Phil Kessel has always been a dangerous offensive talent, scoring at least 20 goals in a season 12 times and with four teams. Kessel’s offensive skill set is elite, leaving the former University of Minnesota star within one goal of 400 for his career. The right wing has also been a solid postseason performer with two Stanley Cups to his name. Kessel led the team with 22 points in the first Cup run with Pittsburgh. The following season, the Penguins won again, and Kessel contributed 23 points. Phil Kessel is known for his goal scorer’s shot, but now the former fifth overall pick of the Boston Bruins in 2006 is more known for his durability.
Although Kessel has been an excellent player for 17 NHL seasons, one knock on the 5-foot-11 winger has been his conditioning. At times, the Madison, Wisconsin native has weighed as much as 230 pounds. Even teammates have poked fun at Kessel for not being in great shape and marveled at his ability to produce even at a heavier weight. However, Kessel’s up-and-down weight and spotty physical conditioning have not affected his ability to play night after night, making him as durable a player as the league has ever seen. On Tuesday night, Phill Kessel plays in his 990th consecutive game, breaking the record set by defenseman Keith Yandle.
Entering this season with the “Ironman” streak in sight, Kessel trimmed down and came to his new home, Vegas, in good shape with a desire to help a team looking to get back to a Stanley Cup Final. When the Golden Knights had to trade forward Max Pacioretty for salary cap reasons, Kessel knew he would be looked upon to carry some of the offensive load. Last season, Kessel scored a career-low eight goals in Arizona and needed to sign a one-year, $1.5 million prove-it deal with Vegas. When the Golden Knights signed the 35-year-old, the opportunity to be a part of history presented itself.
On Tuesday night in San Jose, Phil Kessel will be the National Hockey League’s “Ironman.” In 2009, when the streak began, Kessel would have been a very unlikely candidate to break any record involving endurance or durability. However, the veteran does not play a very physical game, as his 181 total hits in 1,212 career games will attest. Kessel even showed up to play sparingly in a game before leaving early for the birth of his child. At some point, the streak became a quest and a quest that Kessel conquered.
After this accomplishment, Phil Kessel will set his sights on two others. At first, he would love to help Vegas to its first Stanley Cup Championship. The other would be whether his resume will help him into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kessel is at 958 points with just two in seven games this season. At just 35, there is a chance for the right-shot winger to play at least a couple more seasons. If so, the new newly-crowned “Ironman” might just end up a Hall-of-Famer.
