Report: Phil Kessel was almost traded to one of the biggest party cities in the NHL

The NHL trade deadline came and went 10 days ago with Arizona Coyotes forward Phil Kessel remaining in the Arizona desert, despite multiple reports that he was available via trade.

Kessel is a pending free agent and is certainly not the player he once was in his prime, but he's still a speedster with the ability to pop in goals on the rush and on the PP. Still, Kessel didn't generate enough interest to consummate a trade, despite an inquiry from the Nashville Predators, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

From Friedman's most recent 32 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

18. Nashville was one of the teams interested in Phil Kessel.

- Elliotte Friedman

Man... what could have been. Imagine a guy like Phil the Thrill in a city like Nashville. I'd have watched an 8 part behind the scenes documentary series just on Phil's time with the Preds.

In any case, word is that a reason Kessel wasn't moved was due to his ironman streak. Kessel has played 967 games and counting and reportedly holds that record near to his heart. Because no team could guarantee him a full-time spot on their roster, he wasn't comfortable consenting to a trade and the Coyotes weren't comfortable hanging him out to dry like that. Classy move, honestly.