Apprenticeships in a Demanding Market

They are two stories from two different sports about two young people from two different countries.

Yet in some way, the circumstances are the same.

Both Phil Kessel and Alex Anthopolous have, by combination of their own choice and the decisions of others, been thrust into situations for which they aren't quite ready.

For the 22-year-old Kessel, it's to be a franchise player for the Maple Leafs. For the 32-year-old Anthopolous, its to run the baseball operations of the Blue Jays.

In today's Star, the pitfalls for both are reported on in pieces by Paul Hunter and Rich Griffin. Griffin highlights Anthopolous's efforts at his first ever winter meetings as he tries to not only take over from J.P. Ricciardi, but set a new tone for the franchise.

To me, he's reminiscent of John Ferguson Jr. when he took over the Leafs. He even has a quickee nickname as Ferguson did. Fergie was JFJ, while Anthopolous is Double-A, not exactly a comfy nickname for a baseball man.

Anthopolous is young, eager, hardworking, wildly inexperienced and very unsure of how to handle the Toronto media, which, as it was for Ferguson, could be a ticking time bomb.

Cutting guys off is okay if you win. But if you don't, you'll have no friends when you need 'em.

All that said, the good news is that Anthopolous isn't a finished product. He has time to learn. He has time to figure it out.

Kessel, meanwhile, again underperformed last night in a visit to his former hockey home of Boston. He was better, but not good enough, and the Leafs went down to defeat.

In some ways, Kessel right now is reminiscent of a young Mats Sundin, who, during his early days in Quebec City and then Toronto, was viewed as marvelously talented but unable to rise to the moment and compete harder when the environment became nastier.

Sundin ultimately conquered that and became a solid playoff warrior, but it took time.

But what people forget is that the Leafs didn't acquire a finished product when they traded for Kessel. They acquired a player with exciting offensive talent who has scored some goals in the league but has yet to prove he can grind it out when the compete level of everyone goes up.

That's okay. He has time to learn. He has time to figure it out. If this trade ultimately works out, it will be because Kessel improves as a player, not because he's all he can be right now.

The Leafs might want him to be a star, but at 22, he's at an age when only the truly exceptional - like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin - are prepared to walk among the league's elite every night.

Everyone should understand that the plan for Kessel should be that he's really hitting his stride two or three seasons down the line.

Comments

[Mario]

It is sad that in a market as hockey oriented as Toronto Cox has to print an article like this to make sure people dont write off Kessle.

Does your job ever become tiresome Cox? writting in what is suppose to be a hockey knowledgeable city should mean that you get to scratch further than the surface for your articles.

What your articles should be addressing are the following.

1. Luke Schenn is going to be a mediocre player, whose value we should be looking at maximizing in a trade.
2. Ian White is a keeper (because he has no spotlight, and he likes it)
3. Stajan is worthy of another two-year contract at the same money. (he is a good player with a good head on his shoulders).
4. How the leafs defensive coverage is terrible, with players being allowed to stand in front of the net at will.

Have a good holiday!

[Nate Wind]

Thank you for the great insight into nicknames. But really, who cares about the Toronto media? Dealing with you is why teams hire people? I guess it doesn't matter if you can make decent trades as long as you get along with the all-powerful media. Phuleeease.

You guys really rate yourselves too highly. Do you win Stanley Cups or World Series? It takes years to grow a tree, but only seconds to cut it down.

Unless your name is Tom Cheek, you are easily replaceable. Back to work please.

Nathan

[Stefan]

I do not understand why it is necessary to already compare Phil kessel with the likes of Mats Sundin. I understand they both have entered a very demanding hockey market whereby they were both immediately labelled 'franchise players'. They are both different player types under different managerial and coaching system approached.

That being said, I also disagree with these early rather ridiculous speculations that Kessel cannot perform under situations where it matters because of two below average (for him anyway) performances in his return to his starting home at TD Banknorth. It is these kinds of speculations and media nonsense in Toronto that effects the development of our youth (i.e. Jiri Tlusty). Let the kid be and let him do what he already has shown us and let us praise him for that which is turning on the red light.....GO LEAFS GO!

