The three-time Stanley Cup winner has taken to skating with the Abbotsford Canucks ahead of a rumoured contract with Vancouver.
Could Phil the Thrill be heading to a legitimate Stanley Cup Contender once more?
Phil Kessel has yet to ink an NHL contract coming off a Stanley Cup-winning run with the Vegas Golden Knights, but that could all change as the season creeps closer to the March 8th trade deadline.
The Vancouver Canucks announced that Kessel would skate with their American League affiliate in Abbotsford this week, with the consensus expectation that the well-seasoned and successful winger would be inked to a deal if the fit made sense. Though a lengthy layoff may delay any formal announcement bringing the noted scorer to Vancouver permanently.
THN's Max Miller reported that several Vancouver-based media noted that Kessel appeared gassed during his debut practice in Abbotsford yesterday and that a conditioning stint would likely be warranted before any pen is put to paper for a contract.
The 36-year-old has not played in a professional game since April 24th when his then-Vegas Golden Knights squared off with the Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs. Kessel will likely need to shake off any rust and hone in on his conditioning, perhaps by way of a PTO with Vancouver's AHL affiliate, before he inks an NHL contract with the surging head of the Pacific.
If Kessel can regain his form he could be a sought-after addition to a club fixing to go all-in on a Cup bid, and one also lacking depth in wing.
The fifth-round draft selection of the Boston Bruins in 2006 is a surefire Hall of Famer in the minds of many, banking 413 goals and 992 points in 1286 games with the Bruins, Maple Leafs, Penguins, Coyotes and Golden Knights. He has won the Stanley Cup three times (twice with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, as well as in 2023 with Vegas), banking the Bill Masterson Trophy in 2007.
While his production has slowed somewhat in recent years, he is one of the NHL's true ironmen, who can provide a solid source of secondary scoring, while acting as a veteran presence in a young locker room.
If his conditioning can be controlled, Phil Kessel could be a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for the Canucks as they begin their climb to playoff success this April.