The man has boobs 🤣. 🤔 yet he's somehow managed to play, very often at a high level, in the NHL for 16 or 17 years, scoring goals, eating cheese on everything, and never working out.
A friend of mine, Leafs fan, turned me on to the Kessel Legend. He was really pissed they ran him out of town. As soon as I saw a pic of Phil the Thrill, I realized the connection. My hockey playing buddy looked just like Phil! Beer barrel shaped body, red hair and beard, but could skate and shoot. Think my buddy projected himself as narrowly missing having Kessel's NHL career. Phil is an Everyman. I have a Coyotes jersey with his name and number.
Don Cherry casts too large a shadow over Toronto Hockey media. Foreign non-physical scoring wingers => Target for abuse. Even worse when they don't love talking to the media. Also see the current treatment of Nylander.
People love this stuff. And I can appreciate being your own person but not when you're expected and talented enough to be a leader in the NHL. He's a terrible leader, only got cups riding the coat tails of super stars, who were willing to do what he was not. And that's why he ended up in Arizona, cause nobody cares about hockey there and that's what he loves about it. Could have been a super star, he settled for 2nd or 3rd lines though.