Prior to this season, off the ice, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel was known for his standoffishness and quiet, withdrawn demeanor. That's been changing this season as Kessel has spoken up more, usually against the Toronto media. Earlier this year, he took a local columnist to task and now he's taken up the cause to defend teammate and captain Dion Phaneuf.
Kessel, apparently unprompted, launched into a missive that blasted the local media for its treatment of the Leafs captain.
"I think the way the media treats Dion Phaneuf in this city is embarrassing," Kessel said. "I think a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves. I'm embarrassed for them. I don't think anyone deserves to be treated like that."
Kessel wouldn't name names, but gave an impassioned defense of his friend and teammate. He also may have sent a shot across the bow at general manager Dave Nonis -- possibly unintentionally.
"Is it [Phaneuf's] fault we're losing?" Kessel asked. "Did he build this team? No."
Prior to this season, it was rare to see Kessel speak passionately about anything, but the frustration has clearly boiled over. Both he and Phaneuf take the brunt of the criticism for the Maple Leafs' on-ice struggles. Perhaps sometimes that is unfair and Kessel is right that the management is as much to blame for this fiasco as the players.
The Maple Leafs are in a downward spiral this season and dealt away several players ahead of the deadline. They'll have more work to do in the offseason, and both Kessel and Phaneuf could be on the way out of town come summer, based on the rumors that have been circulating through the media for weeks.
These last few months could be like a long, drawn out root canal for the Maple Leafs players and fans. According to forward Joffrey Lupul, seeking postgame quotes from him and other players might be like pulling teeth for local media as well...
Get familiar with #nocomment
— Joffrey Lupul (@JLupul) March 3, 2015
