It will be a much happier birthday for Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel.
One of the game's elite players has signed an eight-year contract extension on the eve of his 26th birthday. The oft-maligned winger is scheduled to be a Maple Leaf for the next nine seasons.
The deal was confirmed earlier today by TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie:
At an average annual rate of $8 million, Kessel has moved into a select group of elite players who earn more than $8 million per season for varying terms.
The list of forwards includes, but is not limited to: Sidney Crosby, Eric Staal, Zach Parise, Alex Ovechkin and Brad Richards.
Kessel is viewed as somewhat of a one-dimensional player who scores goals in bunches, but is not necessarily a complete player in the way that other superstars, such as Jonathan Toews and Sidney Crosby, are.
Without question, Kessel has yet to show the leadership abilities of some of the best players in the game. He has not led any of his teams to a Stanley Cup in his first six NHL seasons.
But what cannot be ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by James Onusko
Phil Kessel Contract: Maple Leafs Lock Up Elite Player but Still Need a Leader
October 1st, 2013 by James Onusko Leave a reply »
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