Photo credit: Jerome Miron – USA Today Sports

Iron man and former Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel has found it hard to find a new gig in the NHL, which has led to a substantial and unexpected career change.

Kessel enjoyed an illustrious career that spanned 17 seasons with 5 different clubs, 3 Stanley Cups, almost 1,300 games played, 8 points shy of 1,000, and earned himself the NHL’s all-time iron-man streak after playing the most consecutive games in league history at 1,064. However, he’s found it increasingly hard to traverse the modern game and he hasn’t stepped on the ice since the 2022-23 season.

While it wasn’t for a lack of trying, Kessel made it abundantly clear to the rest of the league last year that he wanted to return and had even received some interest from the Vancouver Canucks, but it would have most likely led to a stint with their AHL club in Abbotsford. So, with the phone not ringing and Father Time creeping up on him, the former Leafs sharpshooter has turned to a new career.

Based on an earlier tweet from David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Kessel has entered the professional field of poker playing and has joined the WPT Global. Kessel had this to say about the move:
“Poker & hockey have always been a passion of mine. I look forward to playing poker with everyone on wpt global and at WPT events.”
 

The 37-year-old veteran, who was drafted 5th overall by the Boston Bruins all the way back in 2006, has more than likely played his last game in the NHL, but finishes off with 413 goals and 992 points 1,286 games.

In 6 years with the Maple Leafs, he tallied 181 goals and 394 points in 446 games, but the highlight of his career will assuredly be his 2 post-season runs with the Pittsburgh Penguins after scoring 45 points in 49 games en route to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.