Vegas newcomer Kessel about to set mark as NHL’s all-time ironman

It’s Oct. 7, the day before the Golden Knights’ final preseason game that’s set to take place in Boise, Idaho.

The team gathers at center ice for its post-practice stretch, the common routine for all NHL teams after an hourlong session.

One player will take the center part of the circle to lead the stretch. In most cases, it’s a player facing their former team. This day was Phil Kessel’s turn, readying to face the Arizona Coyotes.

The 35-year-old veteran slowly moved his way to the circle, put his right leg out to his teammates and belted out, “You all want a little leg?” Of course, that was met with thunderous laughter.

Talk to any of Kessel’s former teammates, and they’ll tell you his infectious personality is what makes him inviting to any locker room. No matter if he’s winning the Stanley Cup twice in Pittsburgh or trying to be a great teammate on a struggling Arizona team, he’s been the same guy for 1,211 NHL games, 989 of those consecutively.

“He’s super fun to be around,” said Coyotes forward Clayton Keller, Kessel’s best friend in Arizona, “and everyone in the room will tell you he’s just the best teammate.”

Kessel will become the NHL’s newest ironman tonight when the Golden Knights take on the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center (7:30 p.m., ESPN) surpassing Keith Yandle’s streak that was set this past April. Kessel matched that streak Monday night in a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which he also notched an assist.

“I just, honestly, love playing,” Kessel said. “I’m one of those guys that tries to play no matter what. I just love to play. I’ve been fortunate so far.”

It was a streak that began Nov. 3, 2009, when Kessel was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He missed the first 12 games of that year due to a shoulder injury. From then on, the Madison, Wis., native became one of the best American-born players of this generation.

The six-time 30-goal scorer left Monday night’s game against Toronto sitting at 399 goals and 42 points away from 1,000 in his career, that 400th goal eluding him after he put the puck in the net in a play that was eventually waived off due to a belated offsides call.

But it was his four-year stint with the Penguins that put him in that rarefied air as a future Hall-of-Famer.

Kessel was the final ingredient to the Penguins winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He led Pittsburgh with 22 points in the 2016 postseason, scoring a team-high 10 goals, then followed with 23 points the next year.

All while playing all 82 games in both of those regular seasons.

“I think the thing that stood out the most is he was a big-game player,” said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. “He was laid back, but when it was time to step his game up, he always did.

“There are so many personalities that make up a team and Phil always gave us good laughs and kept things light. That was a fun group, and he was a big part of it.”

When Kessel signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Golden Knights on Aug. 24, he wanted to recapture in Vegas that winning feeling he had with the Penguins.

After spending the past three years with lottery-bound Arizona, Kessel felt he had something to prove, both in terms of winning, and showing he could still contribute on a winning team.

If there’s any doubt of the latter, Kessel had 52 points on an Arizona team that was the second-worst team in the league in terms of points.

There’s plenty of time for Kessel to show he can do just that. Entering Monday, he had just one point through the first six games.

Kessel comes off soft-spoken with a needed desire to just play. How long he can keep that going is up for debate. He could hit 1,000 straight games played Nov. 17 against the Coyotes.

That could be another night where Keller and Kessel discuss who took more money from whom when golfing against each other — Keller will certainly say he won more than Kessel. Overall, it would be another night for admiring a streak that may never be touched again.

“We had some big moments together and I’m happy to see him hit this milestone,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “And if I know Phil, it will only end when he says it does.”

Stone benefiting early from power-play spot change

The Vegas power play scored once in four attempts on Saturday against Colorado, when Mark Stone passed to Jonathan Marchessault alone on the left side of the crease for a goal.

The goal was a product of coach Bruce Cassidy tinkering with his power play personnel. Cassidy moved center Jack Eichel from the left wall to the right wall, and the captain Stone went from the goal line to the bumper spot, the center position in the 1-3-1 formation on the man advantage.

“You’re just trying to get guys to take pride in a spot,” Stone said. “Wherever I go, I’m going to try and help the team to win.”

Cassidy said he felt the Knights’ power play was stagnant, which led to the switch. After going 3-for-12 in their first three games, the Golden Knights went 0-for-7 the following games before the 1-for-4 stretch Saturday.

Cassidy said the bumper position required a plethora of intellect, which is why he thinks Stone will do well there.

“He’ll be facing the puck a lot from there,” Cassidy said. “He’s got a quick release, and that’s what you need from there if you’re going to score.”

Brossoit progressing, still not cleared

Goalie Laurent Brossoit continues to take part in limited practice drills but has yet to be cleared for full contact.

Brossoit continues to work his way back from offseason hip surgery, and Cassidy said he would be reevaluated Nov. 1.

“He had an appointment last week (with his surgeon). He’s not cleared yet, and we’re not surprised by that,” Cassidy said. “It takes a certain amount of time.”

Cassidy mentioned itwas too soon to tell whether Brossoit — who last played in March — would accept a conditioning assignment with AHL Henderson as a next step to get back into game shape.

The Golden Knights might not have a spot for Brossoit, as Logan Thompson and Adin Hill have played well in the initial two weeks of the season.

Going into Monday night’s game against Toronto, Thompson was 2-2-0 with a .926 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average, while Hill was 2-0-0 and had allowed four total goals in those starts.