Toronto Maple Leafs Phil Kessel: A Glimpse Behind the Visor

The trade that brought Phil Kessel to our beloved blue and white has always been the topic of much debate.

Personally, I never was a fan of it, even to this day. It was a trade that changed the path of this organization and ultimately changed the legacy of Phil Kessel.

I have been one of the biggest anti-Kessel fans since he first arrived, and went so far as to say on occasion that he should have never signed here if he wasn't ready to be abused.

I understand he never asked to get traded here, but he did want out of Boston, and like the saying goes, watch what you wish for. He ended up in probably the biggest market of any major sport.

He has struggled and never really lived up to the hype. Being the passionate fanbase that we are, he has heard our displeasure on the ice, or been harassed by the media every single day.

Rightfully so I say. Then I started to think about it...

When he signed for the long-term here, he had the same mindset as the rest of us, a belief that Brian Burke was going to build a winner. I was planning what I would wear and where I would be, when we won the cup. I imagine Kessel was just as excited about that notion even before the ink was dry on his contract.

Let's face it, Burke talked a great game, and we all thought it was possible.

Playing a season, trying to get used to the new system and new linemates, can take a while to get adjusted to. Playing two seasons with a revolving door of players on your line must make it hard to build chemistry.

In this season, being demoted from the first line to the third, then moved from third to the second, makes it all but impossible to feel confident in your ability.

He is officially our whipping boy. Even Thomas Kaberle must think this is funny.

We expected him to carry this team to glory on his shoulders, and whenever things start to look rough, we drive another knife into this kid's back.

If I were Phil, there would be a few choice words I would want to express, to fans and media alike: &*$@ you Toronto!

Can you blame him? Great players make mediocre players look a little better but that's it. They can't make AHLers look like NHLers.

This kid is a professional hockey player, not an illusionist. Shoot, I bet Criss Angel wouldn't even want to touch this team right now. He has been expected to be the man on this team.

I am not sure why though, he is a goal scorer not a leader, we all knew this. I wonder how hard it must be every day, hitting that ice, knowing the weight is all on you.

We all know the money is great, obscene would be a better word, but the pressure must be overwhelming.

He misses a shift, we call him soft. He gets beaten defensively, we call him a liability. He shoots from the outside, we say he's getting lazy. He gets beaten in the corner, we say he has no heart.

Jeez, give the guy a rest already.

End rant.