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Phil Kessel signs new deal outside of the NHL
Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Phil Kessel has been trying to get himself back into the National Hockey League this summer and hasn't had all that much luck.

Kessel is an older guy and when you are an older player, your fitness matters a whole lot more than it does when you are younger. The body begins to break down and you need to be in the best physical shape. Despite his offensive prowess, Kessel has never really been that guy. Which is okay, but still, it does pose some problems.

Having said that, it appears as though Kessel has finally found himself a deal. Albeit, it is not the kind of deal that you would probably expect. He has officially signed with the World Poker Tour. It is here where he will now get to be a brand ambassador for the biggest poker tour on the planet.

"I'm incredibly excited to work with WPT Global. I have been an avid poker player for over 20 years, and a huge fan of the World Poker Tour."

This might not be the NHL contract that Kessel was looking for, but it is at least something. A lot of players like to explore their passions once they are done playing and it appears as though Kessel is very much doing the same. You can't know a guy for doing that, unless you are a truly deep hater.

This article first appeared on Hockey Unplugged and was syndicated with permission.

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