Coyotes ticket sales up 550 percent from 2018 after Kessel trade

Arizona Coyotes fans are thrilled to see Phil.

Following the acquisition of Phil Kessel, the club's ticket sales have increased by 550 percent compared to the same week last summer, according to the Arizona Republic's Richard Morin.

The Coyotes have also seen an uptick in their website traffic, mobile app visits, and social media engagement since the June 29 trade that brought Kessel to the desert. Additionally, 94 percent of season-ticket holders have renewed for next season - the highest mark since 2004.

"It's certainly satisfying and exciting to see us doing something as a franchise that we feel makes us a much more competitive team and puts us in a better position to win," Coyotes president and CEO Ahron Cohen said, according to Morin. "The fact that other people in this market are seeing that, fans are seeing that, and they're jumping on board, it's good, positive momentum for this organization."

Kessel ranks eighth in the NHL in goals since entering the league in 2006-07 and hasn't missed a game since 2009-10. He's totaled 174 points over the past two seasons, marking the most productive two-year stretch of his career.

"Obviously, Phil is an elite player," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said earlier in July. "Personally I can't (recall) the last time we've had a player of this caliber who has had this production and this resume on this team. I think it's exciting for our fans and it's exciting for our players."

The Coyotes finished just four points out of the playoffs last season despite an injury-riddled campaign. They were one of the league's top defensive teams but finished 27th in scoring - a weakness that Kessel will certainly help address.