Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel showed his appreciation Sunday for supporters of his former team, thanking Toronto Maple Leafs fans and bidding the city farewell.
I want to thank all of the Toronto fans for all the support you have shown me.I will miss you and this city and always consider Toronto home
— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) August 23, 2015
Kessel was traded to the Penguins on July 1 in a six-player deal.
He played six seasons in Toronto, scoring 181 goals and adding 213 assists in 446 games. Four of his five 30-goal campaigns came in a Maple Leafs uniform, including a pair of 37-goal seasons in 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Kessel ranks ninth in even-strength goals (128), 10th in power-play goals (52), and is tied for sixth in game-winning goals (31) in Maple Leafs franchise history.
Toronto signed him to an eight-year, $64-million contract extension in October 2013. He was originally signed to a five-year, $27-million deal after being acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins in 2009.
The three-time All-Star was traded by the Bruins to the Maple Leafs for a 2010 first-round pick that the Bruins used to select Tyler Seguin, who was later dealt to the Dallas Stars. The Bruins also acquired a 2010 second-round pick, which became Jared Knight, and a 2011 first-rounder, which Boston used to draft Dougie Hamilton.
