Former NHL star Phil Kessel has joined the World Poker Tour, he announced Thursday on Instagram.
“Excited to join WPT GLOBAL! Power & hockey have always been a passion of mine,” Kissel said. “I look forward to play poker with everyone on @wptglobal and at WPT events. Good luck trying to stack me.”
An avid poker player, Kessel was known to frequent competitive games at casinos in cities where he played in the NHL.
Kessel played 17 seasons in the NHL, scoring 413 goals and 992 points and setting a record for most consecutive games played (1,064). The No. 5 in the 2006 NHL Draft, Kessel broke in with the Boston Bruins before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, with whom he scored at least 30 goals in four of six seasons.
The Maple Leafs traded Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins before the 2015-16 season, a move that sparked back-to-back Stanley Cup championship runs. As part of the “HBK Line” in his first season, Kessel had a breakout 2016 postseason; he scored 10 goals and 22 points to finish second in voting for the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoffs MVP.
Kessel played on a line with Evgeni Malkin for his final three seasons, and he again proved his worth on the Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup defense with eight goals and 23 points.
After four seasons in Pittsburgh, the Penguins traded Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes during the 2019 offseason.
He recorded his 12th season of at least 20 goals in his first season with the Coyotes.
Kessel last played in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights, with whom he won the Cup for a third time as a role player. He ranks 12th all-time in goals and points by an American-born player.
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(Photo: Stephen Brashear / Imagn Images)
