Phil kessel and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension on Tuesday. TSN reports that the average annual value to be $8 million.
Kessel is in the final year of a five-year, $5.4 million deal. The new deal will go into effect at the start of next season. If a deal hadn’t been reached, then Kessel could have become an unrestricted free agent in 2014, according to NHL.com. The Maple Leafs are glad that Kessel will be a part of their team long-term.
"Phil Kessel is one of the premier wingers and elite goal scorers in the National Hockey League today," Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis said, reports NHL.com. "He wanted to be a Maple Leaf long term and we're very pleased that Phil will be a part of our core group of players in Toronto until the 2021-22 season."
Kessel had 20 goals and 32 assists in 48 games last season. The 20 goals and 52 points that Kessel had led the Maple Leafs and tied him for seventh in the league. Kessel has 379 points in 504 regular-season games in seven seasons with Toronto and Boston, according to the Associated Press. In 22 playoff games Kessel has 21 points. He played for the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
In his first three seasons with the Maple Leafs, Kessel has had at least 30 goals. The Maple Leafs must be happy that they have Kessel in for the long haul, as he will produce for them.