Would a Reunion Between Phil Kessel and the Maple Leafs Make Sense?

Phil Kessel isn't ready to leave the NHL just yet.

In an article on Sportsnet.ca, Elliotte Friedman reports that the 35-year-old wants to play another season in the league.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion wants to play again in 2023-24." Friedman writes. "But, the most significant detail is that he’s let teams know it won’t be a problem if he’s not an every-day player."

The 35-year-old is tabbed as the NHL's Ironman, playing 1,064 NHL regular games in a row, not missing a single game. This past season was when Kessel broke Keith Yandle's Ironman streak (now ahead by 75 games) and became the lone player to play 1,000 games in a row.

Although he only played four games in the playoffs with the Vegas Golden Knights, Kessel is still a productive NHL player. The 35-year-old scored 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 82 games last season.

And with Friedman reporting that Kessel is okay with not being an "every-day player," I wonder if the Maple Leafs take a run at signing him.

We all know the history that the 35-year-old has with Toronto. He played 446 regular season games with the Maple Leafs (the most with any team in his career) and scored 181 goals and 213 assists.

Following a difficult season for Kessel and the team, in 2015, the Maple Leafs sent the forward to Pittsburgh in a trade involving multiple players and draft picks.

"Phil is certainly a talented player, but we knew that changes had to come," Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan said on July 1, 2015.

"I think it's a good fit for Phil. At the same time, it stays on our messaging, which is that, what we were doing here as a group wasn't working and we were setting a bit of a new direction for our club, building it differently."

Eight years later, the Maple Leafs and Kessel have a chance at a reunion. One that, for both sides, could end much differently than it did nearly a decade ago.

But would the 35-year-old welcome a return to the City of Toronto? With the turnover of management, plus the fact that he's brought the Stanley Cup back to Toronto a number of times, it's not a reach to say a reunion is possible.

Kessel would be a great fit with this Maple Leafs team. In one sense, he'd be a perfect addition to Toronto's fourth line, addressing their need for depth scoring. Between him and Ryan Reaves, they could each come in and out of the lineup as needed, which would be a great balance.

The 35-year-old also loves to have fun and has been a beloved teammate in past locker rooms, making him a perfect person for the Maple Leafs.

Though following his words after winning a third Stanley Cup this past spring, maybe Kessel doesn't want another shot in Toronto.

"Takes me back to my Toronto days." He said. "You guys said I couldn't win, and now I'm a three-time champ. Remember that."

On a cheap deal, this move makes total sense for both sides. Kessel gets to play for a Stanley Cup contender, and a city he has past ties with, while the Maple Leafs get a veteran who can still produce at a decent rate in the NHL.

But both sides would need to come together. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. Either way, Kessel's time in Toronto will remain as fascinating as ever.

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