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Team USA Needs Phil Kessel

  • By: Calem Illig (@calemillig)
  • Mar 15, 2016
  • 3 min read

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With the World Cup of Hockey set for this fall, the initial 16 man rosters have been set by the participating teams. After a 5-0 loss to Finland in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the United States has geared up with household names like Patrick Kane, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, and others.

A name that was missing from the roster was Phil Kessel. A veteran and star of United States Hockey, Phil is the definition of a snub. After a poor season in Pittsburgh this year, Kessel has found himself off the roster. Though left off, Phil should no doubt be a part of Team USA in September.

In the beginning stages of his career, Phil participated in the World Under-18 Championships twice. In the 2005 U-18 Championship, Phil was the leading scorer of the tournament as the United States won gold in Plzen. The next year, Kessel participated in the World Juniors where he was the leading scorer of the tournament.

After three years of playing in the IIHF World Championships, Phil made the roster for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The United States finished silver after a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Team Canada. In the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the United States finished in fourth place after losing to Finland in the bronze medal game.

Though the United States did not medal, the biggest takeaway from that tournament was Phil Kessel. Leading the tournament with 8 points in 6 games, Kessel was a huge offensive threat. Scoring five goals, including a hat trick versus Slovenia, Phil brought a big boost to the Americans offense. Kessel was a huge leader on that team and his production showed it. This alone should merit him a spot onto Team USA.

This season has been a slump for Kessel and it's pretty obvious. With 20 goals and 43 points in 66 games, the Penguins have been expecting much more production from him. The scoring chances have been there for him, but he can't seem to finish on his shots this year. Being an elite sniper in this league, it'd be expected to see more goals being scored by Kessel. With Kessel being in his scoring drought, though, he's bound to break out of it. Kessel is a star player and one of the league’s best goal scorers. Just as Sidney Crosby faced hard times on the beginning of the season, he was able to pick up his game and start producing again. The same will happen for Kessel and he will regain his scoring touch.

For the World Cup this fall, the United States has a very deep team. With stars like Patrick Kane up front, Ryan Suter on defense, and Jonathan Quick in goal, the United States are built fairly well. While players like these were givens, what is questionable are some of the other players picked. Justin Abdelkader was one player picked over Kessel, a pick that was very questionable. This season with the Detroit Red Wings, Abdelkader has totaled 15 goals and 33 points in 65 games. For a player that has grown over the years through the Red Wings Organization, those are fairly decent stats. Are those stats worthy though of a spot on Team USA? For a team trying to put their best roster together, picking Abdelkader was a questionable choice.

Bobby Ryan was another player in question. Failing to make the team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Ryan making the roster this year was a surprise. This season, Ryan has 22 goals and 49 points in 66 games this season with the Ottawa Senators. Though Ryan's stats have been slightly better this year then Kessels, Phil has been a more consistent scorer than Ryan in recent history. Over the past few years, Kessel has been much more productive aside from this season. Ryan is having a strong season in Ottawa, but his play this season alone shouldn't merit a roster spot on the United States over Kessel.

The United States hasn't won a championship on the international level since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Coming into this tournament, the Americans should be one of the favorites to win it all. Without putting the best team possible on the ice, though, the United States will never come close to glory. The best team available includes Phil Kessel, and though he's slumped this year, the decision on him making the roster could make or break the Americans World Cup hopes.

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