"I want to thank all of the Toronto fans for all the support you have shown me," Kessel wrote on his verified Twitter account. "I will miss you and this city and always consider Toronto home."
Kessel, who is from Wisconsin, is a five-time 30-goal scorer with 227 goals in 668 NHL games, including 181 goals with Toronto during the past six seasons.
"Toronto was a place I loved, and it's not easy leaving that, even with everything else," Kessel told DKonPittsburghSports.com after the trade. "That's the first thought. And then after that, I just see this as an opportunity, a great opportunity to be part of something special in Pittsburgh with some great players."
Kessel, forward Tyler Biggs, defenseman Tim Erixon and a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft were traded to Pittsburgh for defenseman Scott Harrington, forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nick Spaling, and first- and third-round picks in 2016.
"Obviously, I'm looking forward to this and having a fresh start," Kessel said in July. "I'm actually really excited about that part of it."
Kessel, who had 25 goals in 82 games last season, is signed for seven more seasons with an $8 million NHL salary-cap charge. Toronto retains $1.25 million per year of Kessel's salary.
"It's a nice addition to our team, obviously," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby told CTV News Atlantic on July 9. "He's a great scorer, he brings a lot, and offensively he's going to help any team. So we're happy to have him, and I think from talking to him he seems like he's excited, and I think it'll be something that everyone's looking forward to this season, a lot of anticipation."
Meanwhile former Pens defenseman Christian Ehrhoff agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The Orange County Register reported that general manager Dean Lombardi confirmed the contract was worth $1.5 million. Ehrhoff had three goals and 14 points in 49 games for the Penguins last season, averaging 21:45 of ice time. He missed 28 of Pittsburgh's final 34 regular-season games with a concussion and other injury issues, and did not play after March 24. The 33-year-old has 72 goals, 327 points, 483 penalty minutes and a plus-59 rating in 741 regular-season games during 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and Penguins. He has seven goals, 34 points, 64 penalty minutes and a minus-12 rating in 73 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and was a member of the Vancouver team that lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Final in 2011.Kessel, who is from Wisconsin, is a five-time 30-goal scorer with 227 goals in 668 NHL games, including 181 goals with Toronto during the past six seasons.
"Toronto was a place I loved, and it's not easy leaving that, even with everything else," Kessel told DKonPittsburghSports.com after the trade. "That's the first thought. And then after that, I just see this as an opportunity, a great opportunity to be part of something special in Pittsburgh with some great players."
Kessel, forward Tyler Biggs, defenseman Tim Erixon and a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft were traded to Pittsburgh for defenseman Scott Harrington, forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nick Spaling, and first- and third-round picks in 2016.
"Obviously, I'm looking forward to this and having a fresh start," Kessel said in July. "I'm actually really excited about that part of it."
Kessel, who had 25 goals in 82 games last season, is signed for seven more seasons with an $8 million NHL salary-cap charge. Toronto retains $1.25 million per year of Kessel's salary.
"It's a nice addition to our team, obviously," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby told CTV News Atlantic on July 9. "He's a great scorer, he brings a lot, and offensively he's going to help any team. So we're happy to have him, and I think from talking to him he seems like he's excited, and I think it'll be something that everyone's looking forward to this season, a lot of anticipation."
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