The Phil Kessel you saw last season is likely going to be the Phil Kessel you see this season, like it or not.

And some will like it, some will not.

The Maple Leafs sniper said Thursday he hasn’t made any off-season training or equipment changes and has no plans to alter his off-ice persona either.

This is good news for the Leafs and their fans, who saw Kessel score 37 goals (fifth in the league) and add 43 assists to rank sixth in the NHL in scoring last season with 80 points.

But it’s not good news for the media, who are starved for more insight and comment from the team’s biggest star.

The notoriously aloof Kessel said he is not interested in opening up more to the media after games and practices, although he made improvement in that area toward the end of last season.

Privately, the Leafs have been trying to get Kessel to be more compliant and patient with the media, even when the questions are uncomfortable.

But the high-scoring forward has mostly remained evasive and reluctant to speak out on the team’s performance, preferring to leave the talking to players like Dion Phaneuf, James Reimer, Cody Franson, Nazem Kadri, David Clarkson and Joffrey Lupul.

Kessel clearly doesn’t want to be the public face for the Leafs.

Lupul remains the most authoritative and insightful quote on the Leafs and how they play. But the fans would like to hear more from Kessel, since he is the team’s top talent and highest-paid player after signing an eight-year, $64 million (U.S.) contract before last season.

On Thursday, Kessel looked quite comfortable in the spotlight when he appeared at a Dairy Queen outlet on Bremner Blvd. in support of Children’s Miracle Network in celebration of 30 years and $100 million raised in support of sick and injured children across North America.

Kessel was gracious but not overly revealing, but you couldn’t expect much on such a busy day. He stood behind the counter surrounded by people while the media got only a few minutes to get their best questions in.

Wearing a Blue Jays cap, his No. 81 Leafs jersey and a smile, Kessel joked around with staff, made his first-ever Blizzard (“I’ve eaten lots of them”) and signed autographs while Sick Kids ambassador Jake McKee, 8, looked on in awe.

“What’s up, guys?” Kessel said when the cameras started to roll.

In the short media scrum that followed, Kessel hinted he doesn’t like certain media questions and it’s why he is such a reluctant interview.

Asked if he will change, he shook his head no.

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“I’ll probably be the usual blend-in the-background type of guy . . . not much change,” Kessel said, chuckling.

Asked why he shuns the media spotlight, he hinted that certain questions have bothered him.

“Sometimes some of the questions that are asked are interesting ones,” he said, putting emphasis on the word “interesting,” which appeared to be code for stupid, insulting or ridiculous.

A public relations spokesperson then cut in and restricted the number of questions to come.

In a sea of change among the Leafs this season, Kessel plans to keep doing what he has been doing without any adjustments. He said he hasn’t varied anything in the off-season.

He spent his time off golfing, fishing in Florida and watching baseball, including the Blue Jays.

Kessel said he likes the changes the Leafs made this off-season and he’s had a chance to talk to team president Brendan Shanahan.

“I think he’s going to be great for this organization,” Kessel said.

Asked his thoughts about Kyle Dubas, an authority in analytics brought in from the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds as assistant general manager at age 28, Kessel said he had “no idea about any of that (analytics) stuff.”

“I’m just here to play the game,” Kessel said.

NOTES: Shanahan said Thursday he expects to reach a decision on another new assistant GM at some point next week. This summer, he fired assistant general managers Claude Loiselle and Dave Poulin and hired Dubas to serve under GM Dave Nonis. There are rumours Loiselle will take over Shanahan’s former job with the NHL head office as chief disciplinarian.

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