Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings: #3
Coming in at number three on our list of the best Metropolitan Division wings is yet another newcomer. The Pittsburgh Penguins made the biggest splash of the offseason when they traded for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel. Kessel was severely underutilized in Toronto. He was expected to be the star in Toronto. Kessel is one of those guys who can’t be the best player on your team. Pittsburgh is a perfect fit for him because they have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Kessel has never played with an elite center for an extended period of time during his career. That’s going to change next season regardless of who his center is. Kessel scored goals with Tyler Bozak. Imagine what he can do with an elite center.
Kessel’s possession stats are awful because he was so poorly utilized in Toronto. That should change in Pittsburgh. I’m willing to give Kessel’s dreadful possession stats a pass because he stuffs the score sheet like few can.
- 3rd in even-strength goals per 60 minutes (1.03)
- 7th in even-strength assists per 60 minutes (1.14)
- 4th in even-strength points per 60 minutes (2.17)
- 2nd in power play assists per 60 minutes (3.72)
- 4th in power play points per 60 minutes (5.45)
Toronto is dreadfully bad at possession, so it’s impressive that Kessel was able to produce at such a high level. Playing with Crosby and/or Malkin should help those numbers rise even higher. He has questions about his defense that he must answer. Will his defense improve playing alongside better players? Or will he still be a liability on defense? Only time will tell.
Next: Crosby Stills and Nash