When Phil Kessel won his first and second Stanley Cup titles, he was a key figure of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored goals, recorded assists, and was an overall important player to the team.
Now, Kessel has gotten older, and during most of this playoff run with the Vegas Golden Knights, he’s been a healthy scratch.
But he’s still brought joy to Vegas’ Stanley Cup run, and he’s been praised by his teammates for what he brings to the team, in the locker room, between the games, and everything in between.
Kessel is just a great person, and that’s what made him one of the most popular figures in all of hockey. Kessel is a winner, he’s a hilarious character, and he’s so deserving of all the success he had over the years.
But it wasn’t obvious to everyone. When Kessel was in Toronto, he was often slammed by the harsh media. Since leaving the Leafs, Kessel has become a winner, and he sure hasn’t forgotten how Toronto media treated him.
The Golden Knights won Game 5 with 9-3, and Phil Kessel got to lift the Stanley Cup for the third time in his career.
And in his first interview after the game, which Kessel saw from the stands, he decided to absolutely rip Toronto media apart.
”Takes me back to my Toronto days,” Kessel said. ”You guys said I couldn’t win, and now I’m a three-time champ. Remember that.”
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