Phil Kessel nearly quit hockey as a member of the Maple Leafs for a wild reason
Phil Kessel is a 2-time Stanley Cup champion, a prolific National Hockey League sharp shooter, iron man and noted hot dog lover. He is certainly an enigma to everyone around the NHL. A player who it never felt like fitness was paramount to, despite playing in the best league in the world, including some of the biggest hockey markets in the world including Toronto, Boston and Pittsburgh.
In hindsight it's no surprise that a story like this has come out, but according to former Toronto Maple Leaf teammate John-Michael Liles on the Spittin' Chicklets podcast, Kessel came close to quitting hockey over this rule.
When, Randy Carlyle took over as head coach of the Leafs, he didn't want any soda in the locker room. Phil the Thrill coming off of signing a new $56-million-dollar deal in Toronto threatened to quit playing hockey if Carlyle's rule stuck. Liles said Kessel never drank water, only coke, even on the bench.
Kessel certainly is a character, this just shows how far Kessel was willing to go keep himself happy.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Kessel would have walked away from the NHL? | ||
| Yes, he doesn't care what anyone thinks | 95 | 55.6 % |
| No, probably not | 76 | 44.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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