Sidney Crosby 'happy to have' former Leaf Phil Kessel

Sidney Crosby takes part in the Danny Gallivan Golf Tournament on July 9, 2015.

NHL superstar Sidney Crosby says he’s looking forward to playing with new Pittsburgh Penguins sniper Phil Kessel, who was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this summer.

Crosby shared his excitement with CTV Atlantic in a rare off-season interview at the Danny Gallivan Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament on Thursday, in his home province of Nova Scotia.

“There’s a lot of anticipation with Phil coming,” Crosby told CTV Atlantic during a break at the tournament. “It’s a nice addition to our team.”

The Penguins acquired Kessel from the Maple Leafs on July 1, in a move that is expected to push the Pens closer to contention for a Stanley Cup. The 27-year-old Kessel is coming off a disappointing year in Toronto, but many project he will regain his goal-scoring form next year with Crosby as his teammate.

Kessel has scored 30 or more goals four times in his last six seasons, but he fell short of that mark last year, managing only 25 on a bad Maple Leafs squad.

He should have more success next year in Pittsburgh, where he’ll likely play on a line with either Crosby or Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin at centre.

“He’s a great scorer who brings a lot, and offensively he’s going to help any team,” Crosby said. He added that there is “a lot of anticipation” with Kessel now in the fold.

“We’re happy to have him and I think from talking to him, he seems like he’s excited,” Crosby said.

Crosby’s Penguins fell well short of expectations last year, squeaking into the playoffs in the last week of the season, only to lose to the New York Rangers in five games in the first round.

It was the third time in the last six years that the Penguins have lost in the first round, after Crosby led them to a Stanley Cup in 2009. The Penguins haven’t been back to the Stanley Cup final since that 2009 victory, and with Crosby on the verge of his 28th birthday, his skills may start to decline in the next few years.

That’s why the Penguins added Kessel, a tremendously gifted goal-scorer who was often criticized in Toronto for being unable to lift the Maple Leafs into the playoffs. Kessel is epected to help the Penguins contend for the Stanley Cup while Crosby and Malkin are still at the top of their respective games.

The Penguins also picked up Toronto prospects Tyler Biggs and Tim Erixon in the deal, along with a second-round pick. In exchange, the Penguins dealt prospects Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington to Toronto, along with centre Nick Spaling and first- and third-round picks.

Kessel was Toronto’s highest-paid player last year, yet many questioned his leadership, work ethic and dedication to playing defensively.

Kessel will likely play more of a secondary role in Pittsburgh, where Crosby and Malkin are the undisputed top players and leaders on the team.

“It’ll be something everyone’s looking forward to this season,” Crosby said.

Crosby also reflected on the upcoming NHL debut of Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers prospect who many are hailing as the next great player in the game. Crosby says he remembers what it was like to carry that label when he broke into the league 10 years ago. “At that age, you’re so worried about proving yourself and getting to the NHL,” Crosby said. “Sometimes you forget to just live in the moment and enjoy it.”

Crosby recently posed for a photograph with McDavid and “The Great One” himself, Wayne Gretzky. He says he offered McDavid a bit of advice during that meeting.

“Just enjoy it, it goes by quick,” he said.

Crosby said he was impressed by the Newmarket, Ont. native’s poise. “He’s got a lot of expectations but he seems like he’s able to handle it pretty well, and should do great.”

The Penguins captain returned to his hometown of Cole Harbour, N.S. in late June, where he plans to spend the summer training for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

With files from CTV Atlantic