Phil Kessel is the sniper who was drafted last at an All-Star Game as Alex Ovechkin laughed and snapped photos. He subtly roasted USA Hockey for omitting him from a World Cup roster that flopped. When his time with the Maple Leafs ended sourly, one Toronto columnist blamed his rumored love of hot dogs.

Kessel placed hot dogs in the Stanley Cup after winning it in back-to-back years. Then he raised the benchmark for NHL durability. When Kessel's Vegas Golden Knights host Toronto on Monday, he'll skate in his 989th consecutive game, equaling the ironman streak Keith Yandle set last season – a mark Doug Jarvis had previously held alone since the late 1980s.

On track to break the record Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks, Kessel must avoid injury for another month to get to 1,000 straight appearances. The winger from Madison, Wisconsin, recently turned 35 and eventually will retire as a 400-goal and 1,000-point scorer, cracking the top 100 all time in both statistical categories.

Kessel's resilience is legendary. Diagnosed with testicular cancer as a rookie, he returned to win the 2007 Bill Masterton Trophy. Shelved with a shoulder ailment to start the 2009-10 season, he debuted with the Leafs that Nov. 3 and hasn't missed a game since. Kessel played one shift on the road in consecutive appearance No. 956, then hopped on a private plane to see his daughter be born.

Kessel is whiny, quippy, and a unique hockey character. When the Penguins visited the White House as Cup champs, President Barack Obama singled him out for kudos. When a realtor staged his Pittsburgh home, he made it seem as though Kessel watches movies in a lonesome chair. When broadcaster Pierre McGuire asked about his stamina, Kessel, misunderstanding the question, apologized for how his breath smelled.

Soon, Phil "The Thrill" will stand alone as the ironman. How did he do it?

Teammates from each of Kessel's career stops – junior, college, and five NHL cities – spoke to theScore to break down what makes him indestructible.