Phil Kessel inks a major deal outside the NHL

However, this deal is not apart of hockey, but rather with Poker:

As seen, Kessel has signed as a brand ambassador with the World Poker Tour.

Even during his NHL career, Kessel was a known Poker fan, playing on his free time and entering tournaments.

Kessel is not new to the Word Poker Tour, as since 2012, he has been apart of their tournaments, and by 2019, he had earned $17,022 in live tournament earnings.

Even with this new and surprising signing, the door is not shut on Kessel coming back to the NHL, as many insiders have stated that he is interested in trying out for several different teams this season.

Kessel first entered the NHL back in 2006 after being drafted by the Bruins as their 5th overall pick.

Following 3 seasons in Boston, Kessel was traded to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a couple of draft picks, including 2 1st-rounders.

Kessel's best days of his hockey career were when he was in Toronto, as he scored the most goals of his career and was selected to 3 All-Star games.

Kessel played for the Leafs from 2009 until being traded to the Penguins ahead of the 2015 season.

Kessel's time In Pittsburgh were pretty great, as he was able to continue to be a top goal-scorer, and was apart of the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017.

Kessel then spent some time with the Coyotes from 2019 to 2022, until signing with the Golden Knights ahead of the 2022 season, where he was apart of their Stanley Cup championship.

Following his 3rd Stanley Cup win, Kessel has yet to apppear in an NHL game, as he missed the entire 2023-2024 season.

Kessel is clearly making some business moves, but his hockey career is not officially completed.