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Arizona Coyotes All-Star Break Grades – Phil Kessel

By Jim Lynch |
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 14: Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes talks with referee Kyle Rehman #10 during a stop in play of a game against the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena on January 14, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 14: Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes talks with referee Kyle Rehman #10 during a stop in play of a game against the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena on January 14, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)

It is not fair to say that Phil Kessel with the Arizona Coyotes is an absolute failure. Rather I just don’t think he has lived up to the hopes and dreams of us Coyotes fans.

Phil Kessel was brought to Arizona to score goals, and he just is not doing that at the same rate as he used to. Kessel has not scored more than 30 goals for a few seasons now, and that was when he was on a highly talented team like the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kessel in his 4 seasons with the Penguins managed to put up 303 points in 328 games, he is by no means a point per game player. In 51 games this season Kessel has 31 points and is a -20. His Corsi percentage is not the best of his career, however, it is not the worst either.

Kessel put up a Corsi percentage of 50.6 through his first 51 games with the Coyotes, which is actually not bad when you compare it to his time in Pittsburgh. I am looking forward to what Kessel can do the second half of the season, I know he is not meant to be “the guy” in Arizona, rather hopefully he can get things done for the second half of the season and step up for the team.

Kessel is now playing with so many talented fast young players, like Taylor Hall, Conor Garland, and Clayton Keller to name a few. Arizona really needs to figure out what to do with Phil Kessel, he needs to be successful here if the team wants to really make it far this season.

One of the more interesting things about Kessel’s play this season is he shows flashes of being the talented forward Arizona needs, just watch this goal Kessel scored against the San Jose Sharks.

No one has more power-play points this season than Phil Kessel. He has 7 goals on the power play and 8 assists so far this season. Hopefully, he can continue to improve on those numbers the rest of the way. I am going to give Kessel a B- rating for his play so far.

I know he didn’t do that bad, I just think the team needs more out of him for the Coyotes to make the playoffs. Hopefully, Kessel and the Coyotes can earn an A rating at the end of the year.

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