Vancouver Canucks GM Officially Reveals Why He Didn't Sign Phil Kessel

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Hunter Bowman
March 27, 2024 (2:11 PM)

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During the Trade Deadline, fans were abuzz not just about potential trades but also about reports suggesting that veteran forward Phil Kessel was close to joining the Vancouver Canucks.

Fans eagerly awaited news of Kessel's signing, hoping he would get a chance to hit the ice in the 2023-24 season and playoffs.

However, to the disappointment of many, nothing came to fruition. Despite practicing with the Canucks AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, Kessel remained unsigned by the deadline. When asked about the situation, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin offered some insight.

«I think Phil is a great person and a well-respected player,» Allvin said later on deadline day. «What he has done in the league, a three-time Cup winner, he wanted to come back to play.»

«With being in LTIR and roster complications and how we want to play, unfortunately, at this point it wasn't a fit for us,» he then added

There was hope that Allvin could find a solution, considering his track record of engineering six trades in the first five months of the regular season.

While Kessel could still be picked up by an NHL team, he wouldn't be eligible to play in the postseason. Many fans are crossing their fingers for him to get a tryout in September and secure a spot on a roster to continue his NHL journey.

Originally drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, Kessel has suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights, tallying 413 goals and 579 assists over 1,286 games. He aimed to notch more NHL games under his belt and possibly clinch a fourth championship before hanging up his skates.

Kessel completed all 82 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, contributing 14 goals and 22 assists. Although his playoff run was brief with just four games played, the Knights clinched their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Kessel also holds the NHL's iron man streak with 1,064 consecutive regular-season games played, but there's uncertainty surrounding whether he's played his last NHL game.

Source: The truth behind the Phil Kessel dismissal has been revealed