NHL All-Star Game 2011: Why Toronto Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel Won't Go Last!

It has been talked about all week. Who is going to be picked last, left in humiliation, at the NHL All-Star draft? Looking at the roster, it is easy to see why Phil may be picked last, but there are so many reasons as to why he won't be.

First off, before I continue, I am a huge Leaf fan. I bleed blue and white, when a game is close, I sweat blue and white and lately, I have cried blue and white. Problem is though, I didn't drink any Kool-Aid today, so I am seeing this as a fan of the NHL, not the Leafs.

I love the new draft format for the game, but there needs to be more changes here, especially when it comes to selecting a player from each team. Next year, I'd like to see the fans be able to select their choice of who gets to represent their team at the game, instead of the NHL.

Kessel does not deserve to represent the Maple Leafs. Not only is he not the most offensive player on this team, but he is not even close to the most impressive. Grabo is head and shoulders ahead Kessel. He is more dazzling, has a better persona and is a better two-way player.

When we, as Leaf fans, want to showcase our best talent, is it really Kessel? I swear the NHL chose Kessel just to exploit the stupidity of the trade, and have the league laugh at Burke just a little bit more. The only thing that would make this even more laughable is if Seguin was on the draft roster.

Having said all that, let us start with the least obvious reason as to why Kessel will not be picked last, and make us an even bigger laughingstock.

1. Phil Kessel is a seasoned NHLer. I use the term "seasoned" loosely, as he is very one-dimensional, but he is a legitimate NHL player. Lidstrom and Staal are veterans, and I would think before taking all the rookies, they would have enough professional respect to take a fellow colleague.

2. Phil is an Olympian. You can't say the American talent is so low that he got on the squad by default. Some of the players on this roster cannot claim Olympian status, so that has to account for something, right?

3. Having heard about this all week, from every media outlet, who will want to be the one that picks Phil last? That would be awkward for everyone. I imagine he will go low, but not last, because it will make things way too uncomfortable.

I bet, when Phil heard he was representing the Leafs, he was even thinking, "What the %&*@???" I'm sure given the amount of pressure of the last few days, and the fact he hasn't said a whole lot about it, that he doesn't even want to be there. Come to think of it, I am surprised he didn't say he was hurt, just to avoid all of this.

I am a fan of the Leafs, but not Kessel, nothing personal. I just don't think he deserves to be at the game. I could really care less if he goes last, because Grabo should be there, not Kes.

I'll tell you one thing though. I will be severely disappointed if Kessel does not represent this team at the All-Star game as he has all year in Toronto...

With a big red nose, and floppy shoes.

A clown, but he won't go last.