VEGAS (August 24, 2022) – Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced today, August 24, that the team has signed forward Phil Kessel to a one-year contract worth an average annual value of $1,500,000.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion (2015-16, 2016-17), Kessel has 956 points (399 G, 557 A) in 1,204 career NHL games. He ranks eighth among all players who appeared in 2021-22 in career games played and 10th in career points. He is one goal shy of becoming the 13th American-born player to score 400 NHL goals.
Kessel has appeared in 982 consecutive NHL contests, the longest active streak and seven games away from tying Keith Yandle’s all-time record of 989. The 34-year-old has spent 16 seasons in the League with the Boston Bruins (2006-09), Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-15), Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-19), and Arizona Coyotes (2019-22). During the 2021-22 campaign in Arizona, Kessel led the Coyotes with 44 assists, his highest total since the 2018-19 season in Pittsburgh.
In the postseason, Kessel has skated in a total of 96 games. The forward led the Penguins in scoring during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 22 points (10 G, 12 A). Internationally, the native of Madison, Wisconsin, represented the United States three times at the IIHF World Championships (2006, 2007, 2008) and twice at the Winter Olympics (2010, 2014). Kessel was drafted by Boston in the first round (5th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft after one year playing NCAA hockey at the University of Minnesota.
Phil Kessel, Forward
Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin
Height: 6-0
Weight: 223 lbs.
Age: 34
Shoots: Right
Notes:
-1,204 games played during the regular season ranks eighth among all players who appeared in the NHL in 2021-22
-Posted 956 points (399 G, 557 A) over 16 seasons spent with the Boston Bruins (2006-09), Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-15), Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-19), and Arizona Coyotes (2019-22)
-Won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins (2015-16, 2016-17), and led the team in scoring during the 2016 postseason with 22 points (10 G, 12 A) through each of the team’s 24 games
-Has appeared in 982 consecutive NHL games, the longest active streak and seven away from tying Keith Yandle’s all-time record (989)
-Represented the United States three times at the IIHF World Championships (2006, 2007, 2008) and twice at the Winter Olympics (2010, 2014)
-Selected by the Bruins in the first round (5th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
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