Phil Kessel Forced to Make Significant Change Already After Joining The Vegas Golden Knights

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Sam Walker
August 28, 2022 (1:51)

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As the days are ticking down to the start of the NHL's regular season, and so are the available free agents. Johnny Gaudreau, Nazem Kadri and other big names have found there long-term home, but just earlier this week one NHL veteran was still in search for one.

Well, he sure found one! It may not be a long-term fit, but Kessel signed a four year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights that holds a average earnings salary of $1.5 million per season, NHL insider Elliot Friedman reported.

Kessel, has worn number eighty-one for the past sixteen years and seasons in the NHL, he has two Stanley Cups underneath his belt as he won both in back-to-back years with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 as well as 2017.

Kessel brings a goal-scoring ability to the Vegas Golden Knights, a attribute the team is dearly in need of after they traded away a injured Max Pacioretty, and received nothing in return. One minor issue is Kessel is forced to make a change that will be quite weird to see..

Kessel is forced to change his jersey number as new teammate Jonathan Marchessault holds the number eighty-one, Phil The Thrill Kessel has decided he will be wearing number eight, a goal scorers number that Alex Ovechkin also wears. Kessel has held #81 for sixteen years.

A Vegas Golden Knights reported tweeted that Kessel did not expect to be offered the number eighty-one by Marchessault despite him offering it afterwards of his signing in Vegas. Marchessault has been a leader for the Knights for multiple seasons now, and Kessel will respect his number.