Phil Kessel is staying in the desert but joining a new team, signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal to play for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Phil Kessel’s ironman streak is no longer in jeopardy.
The Vegas Golden Knights announced late Wednesday that they signed the veteran forward to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
The 34-year-old Kessel has appeared in 982 consecutive NHL regular season games, the longest active streak and is seven games away from tying Keith Yandle's all-time record of 989.
He is set to tie the record on Oct. 24 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he spent six of his 16 seasons in the NHL. Kessel was the leading point-getter in each of those seasons with Toronto. He had 181 goals and 394 points in 446 games with the Leafs.
Kessel would be set to break Yandle's record against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 25.
Following his tenure with Toronto, Kessel was a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. He has 399 goals and 956 points in 1204 NHL games.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2006 NHL Draft, Kessel’s salary comes in way less than the $8 million average annual value of his previous contract. He had eight goals and in 52 points last season with the Arizona Coyotes.
If Kessel makes it to 1000 games, the milestone would take place on Nov. 17 against the Coyotes.
The Madison, Wisconsin native joins a Golden Knights squad looking to rebound after missing the postseason for the first time in franchise history. In Kessel, Vegas gets a player who still has a scoring touch and should help their forward depth a very cap-friendly number.
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