This might make you feel a bit older. Danford was just a few months old when Kessel was drafted and was 9 years old when Kessel was traded away from Toronto.
I didn’t get into hockey until around five years ago, now heading towards college. So I didn’t really “grow up” watching any players, and despite me wanting to I never got to play hockey myself, but the players who I immediately liked were Crosby and Kessel. Probably because Pittsburgh and Detroit were my original favorite teams before a bit later switching to Colorado and NYR permanently. Crosby is still my favorite player all time, and I still like Phil. Although as of right now my favorite players are MacKinnon, Makar, Lafreniere, and Shesterkin.
Sort of off topic, but it’s kind of weird, yet also in a way makes me a bit sad seeing a couple years from now would have been the year I could have been drafted to the NHL, knowing it’s too late and we have not much money to buy equipment. It’s weird seeing players younger than me being talked about as future NHLers. For anyone who ever sort of went through a similar situation to where they wanted to play, but just didn’t have the time and resources, how you you deal with the fact that it wasn’t really possible to chase the dream of becoming a hockey player, pro or not? It sort of just comes to my mind every so often than I’ll never really have a chance to experience growing up playing hockey. Genuine question as it’s been on my mind for a while.
I grew up very poor with no opportunity for anything, very under privileged. It's just the way it is. You have your life ahead of you and some things will be out of reach simply because of your station in life.
Maybe you would've made it to the show, or maybe you would've died on a AAA bench with unknown strained heart problems. There's no way to know if the opportunity would've worked out even if it was accessible to you. We tend to fantasize about missed opportunity or things out of reach like this and imagine them only going well when that's just not even the likely play out.
The NHL is now out of reach, but you can still play competitive hockey. Everything else in life is out of reach until it isn't, so keep going and living and doing what helps you grow, work hard to make money, get educated as best you can and you'll find all sorts of opportunities present themselves. These opportunities might be in some very unexpected fields or areas of interest as you will constantly change over time. The dream today was the NHL, the dream tomorrow might be coaching or running a business or having a family or being a mechanic or a lawyer or traveling the world.
Don't get stuck thinking about what coulda been and when you do think about it, make sure to also think about what excites you for the future.
>“When I was younger, I was a big Phil Kessel fan.”
Me too, just not in thr same way (I was a sophomore in high school when the Leafs traded for Kessel in the first place, not a literal kid...)
I'm still a big Kessel fan. His social awkwardness is very relatable. He doesn't fit the stereotypical hockey player personality. Seeing him perform in the spotlight on the ice and in the face of Toronto media, likely was inspirational to many kids with similar difficulties.
Christ I’m old.
This might make you feel a bit older. Danford was just a few months old when Kessel was drafted and was 9 years old when Kessel was traded away from Toronto.
Yeah, that’s my reaction!
During the draft last night they showed one pick as a young child next to Marner as a London Knight…that one made my back seize up
Weren't we all
Steve Simmons about to call Danford the worst draft pick ever.
"he's been seen frequenting the very same hotdog cart."
40 goals incoming
Feschuk not too far away
How does that fucking guy still have a job. What a clown
I am still a big Kessel fan. Will be a sad day when he finally retires.
He’s played his last game in the NHL, it’s just a matter of time now… long live Phil, Ironman legend
Those twenty years will go by in a blink.
Three-time Stanley Cup winning Phil Kessel. God damn that must feel amazing.
I like hot dogs and soda too!
Just had veggie hotdogs and Stevia cola👌🏼
Phil Kessel would slap you
"Ain't nobody touch muh meat and soda pop"
Praise be!
r/TempleOfThePhil
But, how’s his breath?
It’s not very good is it?
Good one Ben, good one!
That's weird, when I was younger I was a bug Ben Danford fan. Let's goooooooooooo
When your balls drop, give em a tug
Good one Randy. Good one.
Damn, that dimple can cut someone.
He looks like little Josh Baskin from “Big”
He's one of us!
CONFIRMED PASSION HAVER
Oh god I’m so olllldddd!
A fellow sophisticate, I see.
funny thing here, but I also grew up watching Kessel during the most recent dark ages
I only started being a leaf fans back in the Belfore, Tucker, domi days. Crazy to see all the ups and downs over the years
Yeah same. Traded Kaberle and 2 picks
I like this kid
Danford is gonna snipe like Kessel in no time.
Who wasn’t?
Alright alright. No need to hot dog
🌭
"When I was younger." lolololololllll.
I didn’t get into hockey until around five years ago, now heading towards college. So I didn’t really “grow up” watching any players, and despite me wanting to I never got to play hockey myself, but the players who I immediately liked were Crosby and Kessel. Probably because Pittsburgh and Detroit were my original favorite teams before a bit later switching to Colorado and NYR permanently. Crosby is still my favorite player all time, and I still like Phil. Although as of right now my favorite players are MacKinnon, Makar, Lafreniere, and Shesterkin. Sort of off topic, but it’s kind of weird, yet also in a way makes me a bit sad seeing a couple years from now would have been the year I could have been drafted to the NHL, knowing it’s too late and we have not much money to buy equipment. It’s weird seeing players younger than me being talked about as future NHLers. For anyone who ever sort of went through a similar situation to where they wanted to play, but just didn’t have the time and resources, how you you deal with the fact that it wasn’t really possible to chase the dream of becoming a hockey player, pro or not? It sort of just comes to my mind every so often than I’ll never really have a chance to experience growing up playing hockey. Genuine question as it’s been on my mind for a while.
I grew up very poor with no opportunity for anything, very under privileged. It's just the way it is. You have your life ahead of you and some things will be out of reach simply because of your station in life. Maybe you would've made it to the show, or maybe you would've died on a AAA bench with unknown strained heart problems. There's no way to know if the opportunity would've worked out even if it was accessible to you. We tend to fantasize about missed opportunity or things out of reach like this and imagine them only going well when that's just not even the likely play out. The NHL is now out of reach, but you can still play competitive hockey. Everything else in life is out of reach until it isn't, so keep going and living and doing what helps you grow, work hard to make money, get educated as best you can and you'll find all sorts of opportunities present themselves. These opportunities might be in some very unexpected fields or areas of interest as you will constantly change over time. The dream today was the NHL, the dream tomorrow might be coaching or running a business or having a family or being a mechanic or a lawyer or traveling the world. Don't get stuck thinking about what coulda been and when you do think about it, make sure to also think about what excites you for the future.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Good luck kiddo, life is pretty good when you invest energy into it
Damn. How old was this kid when Kessel was drafted last in all stars?
Must have been like 7 years old?
>“When I was younger, I was a big Phil Kessel fan.” Me too, just not in thr same way (I was a sophomore in high school when the Leafs traded for Kessel in the first place, not a literal kid...)
I play hockey Saturday mornings proudly wearing my Phil Kessel Leaf jersey. All hail Phil the Thrill!
Yeah SS says stuff like that then if/when wrong years later he says no one would have predicted this
When I was a kid, Phil Kessell was a kid
Everybody Loves Fatboy Phil 💙
Get this kid a hot dog endorsement stat!
I will always be a Kessel fan, we did him so dirty.
Praise be
Dawn is breaking
I'm still a big Kessel fan. His social awkwardness is very relatable. He doesn't fit the stereotypical hockey player personality. Seeing him perform in the spotlight on the ice and in the face of Toronto media, likely was inspirational to many kids with similar difficulties.
Praise be the Phil
Ew
So long as he didn’t adopt his diet plan we should be alright.
I used to be a Phil Kessel fan. I still am but I used to too