Phil Kessel Takes a Dig at Maple Leafs After Winning Another Stanley Cup
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Following his victory in the Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Phil Kessel didn’t miss the chance to take a swipe at his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kessel, now 35 years old, had previously played for the Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2015, and his time with the team was marked by mixed opinions.
After being traded to Toronto in a highly anticipated deal with the Boston Bruins, Kessel’s presence didn’t bring much success to the Maple Leafs. During his six seasons with the team, they only made the playoffs once, and Kessel himself faced criticism for both his lack of winning and perceived indifference towards physical fitness.
During a conversation with reporters in Toronto on Tuesday night, Kessel made it clear that he hadn’t forgotten the criticisms directed at him during his tenure with the Maple Leafs.
“This takes me back to my Toronto days. You guys claimed I couldn’t win, and now I’m a three-time champion,” Kessel expressed, as quoted by Mike Stephens of The Hockey News. “Remember that.”
In 2015, Kessel was traded from the Maple Leafs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played a crucial role in their back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017.
This time around, Kessel’s contributions to the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup triumph were more subdued due to his advancing age. He tallied only 14 goals in 82 games this season and appeared in just four playoff games, often being left out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Stanley Cup Final
Q: How many Stanley Cups has Phil Kessel won?
A: Phil Kessel has won three Stanley Cups throughout his career.
Q: Which teams did Phil Kessel play for in the NHL?
A: Phil Kessel has played for multiple teams in the NHL, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Q: How successful were the Toronto Maple Leafs during Phil Kessel’s time with the team?
A: The Toronto Maple Leafs had limited success during Phil Kessel’s tenure. They made the playoffs only once in his six seasons with the team.
Q: What criticisms did Phil Kessel face during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
A: Phil Kessel faced criticism for both his lack of winning and perceived lack of commitment to physical fitness while playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Q: How did Phil Kessel respond to the criticisms directed at him during his time with the Maple Leafs?
A: After winning his third Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights, Phil Kessel took the opportunity to remind the city of Toronto that he had proven his ability to win despite the doubts expressed about him.
Q: How did Phil Kessel perform during the most recent Stanley Cup win with the Vegas Golden Knights?
A: In the most recent Stanley Cup victory, Phil Kessel’s contributions were relatively muted. He scored 14 goals in 82 games during the season and played only four games in the playoffs, often being left out as a healthy scratch.
More about Stanley Cup Final
- Stanley Cup
- Phil Kessel – NHL Player Profile
- Toronto Maple Leafs Official Website
- Vegas Golden Knights Official Website
- NHL Official Website
