Phil!
— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) July 21, 2013 Phil Kessel had some words to the Media today after the morning skate in Florida, and he came out voluntarily to share them, which says something about his mood.
"Had a Bad Day" by Daniel Powter is playing in the #Leafs locker room after today's morning skate
— Jameson C. Olive (@JamesonCoop) March 3, 2015 Dion Phaneuf is typically loud, vocal and energetic at Leaf skates. Pretty quiet, almost withdrawn a bit this morning.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) March 3, 2015 Phil Kessel: "I think the way the media treats Dion Phaneuf in this city is embarrassing." #TMLtalk #Leafs
— Jameson C. Olive (@JamesonCoop) March 3, 2015 #Leafs Kessel on Dion: "He's our best D and you guys act like he doesn't try out there. It's embarrassing. Is it our fault he's losing? No"
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) March 3, 2015 More Kessel on #Leafs Phaneuf: "I'm just tired of it. He's owed some apologies by some people. It's disgusting."
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) March 3, 2015 Jake Gardiner said he was surprised by Kessel's comments re: Phaneuf, but that his views were shared by rest of #Leafs.
— Michael Traikos (@Michael_Traikos) March 3, 2015 More Kessel on Phaneuf: "Is it his fault we're losing? No. Did he build this team? No.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) March 3, 2015 Steve Simmons recently said that Phil Kessel is dragging down other players with his laziness, and Toronto Media has a habit of attacking star players over bullshit. Searching Phaeuf and Leadership you get articles going back years questioning if there's enough of it in him and the room. Phil also had a run in earlier this season with Dave Feschuk, which could have been an indicator something bigger was coming.
One playoff appearance in his tenure as a Leaf is probably bugging him, but being the focus along with Phanuef, of the media on a failing team instead of the ones in charge taking a bigger chunk of the heat (Dave Nonis especially) is probably wearing him down faster.
UPDATED: CBS SPORTS HAS SHARED VIDEO OF THE EXCHANGE
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