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In July, when it became clear that we had a shot at bringing in Phil Kessel, we had to make a big decision. Acquiring Kessel would cost us not only young talent and draft picks, but it would also come with a significant salary-cap hit. There’s always a cost. In this case, we had to be sure that Phil would fit into our room, and into our system.In times like that, you have to rely on your box. Inside your box is all the stuff you can’t look up on the Internet. During your travels in this game, from city to city, hotel to hotel, you talk to a lot of people. You hear things. You learn all kinds of things about players. And you file it all away in your box. Over my 30 years as a GM, my box has gotten pretty full.It was always my understanding from my intel around the league that Phil was a good guy. If I have one defining management philosophy, it’s that I really believe in second chances. If a player is a good guy, and he’s got talent, and you give him a second chance, he’ll give you everything he’s got.The Kessel decision ultimately came down to a simple fact about the NHL that never seems to change: It’s hard to score goals in this league. It’s just hard. But Phil was a guy who had scored them year after year. He had been in a fishbowl in Toronto and he still scored 30 every year. I felt if we gave him a second chance, he’d really thrive in Pittsburgh.So Phil came into our locker room that fall and, after watching him for a few weeks, I filed a new note into my box:Phil Kessel isn’t a good guy, after all. He’s a great guy.
Also, you're seeing the President get your suit tailored man.
President Barack Obama trolls Phil Kessel during Pittsburgh Penguins' visit to The White House https://t.co/WiQLJX5ISh— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) October 6, 2016
President Barack Obama trolls Phil Kessel during Pittsburgh Penguins' visit to The White House https://t.co/WiQLJX5ISh
The last time the #Pens won the Cup, this secret service agent was a Penguins intern. Sid recognized him and stopped for a quick handshake. pic.twitter.com/Dkb0OIV2Fi— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 6, 2016
The last time the #Pens won the Cup, this secret service agent was a Penguins intern. Sid recognized him and stopped for a quick handshake. pic.twitter.com/Dkb0OIV2Fi
pic.twitter.com/NrMPrJpimy— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) October 11, 2016
pic.twitter.com/NrMPrJpimy
pic.twitter.com/78rYW90N0Z— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) October 11, 2016
pic.twitter.com/78rYW90N0Z
Truth: Kessel loves country musicTruth: Kessel's dog is named StellaLie: Kessel is a wonderful singerIn the Room: https://t.co/xjYVhSUUiP pic.twitter.com/vVxyLiBFe1— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 18, 2016
Truth: Kessel loves country musicTruth: Kessel's dog is named StellaLie: Kessel is a wonderful singerIn the Room: https://t.co/xjYVhSUUiP pic.twitter.com/vVxyLiBFe1