Many PTOs signed on Wednesday prompting move to get Phil Kessel signed!
Yes please!
On Wednesday, many players were given a shot at a contract when signed to a professional tryout agreement. It started off with veteran forward Max Pacioretty who joins the Toronto Maple Leafs on a PTO.
It was then announced that Kailer Yamamoto will heading to the NHL’s newest franchise, the Utah Hockey Club, as they have just signed him to a professional tryout.
Insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet also reported that Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will be going to Colorado on a PTO. He played two seasons with the Avalanche and could get another shot with the team.
As the PTO announcements came out, and insider Chris Johnston reminding teams and fans that there interest in James van Riemsdyk, the Spittin Chiclets Podcast took matters in their own hands to get clubs to sign another talented forward to a tryout in the Thrill, Phil Kessel.
Selected fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, Kessel has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and Golden Knights, recording 413 goals and 579 assists over 1,286 games. He was hoping to add more NHL games to his resume and possibly a fourth championship before he hangs up the skates, but did not play last season.
Everyone would love to see him back in the NHL, especially after he missed out on signing as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of this past trade deadline in March.
Kessel, who played in all 82 games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, put up 14 goals and 22 assists. He only played four games in the playoffs and the Knights went on to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He also owns the NHL’s iron man streak with 1,064 consecutive regular-season games played, but there is a possibility he might have played his last game in NHL…
Unless someone listens to the Spittin Chiclets and get Phil a PTO!