Phil Kessel:

Career highlights

Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. Born Oct. 2, 1987, Madison, Wis.

PHIL THE SHRILL

An NHL player’s poll conducted by Sports Illustrated and released in February 2012 called Kessel “the easiest (player) to intimidate” in the NHL.

His former coach with the Leafs, Ron Wilson, told TSN Radio in Toronto this season: “You can’t win with Phil.”

Kessel mostly struggled versus Boston, his first NHL team. Over one 22-game stretch vs. the Bruins he managed just three goals and was minus-21.

“Thank you Kessel” echoed through Boston’s TD Garden whenever Tyler Seguin — acquired via the deal that sent Kessel to Toronto — scored when the Leafs visited. PHIL THE THRILL

He is the all-time leader for goals and points with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

He was selected fifth overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins.

He was awarded the 2007 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for overcoming testicular cancer.

He is a two-time Olympian for Team USA, and won a silver medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

He sits 19th on the Maple Leafs’ all-time scoring list with 394 career Leaf points (181 goals, 213 assists) in 446 games.

Kessel’s 446 games were consecutive, just 40 short of Tim Horton’s Leaf ironman record.

Kessel also leads all U.S. born players in goals since the start of the 2008-09 season, with 217.

“Thank you Kessel” echoed through the Air Canada Centre when Kessel and the Leafs faced Boston in 2013, the team’s only playoff appearance of the Kessel era. Kessel had four goals and two assists in seven games.