Phil Kessel reportedly signs new contract outside of the NHL
Former NHL forward and ironman streak leader Phil Kessel has signed a new contract, but it's not with an NHL team.
Kessel, 37, sat out the entire 2023-24 season after failing to receive a serious contract offer from any NHL club, even though he was eager to continue playing. He even said he'd be willing to give up his ironman streak to get back into the league, but no teams showed much interest. The Vancouver Canucks did invite him to join on a professional tryout (PTO), but after a few practices, they released him. That was the last time any NHL team showed public interest in him.
Unfortunately, at 37 years old and having not played in over a year, Kessel seems to have aged out of the NHL. While he could still contribute offensively, the rest of his game wasn't up to NHL standards anymore.
Despite still hoping for a return to the NHL Kessel has now signed a deal with the World Poker Tour as a brand ambassador. A longtime poker fan this new role aligns well with his personal interests.
Although Kessel remains a free agent NHL teams are more focused on younger talent. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs recently signed Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz after both players attended training camp on PTOs.
Still, fans would love to see Kessel get one last shot in the NHL, especially since he's only eight points away from reaching 1,000 career points-a milestone many would love to see him hit.
