Phil Kessel: NHL Break-out Player

When I enter my special fantasy pool, picking seven players who are classified as (A), seven as (B) and seven as (C), with one extra player who isn't on the list, my eyes light up whenever I don't see Phil Kessel on that list. Each season he's played, this young player has gotten better. In his rookie season, which was shortened by testicular cancer, he scored 11 goals and got 18 assists for 29 points, in 70 games. Not a bad season for a young player—especially for such a young man going through those trials just before the season began. If he were healthy, maybe I wouldn't be considering 29 points "not bad," in fact I'd consider it average. Last year, his second year in the NHL, was better for him. He scored 19 goals, and handed out 18 assists, for 37 points, playing all 82 games—a solid improvement. This season will be big for Kessel. He has all the tools to be a top contributor for the Boston Bruins, and playing with a healthy Patrice Bergeron will help him a lot.  Thus ... (link)