Phil Kessel's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Phil Kessel.

Phil Kessel, nicknamed "Phil the Thrill", is an American professional ice hockey winger currently an unrestricted free agent. He's played for several NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights. Kessel is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning consecutive titles with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, and another with the Golden Knights in 2023, marking a significant achievement in his NHL career.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2004: Set NTDP Records

During the 2004–05 season, Kessel played full-time on the U18 team scoring 52 goals and 98 points.

2004: IIHF World U18 Championship Silver Medal

Later in 2004, Phil Kessel played as an underaged player at the IIHF World U18 Championship, where the U.S. won silver. He led the tournament in goals with seven and was named to the tournament all-star team, finishing with a total of ten points.

2005: U18 Team

During the 2004-05 season, Kessel played full-time on the U18 team scoring 52 goals and 98 points, both records for an U18 player at the time.

2007: Led the league in game-deciding shootout goals

For the 2007–08 season Kessel led the league with 5 game-deciding shootout goals.

2007: Received Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

In 2007, Kessel was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

2008: Point Streak

In late 2008, Kessel tied Ed Olczyk for longest point streak by an American-born NHL player with an 18 game streak.

2009: Ironman Streak Onset

Kessel's ironman streak of consecutive games played began in the 2009-10 season.

2010: Winter Olympics

In 2010, Kessel represented the United States at the Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal.

February 6, 2012: Reached 300-Point Plateau

On February 6, 2012, Kessel reached the 300-point plateau after a three-point performance against the Edmonton Oilers.

March 31, 2012: Eclipsed Career High Goal Total

On March 31, 2012, Kessel scored his 37th goal of the season, surpassing his career-high of 36 set with Boston.

February 7, 2013: Broke Goal Drought

On February 7, 2013, Phil Kessel broke his ten-game goal drought to start the 2012-2013 season by scoring the game-winning goal against Winnipeg.

April 20, 2013: Maple Leafs Clinch Playoff Spot

On April 20, 2013, the Maple Leafs, including Kessel who recorded two assists, clinched a playoff spot in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs after a 4–1 win against Ottawa. This was Kessel's first playoff appearance since joining the Maple Leafs in 2009.

January 1, 2014: Named to 2014 Olympic Team

On January 1, 2014, Phil Kessel was announced as a member of the 2014 US Olympic Team to compete in Sochi, Russia.

February 1, 2014: Scored Fifth Career Hat-Trick

On February 1, 2014, Kessel scored his fifth career hat-trick against the Ottawa Senators. This game also marked Kessel's 30th goal of the season, his fifth time scoring at least 30 goals in a single NHL season.

2014: Named Top Forward

In 2014, Kessel played in the Winter Olympics and was named the top forward.

October 10, 2015: First Goal as a Penguin

On October 10, 2015, Kessel scored his first regular season goal as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins while playing against the Arizona Coyotes.

December 19, 2015: Played 500th Consecutive Game

On December 19, 2015, Kessel played in his 500th consecutive NHL game, making him the 23rd player in league history to achieve this milestone.

2015: Kane's Point Streak

Patrick Kane's 26-game point streak happened in late 2015.

June 12, 2016: Won Stanley Cup with Penguins

On June 12, 2016, Phil Kessel won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins after they defeated the San Jose Sharks. Kessel led the Penguins in playoff scoring with 10 goals and 22 points.

2016: Stanley Cup Champion with Penguins

In 2016, Kessel won his first Stanley Cup championship with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2017: Back-to-Back Stanley Cups

In 2017, Kessel won his second consecutive Stanley Cup championship with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

2017: Stanley Cup Filled with Hot Dogs

In 2017, following his second Stanley Cup championship, Phil Kessel poked fun at the hot dog claim by posing with the Stanley Cup filled with hot dogs.

2017: Career High in Points

In the 2017-2018 NHL season, Phil Kessel scored a career-high 92 points, with 34 goals and 58 assists, placing him eighth in the NHL.

October 11, 2018: Scored Sixth Career Hat-Trick

On October 11, 2018, during the third game of the 2018–19 season, Phil Kessel scored his sixth career hat-trick, his first natural hat-trick, and his first as a Penguin, against the Vegas Golden Knights.

2018: Sister Wins Gold at Winter Olympics

In 2018, Phil Kessel's sister, Amanda Kessel, won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics representing the United States.

March 15, 2019: Cole Caufield breaks NTDP goal record

On March 15, 2019, Cole Caufield surpassed Kessel's career goals for the NTDP, scoring a career-high six goals to reach 105.

March 19, 2019: Longest Consecutive Games for Penguins

On March 19, 2019, Phil Kessel played in his 320th consecutive game for the Pittsburgh Penguins, surpassing Craig Adams for the longest streak in the team's history.

October 12, 2019: Played 1,000th NHL Game

On October 12, 2019, Phil Kessel played his 1,000th career NHL game against the Colorado Avalanche.

2019: Kane's Point Streak

Patrick Kane's 20-game point streak happened in the beginning of 2019.

2020: Reached 900 Consecutive Games

During the 2020-21 season, Kessel became the fifth player ever to record 900 consecutive games played.

May 7, 2021: Scored 900th NHL Point

On May 7, 2021, Phil Kessel scored his 900th point in the NHL with a breakaway goal against the San Jose Sharks.

March 8, 2022: Attended Birth of First Child

On March 8, 2022, Phil Kessel played the first shift of the game against the Detroit Red Wings before taking a chartered flight to Arizona to be present for the birth of his first child, extending his iron man streak to 956 consecutive games.

April 2, 2022: Became Player with Longest Active Streak

On April 2, 2022, Phil Kessel became the player with the longest active iron man streak in the NHL after Keith Yandle was scratched from the Philadelphia Flyers lineup, ending his streak at 989 games.

October 24, 2022: Tied Iron Man Streak

On October 24, 2022, Phil Kessel played his 989th consecutive NHL game, tying Keith Yandle's iron man streak. He also appeared to have scored his 400th career goal, but it was called back.

October 25, 2022: Passed Keith Yandle's NHL Record

On October 25, 2022, Kessel passed Keith Yandle's streak as the longest in NHL history after playing his 990th consecutive game.

November 17, 2022: Recorded 1,000 Consecutive Games Played

On November 17, 2022, Phil Kessel became the first player in NHL history to record 1,000 consecutive games played, as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-1.