Phil Kessel is so happy he won the Stanley Cup, and you should be, too

Jordan Greer

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Phil Kessel is so happy he won the Stanley Cup, and you should be, too image

Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion. No really, Phil Kessel.

Kessel, the guy who isn't truly a winner, the guy who was only a complementary piece and hockey's most prolific hot-dog destroyer (not really), raised the Cup above his head late Sunday after the Penguins defeated the Sharks 3-1 to capture their first title in seven years.

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This is the part where we say, "It wasn't an easy road for Kessel." But it's true. Kessel even admitted as much, telling ESPN, "It's been a journey," after the Game 6 victory.

He is a testicular cancer survivor. That would have been difficult enough by itself. Traded away by the Bruins, traded away by the Maple Leafs. Toronto media tried to pin all of the Maple Leafs' shortcomings on him, right up until he was walking out the door last July. Kessel wasn't and never will be the player who gives the interesting quotes or anecdotes. That was part of the problem. But he always produced on the ice, no matter what perception may tell you. Prior to this year's run, he scored 21 points in 22 playoff games with the Bruins and Maple Leafs. Not exactly shrinking in the big moment.

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He truly found his groove during the 2016 postseason with the popular "HBK" line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Kessel. The fast-flying trio somehow came together perfectly despite none of the players being on the Penguins roster prior to this season. Kessel led Pittsburgh with 22 points in 24 playoff games. Yes, that's more than Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin or Conn Smythe winner Sidney Crosby. The captain was a worthy candidate, but you could easily argue Kessel should have taken home the hardware.

This wasn't about individual accolades or arguments about Kessel's worth, though. Not on this night. This was about the pure elation emanating from Kessel's face as he came to the realization that he had won it all. With that full beard, he looked like a happy version of the Abominable Snow Monster from the "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" TV special.

 

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

A photo posted by emalkin71geno (@emalkin71geno) on

There is something utterly human about Kessel. He's a professional hockey player, but if you asked strangers to name what he does for a living you might get a dozen answers. He's supremely skilled, yet we see him doubled over on the bench like any of us who tried to run at the gym for the first time in weeks. Again, he's a testicular cancer survivor.

He shut down the criticism with every big goal. He shrugged off the narrative with every playoff win. He garnered more and more support from Penguins fans with every goofy grin.

Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup champion, and no one can take that away from him.

How does that not bring a smile to your face?

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.