Ex-Leafs Coach Ron Wilson Critical of Phil Kessel
Phil Kessel loses cool, blasted by former coach Ron Wilson
In an interview with TSN Radio, former Leafs coach Ron Wilson pointed the finger for the team’s struggles not on fired bench boss Randy Carlyle but on players like Kessel.
“Some of the core players have failed under two or three coaches so it’s got to be the player’s fault,” said Wilson. “You’d have to surmise that some of them might be uncoachable.”
Wilson was especially critical of Kessel, who he said was difficult to coach.
“You can’t rely on Phil,” said Wilson. “Phil’s problem, and I think it’s pretty much how Phil’s been his whole career, is that he is two weeks on and two weeks off.”
Wilson also said Kessel’s lack of consistency leads the forward to become emotional, and makes it hard for a coach to help him focus.
“When he’s not playing well, he’s a hard guy to get on board and get on your side. It’s just the way it is,” said Wilson. “He comes and goes and he gets emotional. He lets that affect his game and his relationship with other players. That’s what you have to coach.”
