When Kessel met with the media on Sunday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, he addressed some of the topics of conversation that had surrounded him during the playoffs and throughout the offseason.
Kessel finished the postseason with nine points (1G-8A) in 12 games after posting a career-high 92 points (34G-58A) during the regular season. And while Kessel received criticism for not quite reaching the level of production he did in 2016 and '17, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan came to his defense at the 2018 NHL Draft back in June.
"I have so much respect for what Phil has brought to our organization and what he's done to help us win two Stanley Cups," Sullivan said. "He's coming off a 92-point season and was a big reason why we were put in a position that we were in going into the playoffs."
While Kessel said he didn't necessarily feel any frustration with his individual performance - "I probably had around a point a game or something. It's not that bad, is it?" he said - he certainly wasn't satisfied with how the season ended.
"I want to win," he said. "I think I've tried to do whatever I can to help the team win. We've been pretty successful in the last couple years and hopefully we get back to it again."
After the Penguins were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the Second Round, there was speculation that Kessel had been playing injured. Sullivan said that while Kessel had bumps and bruises, he wasn't dealing with anything significant and the winger echoed those sentiments.
"Everyone has injuries, I think, every year," Kessel said. "You've had an injury or two and it's just whatever, you play."
Kessel enters this season with an iron man streak that began on Nov. 3, 2009 and is at 692 consecutive games played and counting (760 games when including playoffs).
Beginning with Pittsburgh's season opener on Oct. 5, 2015 at Dallas - Kessel's Penguins debut - the club played in 307 games (regular season and playoffs) in a 943-day stretch, which averages out to one game every 3.07 days. Kessel was the only Penguins player to skate in all 307 games during that span.
It's certainly an incredible amount of hockey, but Kessel has felt good and plans on keeping the streak going as long as he continues to feel good.
"I always play," Kessel said when asked about the possibility of taking games off to be fresher for the playoffs. "Whenever I can play, I'm going to be out there. I don't think it makes that much of a difference."
While Kessel was away, he also dealt with trade rumors - "I've been traded a couple times, so it happens. You just move on," he said - and rumors of a rift between him and Sullivan.
His coach squashed those rumors about their relationship earlier this summer, and Kessel did the same on Sunday.
"I think some people make issues that aren't there," Kessel said. "It is what it is."
No matter what is being said or written about Kessel, whether it's positive or negative, the fans here have always adored him. And their support hasn't gone unnoticed.
"The fans have been great to me in my years here, and we've had some good years here," he said with a smile. "I love them and they've always been supportive."
And now, Kessel wants to repay that by helping the Penguins win a third Stanley Cup.
"We got a deep squad here and we're going to be competitive again this year," he said. "Hopefully get there again."
