Gotta See It: Pens’ Kessel sees himself in Preds’ Subban

When Phil Kessel finally got his day with the Stanley Cup last summer, it was only appropriate that he chose to celebrate in the city of Toronto. The Wisconsin native made sure to take some time in his home state to celebrate with friends and family, but he also whisked away to his former home in Toronto to share the experience with some of the city’s less fortunate youth. If the Nasvhille Predators win this season’s ultimate prize, look for PK Subban to make a similar return home.

Sub, despite being shipped  to Nashville in a blockbuster offseason trade, is still a celebrity in the city of Montreal. The fans will always love him, even if the local media never will. His story is similar to  Kessel’s in that much of the blame for his team’s underperformance was pinned on his perceived “lack of compete”. Because neither Kessel nor Subban broke a stick over the crossbar in defeat, they were deemed to be too soft and not competitive enough. It’s a childish accusation and one that both players have wasted no time in dispelling.

Kessel, for the first time, commented on the similarities between his situation last year going from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Subban’s this year. 

Kindred spirits. Kessel and Subban, not good enough to win in Toronto and Montreal… yet here they are both competing for the Stanley Cup. Funny how that works out.