Phil Kessel already facing criticism that puts his comeback in jeopardy

Now 36 years old, Phil Kessel has become a league wide fan-favourite NHL player. Despite winning the Stanley Cup with Vegas last season, Kessel was unable to secure a contract despite wanting to play this year. He's now started practicing with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks hoping to make Vancouver's roster, but Kessel is already facing some hard criticism in his first day with the team.

According to Ben Miljure of CTV Vancouver, Kessel was visibly gassed after partaking in simple practice drills with the AHL squad. In footage from his first practice, Kessel's bent over gasping for air after nearly every drill. As a 36 year old who hasn't played the last four months, and who already faced questions about his conditioning, it's a tough reality for Kessel that his body may not be up to the task anymore.

That said, Kessel has always seemed to prove his doubters wrong, especially when it comes to physical conditioning. Despite not being the picture of an athlete, Kessel has had incredible success in his career and holds the record for most consecutive games played. It was guaranteed that Kessel would struggle initially with conditioning when coming back after this layoff, but according to Friedman, it's pretty much guaranteed that he joins the Canucks in the coming days.



Even though it's with the Oilers division rivals in the Canucks, as a hockey fan, it's incredible to see Kessel make this much of an effort to continue his career. He really is just a nice guy who tries hard and loves the game - as he has described himself in the past.