Kessel: 'I'm going to do whatever I can' to make Coyotes a playoff team

Phil Kessel is determined to help the Arizona Coyotes return to the postseason.

"You want to prove to people that you want to be better than you have in the past," the productive winger told reporters at his introductory news conference Tuesday, according to Alex Kinkopf of the club's official website.

"I want to make this team into a playoff team, I want to do that, I have that in my gut to try and make that happen, and I'm going to do whatever I can to make that happen."

Kessel, whom the Coyotes landed in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk in late June, said Tuesday he's optimistic about his new squad.

Arizona finished four points out of a playoff berth in 2018-19 despite losing starting goaltender Antti Raanta to a season-ending injury midway through the campaign.

"I think this is a good group of guys, a good young team, and as of last year you can see that they're building something here. I want to be a part of that," Kessel continued. "My time in Pittsburgh was coming to an end, I felt that, and I think this is a great situation for me and I want to help this team any way I can."

He played four seasons for the Penguins before being dealt after spending six campaigns with the Toronto Maple Leafs and his first three with the Boston Bruins.

Kessel had a brief message for Coyotes fans at Tuesday's event:

And now, a message from the man himself, @PKessel81. #KachinaKessel pic.twitter.com/DqtNoM9gxM

- Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) September 3, 2019

Can you feel the excitement?

For those in a calendar-marking mood, Kessel will make his return to Pittsburgh on Dec. 6.

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