Say cheese, Phil.

When Phil Kessel was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Toronto Maple Leafs the move appeared to be a perfect fit, giving Kessel the opportunity to finally step out from under the microscope that is the Toronto media.

He has done just that and is now being rewarded for it.

"He doesn't necessarily want to be in front of the camera or really need that," Sidney Crosby told NHLcom's Dan Rosen.

Kessel has been occupying the team's third line and has thrived, leading the team in scoring with 16 points, while sitting just three points back of the league lead.

Former Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle mentored Kessel during his tenure in Toronto and insists the Penguins sniper prefers to do things his own way.

"The one thing that he doesn't want is he doesn't want management or coaches or the media to see the real Phil," Carlyle said. "He's very guarded in that respect. He wants to hang with his teammates. He's always in the middle of that. He just wants to be a teammate and to let other people decide who the guy is, and that's why he's very comfortable in the role he's cast in now."

And as far as Kessel's teammates in Pittsbugh are concerned, he is nothing less than a player chock-full of talent.

"But you get in a race with him and you're going to get beat," said Kris Letang.

"He shoots the puck so effortless," goaltender Jeff Zatkoff said. "Everyone knows he has a hard shot, but he's coming down the wing and it looks like he's just flinging it on the net, but it just comes so heavy and so quick. If he hits a spot, it's tough to save. You don't have time to readjust."

Jim Rutherford - who was named a finalist for General Manager of the Year on Wednesday - feels there is an unwarranted hate-on for Kessel.

"Lots of people don't like Phil Kessel for some reason," Rutherford said. "He was only the best player Toronto had for (six) years, year in and year out, and he got the blame for everything, which was very unfair."

Love him or hate him, Kessel has been a dominate force for the Penguins during the postseason, having been held off the score sheet in just three of the team's 14 playoff games.

The only problem now being that his furious play is bound to attract attention and cameras alike.

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