Phil Kessel and John Tavares on either side of a contentious debate

The question arose on Twitter on Friday: who is the more under-appreciated star between Kessel and Tavares?

Phil Kessel joined the Leafs in the fall of 2009, arriving from the Boston Bruins with high hopes pinned on his shoulders by then general manager Brian Burke. Over his six seasons in Toronto, from 2009-10 to 2014-15, Kessel amassed 181 goals and 394 points across 440 games. Despite leading the team in scoring multiple seasons, his support cast often lacked another high-caliber star, placing immense pressure on him to perform.

In Kessel's inaugural season, he topped the charts with 30 goals and 55 points, outpacing teammates like Tomas Kaberle and Matt Stajan. His peak came in the 2011-12 season with 37 goals and 82 points, yet his efforts seldom translated into team success, culminating in only one playoff appearance where he contributed 4 goals and 6 points in 7 games.

Conversely, John Tavares, who joined the Leafs a decade later, inherited a squad featuring Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander—some of the best talents in modern franchise history. Tavares' tenure has been statistically impressive; he's racked up 184 goals and 419 points in the same number of games as Kessel. His best season was his first, scoring 47 goals and totaling 88 points. Despite such figures and better team performances, Tavares, much like Kessel, has faced his share of postseason woes, with multiple first-round exits.

The narrative diverges further when comparing their playoff performances. Tavares has accrued 12 goals and 24 points in 38 playoff games over six years, reflecting a pattern of underachievement when it matters most. On the flip side, Kessel's brief postseason stint with the Leafs may reflect more on the team's struggles than his individual shortcomings.

As Tavares approaches the final year of his seven-year contract, the 2024-25 season looms as a critical juncture. Despite a drop in his usual scoring pace in the latest season—29 goals and 65 points—expectations remain high. His reduced average time on ice suggests a potential shift in his role, yet his scoring touch remains evident.

In the final analysis, while both players have their advocates and critics, Kessel's situation arguably positions him as the more under-appreciated of the two. Leading a team with lesser stars and still producing commendable stats, Kessel's contributions during a notably tumultuous period in Leafs history perhaps went more unnoticed than those of Tavares, who played alongside a more talented roster.

Source for Phil Kessel statistics: Hockey-Reference
Phil Kessel

Source for John Tavares statistics: Hockey-Reference
John Tavares