Boston Bruins fans have an all new reason to dislike Phil Kessel.
The Boston Bruins drafted Phil Kessel in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was the fifth pick overall that year. Kessel ended up playing three seasons with the Black and Gold, but never seemed to fit in with the team or the city of Boston. By the end of his time in Beantown, Kessel had made it clear that he didn’t want to be part of the Bruins organization.
Then the Bruins decided to trade Kessel to Toronto for picks that eventually netted them Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, two solid young players that the Bruins (and to an equal extent, the Boston media) eventually chased out of town.
Tuesday evening Phil Kessel decided to throw a tweet out. The Pittsburgh Penguins scorer had recently undergone hand surgery, and wasn’t considered a good fit for this year’s team. That wasn’t good enough for the 28-year old Wisconsin native, and he sent out a shot heard ’round the hockey world.
Just sitting around the house tonight w my dog. Felt like I should be doing something important, but couldn't put my finger on it.
— Phil Kessel (@PKessel81) September 21, 2016
Boston Bruins forward David Backes responded to Kessel’s tweet on Wednesday, calling Kessel’s Twitter rant “disappointing.”.
“I understand there’s hard feelings if you weren’t picked for the team,” said the Boston Bruins forward on Wednesday. “But … as a team guy and as a guy that stands by my teammates win, lose or draw, it’s a little distasteful and aggravating. …
“Everyone’s got a Twitter account, and you can have freedom of speech to say whatever you want, so be it. But those comments don’t get lost in the fray, and those comments are there and have been read and I think will be remembered when whatever happens going forward happens going forward.”
Phil Kessel won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins this June. Before that, he had a history of being ‘disappointing’.
Kessel responded later on Wednesday saying that the Tweet was not meant to disrespect any members of Team USA that played in the World Cup of Hockey.
“Of course it wasn’t directed at the players,” said Kessel in a text message. “I know how tough it is to play the game. It wasn’t directed at anyone.”
I’m sure he’ll be looking over his shoulder the next time the Penguins play the Bruins.