While there has been no official reason given, former first rounder Phil Kessel has been benched for the Bruins over the last two playoff games after starting in Game 1. I don't know if it's because of his lack of physical play, inconsistent offense, weak back-checking or off-ice behavior, but I only have one question: Why, Claude? Kessel is a playmaker and one of only three Bruins players to play in all 82 games this season, along with Mark Stuart and Glen Metropolit. I understand teaching a kid a lesson about giving max effort, but wouldn't a regular season benching have been more appropriate? Also, his speed should be a good thing against a fast Montreal team; combine that with his 37 points (fifth on the team) and I am thoroughly confused, as are most of you other Bruins fans out there, I'm sure. So, we can simply accept the reason Claude Julien gave us and move on... or we can make some discussion out of this.

For the Bruins to turn into a legitimate playoff contender (and by contender I mean Stanley Cup contender, I do not want to settle for just making the playoffs) for next season, we need 3 things to happen:

1. Sign a goal scoring winger.
2. Get one more real solid defenseman to replace one of our current not-so-solid defenseman.
3. This is where Kessel comes in... he needs to make the fabled "leap."

Let's take a look at some stats:
Player A had 7 points in his first season and 41 in his second for a total of 48 in his first 2 NHL seasons.
Player B had 29 points in his first season and 37 in his second for a total of 66 in his first 2 NHL seasons.

I bet you wouldn't guess that player A has an MVP trophy to his name and is one of the most dominant players in the world. I also bet that unless you are a die hard Bruins fan you would not know that player A is Joe Thornton and player B is Phil Kessel. I know they are two very different players, but my main point here is that after his second season, Joe Thornton has never had a season of less than 60 points in the NHL. Kessel needs to make that leap and by having him sit on the bench throughout the playoffs, his development will be stunted and his confidence will be shaken, to say the very least. Kessel was reportedly a character concern when he was drafted, but by all accounts he has been on good behavior since joining the Bruins. So really, the only thing that I understand from this point of view is that Kessel's effort, defense and willingness to go into the corners just is not where it needs to be. Well, even if all that is true, I have a message for you: Kessel's not going to develop sitting on the bench, so let the kid play and maybe he will finally take that fabled "leap" right before our eyes in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

You A Bad Mang is a senior writer for Boston Sports Buzz.