Still waiting on an NHL contract, Phil Kessel is going to keep busy by playing some cards.
On Thursday, Kessel announced on his personal Instagram account that he's joined World Poker Tour Global as a brand ambassador.
"Poker and hockey have always been a passion of mine," Kessel wrote. "I look forward to playing poker with everyone on @wptglobal and at WPT events."
Kessel, a three-time NHL All-Star, last played with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, scoring 14 goals and 36 points in 82 games. He would go on to win his third Stanley Cup with Vegas, although in a limited role where he had two assists in four playoff games.
His 992 career points (413 goals, 579 assists) in 1,286 games are 12th all-time among American players. He also holds the NHL record for the longest Ironman streak, having played 1,064 consecutive regular-season games.
The 36-year-old Kessel was not able to land a spot on an NHL roster for the 2023-24 season. He worked out and skated with the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate ahead of the NHL trade deadline, but ultimately did not get signed by the team.
In early September, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Kessel still wants to play in the NHL.
"He wants to play. He loves hockey and he wants to play," Friedman shared on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. "I don't know if this is going to happen, but it's very, very legitimate that he has put it out there that he wants to play."
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