Phil Kessel on Randy Carlyle's firing: "You blaming me?"

Phil Kessel, the Maple Leafs’ media-averse winger, has played in the center of the hockey universe long enough to have mastered the silliness of a Toronto press scrum, but in the wake of the firing of head coach Randy Carlyle on Tuesday morning he allowed himself to get tripped up. And the result is video gold.

You'd think Phil Kessel would be used to it by now. The media-averse winger has played in the center of the hockey universe long enough to master the silliness of a Toronto press scrum, but in the wake of the firing of Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle on Tuesday morning, Kessel allowed himself to get tripped up. And the result is video gold.

Kessel was asked by Toronto Star reporter Dave Feschuk if there was anything to the suggestions from within the organization that he’s difficult to coach.

“I don’t think so,” Kessel responded. “That’s a weird question for you to ask though.”

Randy Carlyle had to go, but pressure is now on Maple Leafs players

“Why's that?” Feshchuk asked. “You’re the best player on the team and if the coach just got fired ... ”

And with that, it was on.

“You think it’s my fault?” Kessel responded, launching a thousand memes. “Is that what you’re saying? Is that what you’re saying? Is that what you’re saying? OK.”

“Are you difficult to coach?” Feschuk asked again.

NHL Power Rankings: Canadiens surge past Blackhawks into top spot

“I don't think so. I play,” Kesel replied.

At that point a team rep intervened, but not before Kessel got in a parting shot.

“This guy’s such an idiot,” he said. “He’s always been like this here.”

Good times.

As TSN’s Mike Hogan noted on Twitter, “Kessel’s response to Feschuk is the only time he’s been active defensively all season.”