trapezoid Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 He's battling every game this year and shows flashes of his 2010-2011 self. However, his hands. WTF happened to his hands. It's like someone took a ball peen hammer to them in last year's final. Either that or they fossilized over the summer. He generally loses the puck on dangles. His percentage of won puck battles along the boards is visibly down compared to last year. I find myself cringing at times now when the puck comes to him on the power play in case he loses it. It's not like he doesn't make good plays like the one-timer against the blue jackets Saturday. He is just obviously off compared to his play over the last couple of years. Is he trying too hard? It's really a concern. I know you can say the same about Edler and more recently about the Sedins, but it is has been a constant with Kesler. At the beginning of the year I kept thinking that he needed time to come back from his surgery. He did improve but seems to have plateaued for months now at a level that is well below what is expected of him. This is my biggest worry going into the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j3ff Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Gotta say, I agree. I'm hoping for the best and keeping my negative comments to a minimum until playoffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brahma Bull Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 All I know is that his dangling has never been good. Hopefully he'll go into beast mode during the playoffs and will this team to win. Gonna be exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckRow Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Missing summer training, training camp, and first 10 games of the season did a number on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 He is getting a bit more attention from the opposition than he is used to but it really is no excuse. I think he has some issues going on that he is struggling with that are holding him back, hopefully he will snap out of it come playoff time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckRow Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 All I know is that his dangling has never been good. Hopefully he'll go into beast mode during the playoffs and will this team to win. Gonna be exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beluga Whale Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 He doesn't seem to be able to get his great shot off as much as last year either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks.brad Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 people know how he plays and his tactics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soshified Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Higgins infected it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 it happened to ovechkin, sedins, stamkos, thornton, etc....they become predicable and it takes time for them to addapt and try different things especially when what they were doing for a certain period of time worked so well for them how many times this year has kesler gotten 35 foot wristers blocked???? he needs to drive wide instead of going right through defenders but he is still have a pretty good year p.s i love kesler on the wall on the PP, keep him there.....he will learn how to read gaps and passing lanes better so he can get more open for that one-timer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuck nit Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Hands went with the hip. Hoping it is a blip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rink on Renfrew Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 All I know is that his dangling has never been good. Hopefully he'll go into beast mode during the playoffs and will this team to win. Gonna be exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking Paradox Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotafan Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 He had Raymond instead of Booth last year,and for the most part Samuelson instead of Higgins, he was the only real consistant "go to" on the line. Now we have two power forwards who want the puck on the same line. Amex is more dangerous but Kesler is getting less points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammerculture Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 It's pretty simple, the coaching staff has gotten him to substantially change his game this year, imo in an effort to keep him healthy. Let's be real, the guys never had great hands, he has always succeeded on heart. His goal totals last year were a direct result of playing in front of the net during the PP, digging out the garbage with the Sedins. However, this resulted in Kesler going into the playoffs an absolute wreck, and having to undergo surgery in the offseason. So this year he is playing smaller amount of powerplays (wtf refs??), in an entirely different position, one that keeps him out of harms way but also one that doesn't really play to his strengths. All things considered, Kesler is best described as a grinding type player. Year after year, he would go down the stretch with the team on his back,either as a pealty killer/shutdown guy, when we had no offense, or last year, playing the hardest position in hockey two feet out from the crease, but always in roles where heart and grit were the icket to success. This year he is trying to learn to play a safer, more perimeter style of game, which he is unsuited for. However, his heart is still there, and I am sure once the playoffs start and there is nothing to save yourself for anymore, we will see him shine again. Also, if Kes, Booth and Higgins had played together all year, his totals would be substantially higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiznak Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skittles360 Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 His hands still look firmly attatched to his wrists like they should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rb4u Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 As AV would say... Kesler needs to use his linemates more (and thus opening up ice again for his shot). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobopan Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I really don't think its anything complicated. I think he surprised alot of ppl last season and this season players and goalies know what to expect and are better prepared for what's coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Take Daniel Sedin away from Henrik Sedin, and their stats might drop a little. Take Samuelson away from Kesler and his stats (Keslers) will drop a little. That's what happened. Kesler's primary linemate the past 2 seasons was Mikael Samuleson. During this time Kesler established solid chemistry with him, and was able to have 2 productive years. Now that he's gone, Kesler needs to find new linemates, of course, it's taken a little longer for him to find that someone again. Booth has helped, but this season is kinda a wash for him. I am hoping, he will have a better playoff, and he will probably have a stronger playoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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