Hammertime Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 Just now, tas said: and as a healthy scratch, keeping things light in the dressing room, helping guys bond, and helping lead the group through uncharted territory with the benefit of a proven track record? is that valuable? Sure we'll wave someone so Phil can be the team mascot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Decision Deadline Looms for Phil Kessel and the Canucks Phil Kessel's a popular teammate with three Stanley Cup rings. The clock is ticking on whether the Vancouver Canucks bring him on for the playoff run or not. Earlier this season, in a press-box debate on which NHL player might be best-liked among his peers across the league, Phil Kessel's name came up. The three-time Stanley Cup champion does have an elite reputation for being 'good in the room.' "I think sometimes he's misunderstood as aloof, but he does care," Shane Hnidy told ESPN in October 2022. "He wants to win. You've seen that in his career. He hasn't changed. There's this mystery about him, as this laid-back guy. And he is one. But it's all about in the room. He's always been a popular teammate." Hnidy joined the Boston Bruins as a veteran defenseman during Kessel's second NHL season, in January 2008. Now a broadcaster for the Vegas Golden Knights, Hnidy said Kessel was "in some of the best shape I've ever seen him in" last season, when he set the NHL's all-time consecutive-games record. "He was just a complete character," said James van Riemsdyk, Kessel's teammate with the Toronto Maple Leafs. "He loves to stir the pot, making dry comments. It's good to have someone that will speak his mind in the room in certain scenarios. Those dialogues are really healthy and good. Phil's the unintentionally funny guy. He's not trying to be funny, but he ends up being hilarious." In less than a week, we'll know if Phil Kessel will be bringing that locker-room presence to Vancouver Canucks, or any other team, this season. Since mid-February, Kessel has been skating with Vancouver's AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. And while sightings have been few and far between, he was spotted in the background of a practice photo from the Abbotsford Centre earlier this week. As Max Miller of The Hockey News' Canucks team site reported on Tuesday, local insider Rick Dhaliwal says both sides are hopeful that Kessel's efforts will culminate in a contract with Vancouver. In order for him to be eligible for the playoffs, the Canucks would need to have Kessel on their active NHL roster at the trade deadline, this Friday at 3 p.m. ET. If it happens, it could very well be a last-minute move. Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin got a massive item checked off his to-do list on Saturday when he announced that Elias Pettersson has signed an eight-year contract extension. But during his two years in Vancouver, Allvin has shown that he's not afraid to wheel and deal — and has the wherewithal to make trades when other GMs stand pat. A month ago, he boldly jump-started the 2024 trade-deadline market by acquiring the top available center, Elias Lindholm, from the Calgary Flames. There have been whispers that he isn't done. And after shipping out Andrei Kuzmenko as part of the return for Lindholm, the Canucks have room in their top six for another skilled forward. They've been linked to impending UFAs Tyler Toffoli and Jake Guentzel. Kessel can be had for the price of a pro-rated contract, but there would be a significant acquisition cost for either of those high-scoring wingers. Toffoli also has 26 goals this season, and Guentzel has 22. They're proven commodities, and recent history has shown that it's not easy for players over 35 to step back into the NHL after spending significant time away. Justin Williams tried a mid-season comeback with the Carolina Hurricanes at age 38 in 2020. It was cut short by the pandemic after 20 games, and he wasn't able to regain his mojo in the summer playoff bubble. Still looking for a Stanley Cup, 39-year-old Zach Parise signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche in late January. He has six points in 13 games so far. But then there's Patrick Kane. Just one year younger than Kessel at 35, Kane is moving the needle on what's possible after hip-resurfacing surgery, and has become a vital cog in the Detroit Red Wings' push to return to playoff contention. Kessel may turn out to be Vancouver's backup plan — the easy acquisition that Allvin keeps in his back pocket as he navigates the trade-deadline market between now and Friday. But he might be more. For a Canucks team that doesn't have a single player that has ever suited up for a playoff game at Rogers Arena, Kessel's Cup-winning experience and the good vibes he brings to the dressing room might deliver a similar spark to what he brought to Allvin and Jim Rutherford's champion Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2016. https://thehockeynews.com/news/decision-deadline-looms-for-phil-kessel-and-the-canucks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Id say if phil is still here by Tuesday, they're signing him. They're not going to screw his chance to sign somewhere else by the deadline 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWJC Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 8 minutes ago, stawns said: Id say if phil is still here by Tuesday, they're signing him. They're not going to screw his chance to sign somewhere else by the deadline I wonder if perhaps it’s already understood he’s going to be signed. It’s just a matter of keeping cap space available until deadline and any roster moves that may be involved prior to finalizing, but I don’t think mgmt brought him here just to suss him out. They know what they have in him already once he’s in game shape and he knows it’s a great opportunity here for him to not only pick up the 8 points required to reach 1000, but also perhaps have a deep cup run. It’s a win win for both sides. And if he hits his 1000 here there is already a spot planned outside the arena for his statue. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 8 minutes ago, RWJC said: I wonder if perhaps it’s already understood he’s going to be signed. It’s just a matter of keeping cap space available until deadline and any roster moves that may be involved prior to finalizing, but I don’t think mgmt brought him here just to suss him out. They know what they have in him already once he’s in game shape and he knows it’s a great opportunity here for him to not only pick up the 8 points required to reach 1000, but also perhaps have a deep cup run. It’s a win win for both sides. And if he hits his 1000 here there is already a spot planned outside the arena for his statue. I think so too, he's too well known for management and RT to take a shot in the dark. Im sure they just wanted to make sure he's in game shape. That said, there's no guarantee they feel he is. