Phil Kessel Named Toronto Maple Leafs' Top Line Centre Tonight

Mark RitterDec 4, 2010

In a move that reeks of desperation, the Toronto Maple Leafs will start Phil Kessel at centre tonight when they face the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre.

Kessel, who volunteered for the move, has spent his most of his career as a winger, except for maybe a game or two, so I am not so sure this is going to pay off.

The good news is that Kessel is humming along with a 60 percent success rate in the faceoff circle, but he has only taken six faceoffs this season.

Listed at 6’0”, 202 pounds, Kessel should be alright in the size department, but I just cannot see how a player who often shies away from contact is going to compete down the middle on a nightly basis.

In another move, rookie forward Nazem Kadri has been demoted to the fourth line where, outside of some additional power play time, he will see limited action.

It’s another questionable move in a long line of desperate attempts to right the sinking ship that is our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.

These latest moves come on the heels of the Maple Leafs' 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at the ACC on Thursday night.

Fans booed the Leafs throughout the contest, many of which called for head coach Ron Wilson to be fired.

Hampered by a lack of talent up front and some questionable competitive levels from the troops that are suiting up, Wilson has made numerous moves this season in an effort to get the team going.

In the end, few, if any of the moves, have worked out, which puts Wilson and general manager Brian Burke in the firing lines of the fans.

While I agree doing nothing is asinine, these recent moves are akin to the Maple Leafs waiving a white flag—please hockey Gods, save our sinking ship!