While he still remains unsigned through the first half of this season, Phil Kessel is still searching for another opportunity in the NHL at 36-years-old.
Former Arizona Coyotes forward Phil Kessel is still looking to play in the NHL despite remaining unsigned.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Kessel’s camp is in contact with a couple of teams around the league.
“I’ve checked in on that over the last day and the answer is that he still absolutely hopes to catch on with an NHL team,” LeBrun said. “He has not given up hope. His camp is still in contact with a couple of teams. One of the things in consideration here is that, because he hasn’t played since last year, is that there might be a team or two that says “Hey come and skate with us for a bit so we can take a look at you and see where things are.”
Kessel played with the Coyotes from 2019-2022 where he had 42 goals, 91 assists and 133 points in 208 games.
The 36-year-old has played for a multitude of teams through his 17-year NHL career including the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and most recently the Vegas Golden Knights where he won a Stanley Cup this past season.
Over 1286 games, Kessel has 413 goals, 579 assists and 992 points.
The NHL Trade Deadline is set for March 8 and with a flurry of roster moves being made then, it’s increasingly more likely that Kessel could sign with a team.
As teams gear up for the playoffs, general managers may look to a player like Kessel due to his veteran presence that he provides and fantastic track record.