BREAKING: Phil Kessel close to signing with Canadian team

Throughout the course of this season, Phil Kessel has remained a free agent but has sought out contract offers to continue his career. According to a new report from insider Rick Dhaliwal, the Vancouver Canucks are believed to be interested in signing the veteran forward.

Canucks coach Rick Tocchet commented on Kessel's ability to help the team win this year.




Dhaliwal also says there will be a further update later today. Now 36 years old, Kessel is a veteran of over 1200 games and a three-time cup champion. Even until last season, Kessel was utilized for his scoring depth, as he still possess a nasty wrist shot and can be effective on the second powerplay unit. In 82 games with the Golden Knights last season, Kessel scored 14 goals and 36 points.

After such a long layoff from professional hockey, it could be a risk to add Kessel to the roster. Being so far removed from pro games at his age may cause him to lose another step, which might knock him out of the NHL entirely. Despite playing all 82 games with Vegas last year while holding the record for consecutive games played, there was a reason Kessel didn't get into all of Vegas' playoff games.

Still, the Canucks could certainly do worse than adding a veteran offensive player like Kessel. Any team that signs him at this point of the season is essentially making a trade deadline addition for free, as Kessel will likely command only a league minimum contract.