Ironman legend Phil Kessel signs a new contract outside of the NHL

Phil Kessel is prepared to take a smaller role with any team in order to continue his NHL career, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN Hockey Insider.

The 36-year-old forward, who is eager to play again and is even willing to break his Ironman streak, did not play in the previous season despite having won three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights.

Kessel is still not ready to declare his retirement, even after failing to make any moves in free agency and receiving no invitations to train camp on a PTO. Rather than that, he and his agent keep approaching NHL teams about signing new contracts.

However now, It's been revealed that Kessel has signed a new contract, but it's not with the NHL. In fact, not even hockey related. Rather, Kessel became a new brand ambassador for the World Poker Tour.

As the opening night of the NHL regular season begins, this is probably not the contract that Phil Kessel would have wanted to announce.

Despite everything, he's still hoping to sign an NHL contract this season.

Kessel needs to score eight more points to reach 1,000 for his career. In 1,286 games, he has scored 413 goals between the Boston Bruins, Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Golden Knights.