The NHL's Ironman hasn't appeared in a game since April 24 in the playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights.
The NHL's Ironman hasn't appeared in a game since April 24 in the playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Phil Kessel reportedly remains adamant that he can still play in the NHL.
During TSN's Tuesday edition of Insider Trading, insider Pierre LeBrun offered an update on the 36-year-old forward and what the future might hold for him after not being under contract with an NHL club this season.
"I checked in on that here over the last day, and the answer is that he still absolutely hopes to catch on with an NHL team. He has not given up hope," LeBrun reported.
"His camp is still in contact with a couple of teams. One of the things that is in consideration here is that because he hasn't played since last year, that it might be a team or two that says, 'Hey, come and skate with us for a bit so we can take a look at ya and see where things are.'
"He has been skating and trying to stay ready. But the answer is, after Zach Parise and Corey Perry found homes, could it be a hat-trick with Phil Kessel finally finding a home before March 8th, we'll see."
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Kessel last played an NHL game on April 24 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He played all 82 games with the club last season, putting up 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in that span.
Vegas used the NHL's Ironman for four games in their Stanley Cup-winning playoffs last spring, and he tallied two assists. Kessel has played 1,064 consecutive regular season games, the record for most games dressed in a row.
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, Kessel has informed teams that he's okay with breaking his Ironman streak to help the team that he's on win games. LeBrun also reported on Dec. 16 that the veteran was "looking" into playing in Switzerland while waiting for an NHL deal.
Kessel has won three Stanley Cups in his career. He won one with Vegas in 2023 and two with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
The veteran forward spent six years in the Maple Leafs organization, suiting up for 446 regular season games and scoring 181 goals and 213 assists for 394 points. He appeared in seven playoff games for Toronto, tallying four goals and two assists in that span.
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