Eight Years Ago, Ex-Leafs Forward Phil Kessel Took a Shot at Toronto Reporter With Iconic Photo

Although he hasn't played a game since hoisting his third Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights at the end of the 2022-23 season, Phil Kessel still holds the NHL's ironman streak at 1,064 consecutive regular season games.

While he was hopeful to continue his playing career, the former first-round pick made a career change in October, moving to competitive poker without any formal announcement of retirement.

While Leafs Nation was happy to see 'Phil the Thrill' find success and hoist Lord Stanley, his time in Toronto ended on a bit of a sour note when controversial Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons wrote an article making fun of Kessel's fitness and supposed love of hot dogs.

After winning his and the Pittsburgh Penguins' second consecutive Stanley Cup in 2017, Kessel spent his day with the Stanley Cup on the golf course, where the now 37-year-old posed on the green with the Cup full of hot dogs, as well as having one in his hand, thumbing his nose at Simmons with the subtle jab.

The photo not only went viral, but put Simmons in his place, and each year, the photo resurfaces reminding us how subtly funny Kessel is.

If he doesn't return to the NHL, which seems likely at this point, he went out in a way most can only dream of with his last moments in the league being skating around the ice with the Stanley Cup held high above his head.