Sportsnet magazine preview: Phil Kessel describes himself like this: “Nice guy. Tries hard. Loves the game.” But that’s not even close to the whole story.
The line of questioning is broad, but Phil Kessel is being a sport at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ practice facility in the west end of Toronto. There are a lot of queries about food.
“Burritos—that’s a favourite,” he says. “Obviously ice cream, everyone loves ice cream.”
He’s a self-professed picky eater, and before every game, it’s the same meal: penne à la vodka with meat sauce, though Kessel never makes it himself. He figures it’s been two years since he cooked at home.
“A frozen pizza, does that count?” he asks, grinning. Kessel’s favourite country artist is Luke Bryan, the last concert he went to was Drake, and he always wears a hat because he has “bad hair.”
He’s sitting in the equipment room after a skate, slouched in a computer chair, and there’s a bit of pudge resting above the waistband of his navy shorts, something you might expect from a normal 26-year-old, not one who will make $10 million this season playing for the Maple Leafs.
Kessel laughs and smiles easily, swivelling on the chair, shifting his weight from one leg to the other like a kid with too much energy. He really gets going when the conversation turns to his dog, Stella. He got the brown goldendoodle three years ago with his now ex-girlfriend. Kessel fought to keep the dog.
“Spoiled little rat,” he says, shaking his head. “But I love her, eh? Honestly, if I didn’t have her, I don’t know what I’d do.”
But now Kessel has some questions of his own.
“Why do you have to get to know me?” he asks, scrunching his face. “A profile?”
The idea that anything aside from his on-ice production matters seems insane to him. When asked to describe himself, he itches his scruffy blond beard and says “I don’t know” and “that’s a tough question” and “right?” a bunch of times.
He quotes his Twitter bio: “Nice guy, tries hard, loves the game.” Kessel stole the line from former Bruins teammate Marc Savard, who’d go through opposing teams’ lineups before games and describe any players he didn’t know that way. It’s a joke, and that’s how Kessel describes himself. Later, he adds, “big heart.”
Read more of the story in our October 6 issue, available in our tablet edition, and on Next Issue and newsstands now.
Phil Kessel is a man of few words. Need evidence? Just check out his interaction with George Stromboulopoulos in advance of the season.
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