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Kessel: I've Done It Before Without Savard
 Posted
11/2/2009 1:44:00 PM
Phil Kessel is almost there.
The 22-year-old winger requires just one more test on his previously injured left shoulder before he's cleared to play Tuesday versus the Lightning.
The test will take place on Monday afternoon and will determine the strength and agility of his shoulder. If all signs are good, he'll be in the lineup the next day.
Matt Stajan has been given the initial assignment of playing with Kessel, and while Stajan is a strong playmaker, he doesn't possess the almost unmatched playmaking ability of Kessel's running mate last year, perennial 60-assist man, Marc Savard.
“Obviously [Savard’s] a good player,” Kessel said. “He passed me the puck a lot [but] I’m not too worried. I’ve done it before without him in other places.”
“I really enjoyed playing with him, but I think playing with Stajan and Blake, it won’t make that much of a difference to tell you the truth.”
Initial prognostications pegged a Kessel return for mid-November or just under six months after his surgery, but Wilson claimed all along that the date was Tuesday.
“I was told two months ago November 3rd and I’m the head coach,” Wilson said. “You might’ve been told something different, but I’m the head coach so I think the date they gave me November 3rd, is the one that I’ve been going off of for two months.”
In recent weeks, we’ve seen both sides to the difficult return from shoulder surgery, both coincidentally in Vancouver.
Mathieu Schneider returned this past week carefree from his surgery, while Pavol Demitra suffered a setback, required a second surgery and is likely done for the year.
Wilson though says it the transition from Boston that will require the most adjustment.
“Remember he’s playing on a new team with completely different teammates, a different style of play probably than he was used to with the Bruins,” he said. “I think I’m more concerned about that than his overcoming an injury. If he was to step on the ice in Boston and play with guys he’s familiar with, it’s a little easier than what he’s been doing here.”
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Tomas Kaberle was named the NHL’s first star of the week after he registered 12 points in four road games.
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With Kessel back, the Leafs assigned Jiri Tlusty to the Marlies.
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Before the season began, Wilson handed the alternate letters to Mike Komisarek, Tomas Kaberle, and Francois Beauchemin with the intention of possibly naming a captain in and around November 1st. On Monday, he said that no decision had been reached on the matter.
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Forwards
Blake Stajan Kessel
Ponikarovsky Grabovski Kulemin
Hagman Mitchell Stempniak
Primeau Wallin Orr
Extras: Mayers, Rosehill
Defense
Kaberle Komisarek
Beauchemin White
Exelby Schenn
Finger
Goalies
Gustavsson
Toskala
-J.Siegel
Follow me on Twitter: jonas640
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