Former Penguins Champion Looking for New Role in NHL

A former Stanley Cup Champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins is still on the hunt for a new team.

When Phil Kessel laced up the skates for four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he never missed a single game.

Even after departing from the Penguins organization, Kessel has yet to miss a single regular season contest, making him the NHL’s record breaking Ironman.

Ever since making his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009 at the age of 22, Kessel has appeared in 1,064 consecutive games.

Now a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Kessel is at a crossroads; he is a soon-to-be 36-year-old free agent who just wants to keep playing in the NHL.

Following winning the Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights, Kessel said he planned on continuing playing but wasn’t sure where it would be.

As the calendar turns to September, Kessel is yet to find a new home in the NHL but still has that hunger to play.

According to Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet, Kessel is willing to end his Ironman streak if it means he can play with an NHL team in 2023-24.

Kessel already has the all-time record for most consecutive games played, and surpassed 1,000 straight, so there isn't much left to go for.

During the Golden Knights Cup run, Kessel only played in four games, so teams are already not afraid to hand him healthy scratches.

Kessel wants to keep playing in the NHL and is open to whatever it takes; with 36 points during the 2022-23 season with Vegas, he can still cut it as a depth option.

He’s also eight points shy of 1,000 in his career and is deserving of that milestone to help cap off a Hall of Fame career.

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