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N4ZZY Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 3 hours ago, stawns said: I think so too, he's too well known for management and RT to take a shot in the dark. Im sure they just wanted to make sure he's in game shape. That said, there's no guarantee they feel he is. How's he doing in his conditioning? Is he even close to game shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arsenalian Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 “He was just a complete character," said James van Riemsdyk, Kessel's teammate with the Toronto Maple Leafs. "He loves to stir the pot, making dry comments.” Lol, I read that as He loves to smoke the pot” first time through and thought, oh, that explains all the hot dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integra250 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Can't tell if no news on Phil the Thrill is good or bad... Probably means he's not close to being ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanSeanBean Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Just now, Integra250 said: Can't tell if no news on Phil the Thrill is good or bad... Probably means he's not close to being ready. I actually think the exact opposite. If he didn't look at all ready they would set him free and try another organization. The fact they are quite on the PHIL THE THRILL KESSEL front tells me they have everything worked out and are just waiting as long as possible for the cap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz-Pix Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 19 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said: I actually think the exact opposite. If he didn't look at all ready they would set him free and try another organization. The fact they are quite on the PHIL THE THRILL KESSEL front tells me they have everything worked out and are just waiting as long as possible for the cap. So....announcment incoming at 11:59am (PST) on March 8th. Haha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HKSR Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 24 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said: I actually think the exact opposite. If he didn't look at all ready they would set him free and try another organization. The fact they are quite on the PHIL THE THRILL KESSEL front tells me they have everything worked out and are just waiting as long as possible for the cap. Yeah, that's exactly what I think they're doing. There's no rush to announce anything sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 2 hours ago, Blitz-Pix said: So....announcment incoming at 11:59am (PST) on March 8th. Haha Next 48 hrs according to Rick 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneakystink Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Phil's waiting on Chung Chun in Richmond to open back up. Matter of time... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyboy88 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 22 minutes ago, Jaimito said: Next 48 hrs according to Rick Dummy can't even get Sharangovich's name right 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integra250 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 15 minutes ago, Sneakystink said: Phil's waiting on Chung Chun in Richmond to open back up. Matter of time... Korean hot dogs aren't safe around Phil either eh? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Long Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 21 minutes ago, Sneakystink said: Phil's waiting on Chung Chun in Richmond to open back up. Matter of time... there's one on Robson near Denman. I think I saw him there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneakystink Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 14 minutes ago, Bob Long said: there's one on Robson near Denman. I think I saw him there. What's he waiting on then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Long Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Just now, Sneakystink said: What's he waiting on then? extra sauce maybe? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 24 minutes ago, Bob Long said: there's one on Robson near Denman. I think I saw him there. He needs to go down to Portland and eat at "Hung Low" I went by there years ago and was told not to eat there as it was a total dump. Yes there is a restaurant called Hung Low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimito Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 1 hour ago, cripplereh said: He needs to go down to Portland and eat at "Hung Low" I went by there years ago and was told not to eat there as it was a total dump. Yes there is a restaurant called Hung Low. It's actually Hung Far Low. Out of business now. https://pdx.eater.com/2015/10/19/9570601/hung-far-low-shutters-its-se-82nd-street-location Probably not a good joke on Kess. He lost his right testicle due to cancer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cripplereh Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Jaimito said: It's actually Hung Far Low. Out of business now. https://pdx.eater.com/2015/10/19/9570601/hung-far-low-shutters-its-se-82nd-street-location Probably not a good joke on Kess. He lost his right testicle due to cancer. Forgot about that just like the name of the place,took a picture of it years ago lol. Who wouldn't want to keep a name like that going? Edited March 4 by cripplereh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Ah it's not the best source (Patrick Johnston from The Province) but he believes we will NOT sign Kessel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 1 minute ago, Miss Korea said: Ah it's not the best source (Patrick Johnston from The Province) but he believes we will NOT sign Kessel. Johnston can sod off 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucksfurevr Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Phil does sign in Vancouver, scores game seven Stanley Cup gwg 4th OT 5 sec left. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayDangles Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 Kinda figured after there wasn't much news about progress over the last 2 weeks. No news was reading as bad news. It's too bad though. Not sure exactly how he would have fit, or what role he would have played but I'm sure somewhere he would have been an asset... but if he can't play a game, then what's the point. Just hire him as assistant to the regional manager or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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