Bosses say Kessel must shoot more
Kessel, usually one of the last players on the ice, got an immediate visit from Sullivan.
They skated a few laps together, a typical length for one of Sullivan’s pre-practice player chats. It’s not the first time they’ve talked, either.
Earlier in the year, Sullivan had to reinforce to Kessel that he has a continuous green light. The pass and pass stuff has crept into Kessel’s game again recently.
“I think Phil can shoot the puck a little bit more,” Sullivan said. “We’ve talked to him about thinking about shooting the puck more versus passing the puck.”
It’s often been a benefit to him, but Kessel isn’t the type to overanalyze his game or his numbers.
“One in 20 what?” Kessel responded Thursday to a question about his current funk. “I don’t really think about it, to be honest. I didn’t even know. I just kind of keep going. I’ve played long enough in this league to know there’s good times and there’s bad times, right?”
Kessel is on pace for 224 shots on goal this season. If that holds, it would be his fewest in an 82-game season since he registered 213 in 2007-08.
His projected total of 24 goals also would be the fewest he has scored since he tallied 19 that same season.
“I’m just out there trying to make the right plays,” Kessel said. “Maybe I could shoot a little more. I’ve had chances this year. They haven’t gone in lately. It is what it is.”
The number of centers Kessel has played with can’t be easy, although he refused to rely on that as an excuse.
Kessel has been partnered with Nick Bonino, Evgeni Malkin, Matt Cullen, Carter Rowney and even Sidney Crosby (sparingly) at times this season.
“I don’t really care, to be honest,” Kessel said. “I’m just going to go out there and play. I’ve had my chances. They haven’t gone in. That’s how it goes.”
The current dry spell dates to Feb. 17. Even crazier, the one goal Kessel has scored came with him on left wing instead of his usual right. He has taken 52 shots on goal in that time, an average of 2.6 per game.
Sullivan said he has been happy with a lot of Kessel’s game, despite the lack of goal-scoring, his play down low in the offensive zone specifically. And this season certainly has showcased Kessel as a world-class passer.
But even if he doesn’t cop to caring, Kessel is paid to score goals, not defend or pass. The sooner that happens for the Penguins, the better.
“We’ve talked to Phil about just focusing on the process of playing the game the right way and not so much being so concerned about trying to score,” Sullivan said. “Maybe if the focus is taken off of trying to score, he’ll score. He’s a talented player. We believe he’s moving in the right direction.”