Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel is doing pretty good since the start of the season. The 30-year old American has scored 11 goals and added 21 assists for 32 total points in 26 games played. If he continues at this pace, he would finish the season with 100 points, which would be the best season of his career!
Kessel, drafted 5th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006, played 858 games in the NHL so far with the Bruins, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins, scoring 307 goals and adding 374 assists for 681 total points. He added 66 points in 71 playoff games.
The Penguins acquired him via trade in 2015 from the Maple Leafs with Tyler Biggs, Tim Erixon and a second round pick in the 2016 draft for Scott Harrington, Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling, a first round pick in the 2016 draft and a third round pick in the 2016 draft. At the time, many people questioned that move from Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford.
Kessel's first season with the Penguins was good, when he registered 59 points in 82 games, and he stepped it up a notch in the playoffs, registering 22 points in 24 games, helping the Pens to win the Stanley Cup. He was even better last year, registering 70 points in 82 games, and adding 23 points in 25 games, helping his team to win the precious trophy for a second consecutive season.
What do you think, Penguins fans? Will Kessel reach the 100 point mark for the first time of his career?
