I don't really think we could have asked for much more from Kessel, he has possibly been the best winger in the entire league this season. It's really between Kessel, Neal, Kovalchuk, Hossa and Gaborik, so what do you guys think? Obviously this isn't an important distinction but it's nice to see that Kessel has been possibly the best winger in the league and one of the best offensive players this season.
Hossa plays with Kane, Kovalchuk with Parise and a Calder nominee.
Kessel plays with Bozak and Lupul. Lupul's not bad, but he's a large step down from the other two's linemates.
Lupul was outperforming Parise and Bozak was outperforming the Calder nominee...
It's fair to say Kessel's line is equally as talented as Kovalchuk's line was this year.
As for Hossa, his two way play is what makes him more valuable imo. Kessel is phenomenal but again the most valuable winger should be the one who has contributed the most to a teams success. Hossa has played with Kane who is underachieving in such a huge way, so that's not really an argument.
James Neal is playing with Malkin and Crosby, I mean come on it's easy to put up points like that.
Gaborik :/ is good but I think New York has the talent to do well without him.
Hossa plays a great 200 feet game and can rely on his size to control the puck. While Kessel is great offensively, he's mediocre (if that) defensively and gets removed from the puck pretty easily.
What does that say about Lupul because he arguably was better than kessel this year
Was he though? The games Lupul lost are pretty significant, I know it isn't his fault but in the end Kessel has ~15 more points than him (in ~15 more games). Kessel had to play more games without Lupul than Lupul played without Kessel.
Also to the guy who brought up Seguin please keep your trolling out of my thread. Seguin isn't even a winger and, being a good 15 points behind the pack, doesn't really belong in the discussion with these players anyways. And I find it funny how you brought takeaways, giveaways and Corsi numbers into the discussion when those types of stats are rarely used in the discussion of MVPs.
Was he though? The games Lupul lost are pretty significant, I know it isn't his fault but in the end Kessel has ~15 more points than him (in ~15 more games). Kessel had to play more games without Lupul than Lupul played without Kessel.
Also to the guy who brought up Seguin please keep your trolling out of my thread. Seguin isn't even a winger and, being a good 15 points behind the pack, doesn't really belong in the discussion with these players anyways. And I find it funny how you brought takeaways, giveaways and Corsi numbers into the discussion when those types of stats are rarely used in the discussion of MVPs.
Seguin has been a winger essentially all year, but I agree he shouldn't be in the discussion.
If Kessel learned how to protect the puck with his body (like Crosby does often),he would be the best winger in the game by a fair margin (until OV comes back to his old form).
It is possible with his size. He would either keep the puck,or draw a penalty if he used this strategy.
Neal shouldn't be included in that list imo. We don't know if he's a good player, or one being created by his superstar linemate(s).
That leaves you with Gaborik, Kessel, Hossa, and Kovie. I think Gaborik and Kessel are pretty similar, lots of speed and lots of goals. Hossa is great at both ends of the ice, and Kovalchuk is a beast.....when he wants to be.
The question states value, so ill say Kessel only be cause he's the big, and really only, dog for offence. The "best" is Hossa because he has lots of offensive talent, and is great defensively.
Also, if OV is playing up to par, this question isn't asked.
I think if you want to add a winger to your team to help you win hockey games right now, you're better off with Hossa, Kovalchuk, Gaborik, Parise, Eriksson, Ovechkin, Daniel Sedin, MSL, Eberle, etc. than with Kessel. Kessel is a very polarizing player, because in terms of his shot, speed, puck handling, and general skill with the puck he's definitely elite, but he's also one of the softest players in the league, avoids contact like the plague, sucks at winning puck battles, and plays pretty poor d. I don't know that I've ever seen a player with such pronounced strengths and weaknesses, where he's literally among the best in the game in some areas, and among the absolute worst in the league in other areas. I love him on the PP, where it's more about talent, but at even strength I don't love his impact, his negatives are too glaring. For me he is still a top 15 winger in the league, but I wouldn't put him in my top 10.
In terms of value to his team, he's up there for sure, because IMO there's declining marginal value to adding a good player on better teams (add a star player to a great team, you're talking about maybe a couple more wins over a season, but add a star player to a bad team, it means a lot more wins). That has more to do with team construction than the players themselves, though.
Do you think a good 2-way playoff team (like a Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philly, Chicago, etc. type of team) would become a stronger cup contender by adding Kessel, or by adding a less skilled but really physical and hard working winger, like Callahan or Marchand? I think it's arguable either way.
