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.
POLL | ||
FEVRIER 15 | 405 ANSWERS Phil Kessel already facing criticism that puts his comeback in jeopardy Will Kessel score at least 10 goals this year? | ||
Yes | 137 | 33.8 % |
No | 244 | 60.2 % |
See Results | 24 | 5.9 % |
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