Phil Kessel, the NHL iron man and former Toronto Maple Leafs winger, has embarked on a surprising new career path in professional poker after finding it difficult to secure a spot in the league. Kessel’s remarkable hockey career spanned 17 seasons, during which he played nearly 1,300 games across five teams, won three Stanley Cups, and set the NHL’s all-time iron-man streak with 1,064 consecutive games played. Despite his desire to continue playing, interest from teams such as the Vancouver Canucks led only to the possibility of playing in the AHL, which wasn’t enough to keep him on the ice.
At 37 years old, Kessel has now transitioned to professional poker, joining WPT Global. In a statement about his career change, Kessel expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Poker & hockey have always been a passion of mine. I look forward to playing poker with everyone on WPT Global and at WPT events.”
Although he may have played his final NHL game, Kessel leaves behind an impressive legacy, having accumulated 413 goals and 992 points in 1,286 games. His six-year stint with the Maple Leafs saw him score 181 goals and 394 points in 446 games, but his greatest achievements came during his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played a pivotal role in their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017, recording 45 points in 49 playoff games.
As Kessel dives into the world of professional poker, his competitive spirit and strategic thinking—qualities honed on the ice—are sure to serve him well in his new endeavor.
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