‘He Desires To Play’: Former Maple Leafs Star Phil Kessel Reportedly Calling NHL Groups Trying to Prolong NHL Profession

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September 15, 2024

Former Toronto Maple Leafs ahead and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Phil Kessel, shouldn’t be prepared to hold up his skates simply but. Kessel, who final performed for the Vegas Golden Knights within the 2022-23 season, is reportedly searching for alternatives to proceed his 17-year skilled profession.

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On Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman instructed co-host Kyle Bukauskas that the 36-year-old has actively been reaching out to NHL groups in hopes of securing a spot for the upcoming season.

“He desires to play,” Friedman confirmed. “Paul Bissonnette had a tweet this week about how come Phil Kessel can’t get a job. I used to be it, and since I had heard it and was going to test – Kessel was calling groups and actually needed to play.”

Bissonnette’s post on X read, “Phil Kessel can’t even get a PTO. I bought a f*****g PTO. You’re telling me half the groups couldn’t use a Phil Kessel at camp?”

The numbers again up Kessel’s sturdiness. In 2023, he set the report (which he at the moment holds) for most consecutive games played in NHL history, often known as the “Ironman streak,” with 1,064 video games – 75 greater than second place, Keith Yandle. This has additional cemented his repute as one of many extra sturdy gamers of his period.

Phil Kessel can’t even get a PTO. I bought a fucking PTO. You’re telling me half the groups couldn’t use Phil Kessel at camp.

— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) September 11, 2024

Friedman additionally revealed that Kessel had been in talks to probably take part within the 3-on-3 hockey league that was set to launch in 2024 however in the end by no means materialized.

“I heard from a few folks, he’s legit about it,” mentioned Friedman. “That 3-on-3 league that was supposed to start out up however didn’t, I heard Kessel was one of many guys they have been actually speaking about taking part in there. He desires to play, he loves hockey and he desires to play.”

“I don’t know if that is going to occur, nevertheless it’s very, very respectable that he has put it on the market that he desires to play.”

Throughout his six seasons with the Leafs (2009-2015), Kessel tallied 394 factors (181G, 213A) in 446 common season video games. In his lone playoff run with the Leafs, he scored six factors (4G, 2A) in seven video games, reaching the 30-goal mark 4 occasions in Toronto.

From a profession perspective, Kessel is simply eight factors shy of reaching 1,000 regular-season factors within the NHL. In 1,286 video games, he has gathered 413 objectives, 579 assists, and 992 factors. Within the Stanley Cup playoffs, he’s added 83 factors (34G, 49A) in 100 video games.

Whereas it’s unsure whether or not any crew will take an opportunity on the 36-year-old winger, Kessel’s need to play is clear. Whether or not it’s the NHL or an alternate route, Kessel is not able to name it quits.