Phil Kessel, Ex-Maple Leaf, Reportedly Bringing Stanley Cup To Toronto

Prepare the hot dogs and hot takes. Phil Kessel is bringing the Stanley Cup to Toronto.

The Pittsburgh Penguins winger, who had to weather countless barbs from media members during his six seasons with the Maple Leafs, reportedly plans to return to his old stomping grounds for his day with the greatest trophy in sports.

Kessel on Wednesday discussed possibly bringing the Cup to Toronto, though at the time he said he hadn’t made up his mind.

“You know, I haven’t fully decided my plans,” he said in an interview with Sportsnet 590, as transcribed by Yahoo! Sports. “I have a lot of friends in Toronto. That’s kinda where I spent most of my time. I’d probably wind up bringing it back there. It’s something I haven’t fully decided. But I think there’s a good chance that it’ll happen.”

The Maple Leafs, who learned Wednesday they would not be landing Steven Stamkos this summer, have won 13 Stanley Cups as a franchise but none since 1967.

Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images