Phil Kessel is mad as hell about how Phaneuf is treated by the Toronto media, and he's not going to take it anymore.The Canadian Press
Phil Kessel says he has had enough.
The Toronto Maple Leafs star angrily addressed the media after the morning skate down in Florida on Tuesday afternoon and ripped them specifically for their treatment of team captain Dion Phaneuf.
The typically quiet Kessel was believed to be upset over an inappropriate Twitter message from a fan that inadvertently appeared on TSN's trade deadline coverage a day earlier.
"I'm disappointed today," Kessel began in a four-minute address to reporters that included a few questions. "The way the media treats Dion Phaneuf in this city is embarrassing. I think a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves. I'm embarrassed for them. I don't think anybody deserves to be treated like that.
"I think a lot of media here should be embarrassed with what they've said to him, just in general… I think you guys unfairly criticize Dion. He's our best defencemen and you guys act like he's not trying out there and this and that. It's embarrassing."
Phaneuf declined to comment after Kessel's scrum, which was heard by many Leafs teammates who were sitting nearby the in the dressing room.
This has been brewing for a while. As the Leafs have struggled this season – especially during their recent slide with only six wins in 32 games – the team's relationship with the media has become increasingly poor.
The players feel under attack and fewer have been willing to speak to reporters after practices and games. There have been more discussions between staff and the media over what's being reported and said.
The organization has also been denying some particularly critical shows access to players and staff.
Phaneuf and Kessel, the Leafs two highest paid players, have taken the brunt of criticism, which has all helped lead to this boiling point after the tense few days around the deadline.
"Get familiar with no comment," teammate Joffrey Lupul posted on Twitter later in the day.
Some of Kessel's comments even appeared to stray into criticism of management.
"Is it his fault we're losing? No," Kessel said of Phaneuf, one of his closest friends on the team. "Did he build this team? No. It's not Dion Phaneuf.
"He's owed some apologies by some people. It's disgusting the way people treat him.
"I'm just tired of it. I've finally had it. I think the city is a great hockey city and I love playing there but some of the things that happen and Dion getting abused like he does and the things that are said about him. I mean he's our best defenceman. He plays hard every game for us. I'm just tired of him taking it.
"I think he's fine. But I'm tired of it personally, that it continues to happen. Dion's a good player. He's a good guy. Everyone likes him here. The things that are said about him… I'm just tired of it."
Kessel at one point was asked directly if he wants out of Toronto, but he responded that he loves the city and signed an extension for eight years at the start of the season for a reason.
With the fourth worst record in the NHL, the Leafs are expected to continue a major teardown of the roster in the off-season, however, one that could easily involve shipping both Kessel and Phaneuf elsewhere for prospects or draft picks.
The Leafs were deep into talks on Monday to move Phaneuf but weren't able to get the return they had wanted, and those conversations were headline news during what was otherwise not a headline-filled day.
The deadline typically is a tough time for teams in the seller position with all the uncertainty over who's coming and going, but it's been especially so for the Leafs given the team's already fragile state after months of losing.
Kessel said that, in addition to the criticism of the captain, what bothered him was the insinuation from some that the team hadn't been trying during its recent tailspin.
"Winning cures everything, but right now we've struggled," Kessel said. "I think people think we're happy in here with that, but anyone in here wants to win more than anyone outside wants [us] to win. I'm just tired of people thinking we're not going out there to try because we are."