row. He’s not a 3rd line guy and is relied upon heavily to score.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 6, 2009 11:26 PM PST up reply actions
Datsyuk is a much better player than Kesler.
And the first half of last year he did in fact play with Burrows and Hansen in a shut down role. On the third line.
While he, at first, continued to play on the third line in a largely defensive role with Burrows, head coach Alain Vigneault eventually split the duo in the midst of a poor January for the team. As a result, Kesler was placed on the second line with free agent acquisitions Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin.
He is -1 and on pace to finish -3. He was +8 last year. There really isn’t that much of a difference considering he is playing with lesser players this year than last year. I mean two good games and he could be plus 3 and on pace to finish +8 again so is it really that big of a deal?
by Section 312 on Dec 7, 2009 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
Yzerman
is another who won the Selke while on the 1st/2nd line, Fedorov another.
And nobody’s saying Kes is as good as those guys, what we’re saying is he can be as good defensively if that’s his focus, and numbers aside, it hasn’t really seemed to be his focus so far this season, at least not consistently like it was last year, start to finish, no matter what line he was on.
Second line center isn’t a shut down role it is a scoring role. So he is putting more pressure on himself to provide the offense that is expected of him. I still think he is having a good start to the year and will only get better.
by Section 312 on Dec 6, 2009 11:12 AM PST reply actions
I don’t know. Look at Jere Lehtinen in years past. He provided both in the top 6 role.
by Sean Zandberg on Dec 6, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
It can be both
again, he was 2nd line much of last year and was nominated for the Selke, not much chance of that this year if this trend continues.
The Selke is called the “best defensive fw” but really, it was created as the Bob Gainey Trophy for the fw who was the toughest to play against, meaning complete two-way play. High-scorers such as Yzerman, Francis and Gilmour won their share, as did more defensive fw’s like Lehtinen.
It’s all about getting the best balance in your game, which’ll vary from player to player. Kesler has a good balance now and is still improving. On occasion, he flat out splits the D and dangles w/the puck, too, not like, say, a Gaborik or a Datysuk, but more often than he gets credit for.
New Trophy: The Muse Award, for the fw who makes best his linemates better. Kesler’d be up there.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
Can we call it the Supermassive Blackhole award?
by Section 312 on Dec 7, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
Can we call Kesler’s line the Knights of Cydonia?
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
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