Penguins Phil Kessel forges new path without Rick Tocchet

When Rick Tocchet left the Penguins to become head coach of the Arizona Coyotes this summer, the narrative started almost immediately.

What would happen with Phil Kessel?

Tocchet was Kessel’s guy, his caretaker.

It got so out of control that you could have sworn Tocchet was some sort of Phil whisperer.

While you may have been concerned at home, in Toronto, Kessel was hardly worried. He was happy for his friend, sure, but Kessel doesn’t feel Tocchet was his bodyguard, butler or anything of the like.

“Obviously that’s not true,” Kessel told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sunday morning. “Me and Rick were good buddies. Rick’s a great guy and a great coach. I wish him well. He’s going to do great in…