Phil Kessel Calls Out Coyotes After Signing With Golden Knights

Phil Kessel is happy to be out of Arizona as Coyotes management appeared to steer him in the wrong direction. The now Vegas Golden Knights forward is excited to compete for a Stanley Cup, something he thought might be a possibility in the desert.

Kessel met with the media on Thursday in Vegas and let's just say the review from his stay in Arizona was not five stars:

It's tough. I came in there in a different direction. They said we were gonna win; we're gonna try to win and compete. Obviously, that's not what happened. It's gonna be nice playing on a team that wants to win. When you want to win, and everyone on the team wants to win, it's a different feel and a different vibe. Arizona, they had great guys. All the players, they're great kids. ... But when you don't want to necessarily win and contend, it becomes difficult as a player, especially when you came from Pittsburgh, and I wanted to win. Obviously, I think, you know, over the last couple of years, you get lost here. People don't view you anymore like you used to be viewed, and I don't think that's the case. I'm very motivated to come in here and help this team try to contend. … I think I'm going to have a great year.

Kessel sounds as motivated as ever and if he's able to get some chemistry with Jack Eichel, look out. He still one of the best offensive threats in the game, and an underrated a passer as there is in the league.

Last season in the desert, Kessel recorded 52 points in 82 games, and the 34-year-old feels he's going to have a bounce back season now that he has something to play for and an organization that's not going to settle for losing.