Its not too often that a 1200 game veteran sits in free agency for this long however that is the case right now with Phil Kessel. <h2>The Future of 1200 Game Veteran Phil Kessel</h2> Phil Kessel sits eight points off 1,000 points in his career but he may not hit it as he has not been signed to an NHL contract so far. However a new update on the veteran forward has been provided by Insider Chris Johnston. <q>Phil has wanted to return the whole time, He was reluctant to go to a team's training camp on a tryout contract, so didn't do that. But, you know he's continued to skate. He's living in Arizona, keeping himself game ready. There have been ongoing discussions. There was something in October that was very close, like he was going to get a contract but that obviously didn't happen. The weeks become months, is it all for him? In his mind and heart, he hopes not, and so it's going to take one team who is serious enough to give him a chance. He is still the NHL's active ironman. He's just looking to sign somewhere and keep playing. If that team doesn't want to dress him on back to back nights or have him as an extra forward. I think he would be to some of those opportunities. Only time will tell if Phil Kessel is back in the NHL. But certainly it's his desire to get back there.</q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/sdpnsports/status/1732425933292720413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1732425933292720413%7Ctwgr%5E01066a47694aa5d695d35842fa2500b7ef968cfc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bladeofsteel.com%2Fnews%2FInsider-provides-major-update-on-Phil-Kessel-hockey-future-and-if-retirement-is-an-option'> </a></blockquote></div> The current ironman of the NHL is looking and wanting to play in the NHL this season. Like Johnston said the option of being the 13th player on the roster may be something that Kessel is ok with. <h2>Phil The Thrill's Mysterious Career Thus Far</h2> The former 5th overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft is open to all options that sees him play at least a little bit in the NHL. Kessel has been primarily known for his time as a Leaf and Penguin, where he has earned the nicknames Phil The Thrill and Hot Dog Phil. The almost 1300 game veteran was always known for his wicked wrister that allowed him to become a steady goal scorer for most of his time in the NHL. He has bounced around these past couple seasons in the NHL now having played for the Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruin, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kessel is seemingly looking for his final destination to play what looks to be his finally couple seasons before he retires. As Seen on Blade of Steel - <a href='https://www.bladeofsteel.com/nhl/news/Insider-provides-major-update-on-Phil-Kessel-hockey-future-and-if-retirement-is-an-option' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Insider provides major update on Kessel's hockey future and if retirement is an option</a>