On this day, June 24th, the Boston Bruins drafted future All-Star winger Phil Kessel with the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Kessel made his NHL debut on October 6th, 2006, against the Florida Panthers. After 26 career games, the rookie was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December and returned after beating it in January of 2007, missing just 11 games.
In September 2009, Kessel was traded to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2010 first-round pick (Tyler Seguin), a 2011 first-round pick (Dougie Hamilton) and a 2010 second-round pick (Jared Knight).
The Madison, Wisconsin native has gone on the dress in 1,204 career games, recording 399 goals and 956 assists for 956 total points with the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Arizona Coyotes.
Kessel won the Bill Masterson Award in 2007, was an All-Star in 2011, 2012 and 2015, and hoisted the Stanley Cup twice with the Penguins (2016 and 2017).
