Auston Matthews won his first Hart Trophy for NHL MVP in 2021-22 after becoming the first player in 10 years to score 60 goals. He's on pace for over 70 this season? Is he a shoe-in if he hits 70? Phil Kessel reportedly remains adamant that he can still play in the NHL. During TSN's Tuesday edition of Insider Trading [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/%7e2857177], 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." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS0Bozhl2l8[/embed] 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 [https://theathletic.com/4978680/2023/10/19/nhl-free-agents-kessel-kane-parise/], 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. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Maple Leafs' Defenseman John Klingberg on the Long Road to Recovery From Bilateral Hip Surgery [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-defenseman-john-klingberg-on-the-long-road-to-recovery-from-bilateral-hip-surgery] Calling Toronto Home and Having a Dream: What It's Like to Play in the Maple Leafs Organization [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/calling-toronto-home-and-having-a-dream-what-its-like-to-play-in-the-maple-leafs-organization] Report: Maple Leafs 'Could Be' Changing Up Green St. Pats Jerseys Ahead of St. Patrick's Day in March [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-could-be-changing-up-green-st-pats-jerseys-ahead-of-st-patricks-day-in-march] News from THN.com THN Archive: New Avs Winger Parise Had Best Season with the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/news/thn-archive-new-avs-winger-parise-had-best-season-as-a-new-jersey-devil] Screen Shots: Blues' New Identity, Devils' Coaching and NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program [https://thehockeynews.com/news/screen-shots-blues-new-identity-devils-coaching-and-nhl-nhlpa-assistance-program] NHL Sour Rankings: Bottom Five Teams Establish Themselves in the Race for Celebrini [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-sour-rankings-bottom-five-teams-establish-themselves-in-the-race-for-celebrini]
