Phil Kessel

John Scott tells the ridiculous, full story behind his fight with Phil Kessel

John Scott will be remembered forever by NHL fans for two big moments. In 2017, Scott was named All-Star MVP after a fan campaign voted the behemoth enforcer into the midseason event despite the NHL’s objections. The second was Scott’s preseason fight with Phil Kessel in 2013, which saw the overmatched Leafs star wield his hockey stick like a sword to try and elude Scott’s bear-like paws.

Scott, now retired after 10 professional seasons, has a podcast and gave the full story behind the Kessel fight last week.

According to Scott, the fight was the result of a game of chicken between him and then-Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. After the Leafs’ Jamie Devane “beat the doors off” the Sabres’ Corey Tropp and breaking his jaw, an enraged Scott told Carlyle he would fight whichever player lined up across from him during the next faceoff.

“Carlyle gives me this little grin and then he sends out the first line,” Scott said. “I can’t imagine what’s going through their head as they go on the ice because I’m like Red Ross. I’m just like ‘Oh my gosh.’ He sends out Kessel and a bunch of skill guys. And I’m just like, ‘What do I do? What do I do?’

Scott went forward with his promise and the rest is history.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Penguins trade Phil Kessel to Coyotes for Alex Galchenyuk and prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Phil Kessel has been dealt after all.

After a reported deal to Minnesota for Jason Zucker fell through, the Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Kessel, minor league defenseman Dane Birks, and a fourth-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for Alex Galchenyuk and 19-year-old defense prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

News of a broader Kessel deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report the full trade.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Fan tears up after getting signed stick from Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel gave one fan the thrill of a lifetime Monday night in Colorado.

During warmups, the Penguins forward autographed his stick and had one of the team’s equipment managers give it to a young fan standing by the team’s bench.

The fan teared up. And now I’m feeling feels.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Watching hockey players get scared on Halloween will give you life

It’s Halloween and I, just like you, will be answering the door and giving all the neighborhood children candy tonight. They will scream TRICK OR TWEEEEEEET and it’ll be adorable.

But I need to be honest for a moment. I am all for the treats of Halloween, but not the actual tricks. I hate scary costumes and being spooked. It gives me great anxiety.

However, watching other people get scared, especially if those other people are tough hockey players… well, that is my aesthetic. Over the last few years, several NHL teams have released Halloween videos that I still can’t get enough of – even now.

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By Cara Bahniuk 2 years ago

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Phil Kessel is eating hot dogs out of the Stanley Cup

Phil Kessel got run out of town in Toronto. Now after winning two-straight Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh, he’s having the last laugh.

Monday afternoon, Kessel, while playing a round of golf, took to his Instagram account to post two photos of himself eating hot dogs out of the Stanley Cup.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Phil Kessel’s sass meter apparently goes to 11

Off the ice, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel is a quiet guy. When you interview him, he often speaks in an introverted whisper that is barely audible in the locker room.

On the ice, he’s like a five-person panel on CNN. The American born hockey player is often exasperated for no apparent reason, barking on the bench. During Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final Monday, Phil went to another level, stomping his feet and screaming at no one in particular.
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By Chris Gordon 2 years ago

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Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan reunites HBK line ahead of Game Six

Late last week, Barry Trotz retooled his lines, promoting Andre Burakovsky and dropping Alex Ovechkin to the third line. Trotz wanted to spread his offense around more and create difficult match-ups for the Penguins during Game Five. It worked, as all three of the Caps scoring lines recorded goals on Saturday.

On Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan countered. During the Penguins’ morning skate, the coach reunited Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel, the fabled HBK line, who enjoyed great success last season.

During his meeting with the press, Sullivan was coy if the line would play together during the game, saying only “there’s a possibility” it’d happen.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Idiotgate: Phil Kessel and Jay Beagle are beefing and the only way to solve it is Mario Kart

The Capitals and Penguins rivalry is heating up. Kinda. Sorta. Not really.

Wednesday, two days after the Penguins lost Sidney Crosby to a concussion, Penguins forward Phil Kessel called Jay Beagle an “idiot” for comments he didn’t actually make about the Matt Niskanen hit.

This is very confusing. I will explain.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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No, Pierre McGuire, Phil Kessel does not want to talk to you

In nobody-likes-Pierre McGuire-news, Pierre McGuire received the cold shoulder from Phil Kessel Wednesday night while the NBCSN reporter tried to ask a question DURING THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTUAL HOCKEY GAME.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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How Phil Kessel’s tweet illustrates why he was left off the Team USA roster

Phil Kessel is in the news. Not because he’s playing in the World Cup of Hockey, but because he was left out. His tweet on Tuesday following Team USA’s 4-2 loss to Canada and subsequent elimination put a spotlight on the fact that he was left off the USA roster.

I, like most American fans, loved the tweet. I said, “You know what Phil. You’re right. You should have been there.” But the tweet itself is also further evidence why Team USA coach John Tortorella and team management decided to leave Kessel off the roster.

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By Spenser Smallwood 3 years ago

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