Phil Kessel is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, and he trolled the media for saying he'd never win a title during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Vegas Golden Knights won their first-ever Stanley Cup in their sixth year of existence. They've done something that the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres haven't accomplished, and they were in the NHL much longer. Golden Knights fans saw players who joined the team via their expansion draft back in 2017 hoist the Cup. Not only that but also the big-name players they have acquired over the years in their quest to win it all.
Phil Kessel joined the team this season and is now a three-time Stanley Cup champion.
While speaking with reporters on the ice at T-Mobile Arena, Kessel decided to throw some shade towards the media that said during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs that he would never win. He said to them, " Now I'm a three-time champ. Remember that."
Kessel's quote comes courtesy of Mikey Stephens of the Hockey News.
Phil Kessel throws shade at media after winning third Stanley Cup
Kessel faced ridicule from the media throughout his time in Toronto, as the Maple Leafs' star scorer from 2009 until 2015. The Maple Leafs made it to the playoff just once, and that was in 2013. Of course that was the infamous first-round series against the Boston Bruins, in which they blew a 4-1 lead in Game 7 and lost 5-4 in overtime. In his six seasons, Kessel scored 181 goals and 213 assists.
Following the 2014-15 season, Kessel was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing him to play with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. After the trade, Kessel won his first two Stanley Cups in his first two seasons with the team.
Kessel joined the Golden Knights on a one-year, $1.5 million contract ahead of this season. In 82 regular-season games played, Kessel scored 14 goals and dished out 22 assists. Kessel was in the lineup for Vegas' first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets, but he was a healthy scratch for 18 consecutive playoff games.
Even with the fact that he was a healthy scratch, Kessel can say he is a three-time Stanley Cup champion.