‘Disappointed’ Kessel hopes to be back in blue
Dion Phaneuf expects to be back with the Maple Leafs next season. Phil Kessel hopes to be back.
Five of the Leafs’ key players expressed versions of those answers Monday as the Leafs dealt with the scorched earth of Sunday’s firings.
“Hopefully,” Kessel said when asked point blank about returning next season.
“I signed (for) eight years last year, and I love Toronto. The fans have been great to me, and I love the guys, I love playing here, so hopefully I’m back.”
There are, however, no guarantees for Kessel, Phaneuf, or the remainder of a core group that includes Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak.
Team president Brendan Shanahan underlined the fact that the core leadership failed, and that there will be more changes coming.
“On all the great teams I’ve seen there’s never been (leadership) attri-
“I didn’t get it done. I’m disappointed. Obviously, I expect more of myself.” PHIL KESSEL MAPLE LEAFS WINGER
buted to one person, it takes the whole team,” Shanahan said Monday. “(The leadership is) not good, they know it, we know it, everyone knows it. I think they can look in the mirror and agree it didn’t get done.”
Kessel, who had just seven goals in the last 44 games, realized the picture was grim.
“Obviously, I’m not happy with it, right,” Kessel said. “If I knew, I would fix it. It was one of those years I couldn’t get anything in. I had some chances. I don’t know how many breakaways I probably missed this year. I just didn’t get it done.”
Kessel, like many other Leafs, played through injuries but the former, sure-bet 30-goal scorer — he finished with 25 this season — re- fused to use injuries as an excuse. If the Leafs approach him about a trade out of town, Kessel said he would have to listen, but he hopes his summer will be dedicated to training and a return to Toronto.
“I’ll have to see, if that time comes,” Kessel said about being traded. “You never know how things shake out, but I want to be here.”
Kessel, like many of the Leafs, pointed the finger at himself when asked about Bloody Sunday, when so many in hockey operations were fired. “I’m a competitor, and when you don’t perform to your standards, you’re disappointed,” he said.
The core group, Kessel included, wants one more chance to prove the Leafs can win consistently. But they may have run out of opportunities.
“I don’t know, guys,” Kessel said when asked about what changes he expects to see. “I think they’ll try to do what’s best for the team and organization . . . I didn’t get it done. I’m disappointed. Obviously, I expect more of myself. It just wasn’t there.”