[Johnnyk]

Kessel may have hit a rough patch simply because after a swing round the league the other guys have figured out he's the Leafs' only goal-scoring threat. Just focus on shutting him down and let the others play to their AHL level.

[Sonny chiba]

I think you're dead on with what you wrote about Kessel, only in 2 or 3 years will you see his true potential.

That being said, he'll be in his prime at 27 yrs old when he hits UFA status.

From all indications, Kessel is the type of guy to go for the money, even if it means going to a losing team with no playoff hopes, over a team with a chance to win a stanley cup.

I wonder what his agent will tell him to do, if he has a few 50 goal campaigns and is a year or 2 away from UFA status.

Around that same time Boston's draft picks should be rounding into form, coinciding with Savard's retirment, Rask leading the league in GAA and SV %....what a collosus mistake by the loser leafs

[Mark]

That is the point about Kessel and why Burke got him. He has Kadri, who probably makes the team next year and becomes a solid player in two or three years, and Kessel to play with him. The idea is to have Kadri, Kessel, Schenn, Gustavffson and the rest of the developing parts all hitting their top level just when all the bad contracts (Blake, Finger, Toskala) are off the books and you can build off them with new players.
Although many don't see it, Burke does have a plan, and that is to build a winning attitude and then put some more talent in there to go with the attitude.
You don't undue 10 years of poor management in one year.
Hopefully, Double A will do the same.

[Frank Horkin]

And I quote .... "Anthopolous is young, eager, hardworking, wildly inexperienced and very unsure of how to handle the Toronto media, which, as it was for Ferguson, could be a ticking time bomb. Cutting guys off is okay if you win. But if you don't, you'll have no friends when you need 'em."

There you have it folks ... confirmation that the MEDIA thinks they run things around here ... glad we now have guys like Wilson and Burke who can put them in their place.

[Jaxon]

I don't always agree with you Damien, but I always enjoy reading your columns. Obviously, some readers believe you should not be critical or sometimes sarcastic even when the situation calls for it. You should just be a PR representative for Toronto's often under-performing teams and blow sunshine up where the sun does not shine.

[other mark]

Holy crap. Comparing Anthopolous to Ferguson. Geez Damien, that's just a bit harsh isn't is? Did Double-A ruffle your feathers a bit? Did he now show you the respect you deserve as a member of the all mighty Toronto media? Get over yourself.

[Jeff M]

Geez, Kessel didn't play well in Boston in his first two games back in his old barn. Big deal. If you don't mind I'll go with the fact that Kessel was a point-per-game playoff performer with Boston over the past two playoff seasons. Although he doesn't run people over on the ice he definitely doesn't shy away from the rough stuff and will go into the dirty areas in order to try to score. He was outstanding with the Bruins last spring and forget all of the "Marc Savard made him" nonsense. Savard didn't shoot the puck for him nor did he get in the open shooting spots for him. Kessel is a special player that needed a change of scenery and it's great to see a young player with his skill set playing for the Leafs. Kessel's only 22 years old and is still finding his way. Thanks Mr. Burke for having the stones to pull off the trade that brought him here.

[rickybb]

Sundin a solid playoff warrior???? Are you kidding???? The only time the Leafs were successful in the playoffs with Sundin as a Leaf was when he was hurt and Gary Roberts took over along with Alyn MaCauley (who they later traded to San Jose because a lousy Pat Quinn couldn't develop him in the Leaf system) who performed magic together. Sundin had many very good players to play with including Dougie but he never made them better players in the same way that Gretzky did for others such as Yary Kurri or even Bernie Nicholls. Dougie actually made Sundin better! Sundin was a very selfish player and his stats prove it! How many points did the players that played alongside him get? Not much!!! How much better were the Canucks when he went there??? They didn't go very far in the playoffs did they? He took the money and ran....all the way back to Sweden!!!