Penguins/NHL
Latest Pens Buzz
[Penguins still in on Zucker, Rask?]
[Zucker, Kessel possible teammates in ARI?]
[2nd Western team not on Kessel’s list gathering intel]
Penguins continue to pursue trade talks for Jason Zucker
In the aftermath of Phil Kessel officially nixing a trade to the Minnesota Wild last week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have continued to pursue a trade for Jason Zucker, TIOPS has learned.
The Penguins emerged out of their pro scouting meetings in early May with Zucker a favorite among Pittsburgh’s pro scouts and the coaching staff, which has seen Pittsburgh make a revised offer (excluding Kessel) for Zucker, while the original deal is still on the table if Kessel changes his mind.
[hide] Bryan Rust has been a new name discussed in talks, per sources.
Minnesota over the weekend is said to have begun exploring other deals for Zucker, but Pittsburgh and Minnesota continue to keep touch and the Penguins willingness in taking on Viktor Rask ($4 million cap hit through 21-22) to land Zucker (with or without Kessel involved) still gives them a seat at the table for now.
Zucker’s lofty $5.5 million cap hit for the next four years doesn’t concern the Penguins one bit, though, it probably should.
Sources say Rutherford views a potential Zucker acquisition as another key development in revamping the top-9 forward group for the present and future, following his trades for Jared McCann, Nick Blugstad last February.
— Here’s a wild scenario getting talked about from some circles:
Phil Kessel and Jason Zucker go from almost being traded for each other to being teammates with the Arizona Coyotes?
It won’t be a shock to a few executives as some believe Arizona’s patient approach in the Kessel talks eventually pays off for them in getting a favorable deal for the soon to be 32 year old.
As for Zucker?
Arizona is hot after Zucker with a Zucker for Christian Dvorak deal believed to have been offered by Minnesota.
One executive predicted a Zucker acquisition would see Arizona try to move Michael Grabner as part of a deal for Kessel. The Penguins brought Kessel in for a visit during 2018 free agency before breaking off talks with the Grabner camp to sign Jack Johnson.
……
— Industry buzz is Pittsburgh has approached the Calgary Flames about some possible trade scenarios surrounding Kessel. Whether the Flames decide to pursue Kessel is not clear yet but there are strong indications over the last 72 hours that the Flames have been gathering intel on whether Calgary would be a place that Kessel would consider before they go any farther.
I don’t think we’ll see another situation like Pittsburgh-Minnesota where they complete the framework of the trade gets finalized/leaked without knowing Kessel’s intentions beforehand. [/hide]
Why would this team want to take on another bad contract? They already have like 5. Kessel isn’t one of them. Worry about moving the bad fucking contracts you have.
Good job in Kessel by screwing over the Pens. I 100% support him. Players and fans like him, but our idiot GM and Coach don’t like him. I think it’s the GM and Coach who have overstayed their time here. Hopefully they take Morehouse and Guerin with them. This team is projecting down and fast. Mario, sell now while you still have value. In 3 years, this organization will be a dumpster fire with 2 over the hill stars.
Why the infatuation with Zucker? Apparently he is a 1 dimensional player who doesn’t take well to coaching. That works with with our blockhead coach.
Kessel for 6.5 Is a steal. Sucks he’s the fall guy.
We did this crap with Neal too. Then we had a huge goal scoring void so we had to go all in for Kessel. We’ll be doing the same in a year or two for the new goal scoring winger after we realize the organization and fans don’t have the stomach to watch grind out games where they can only muster 2 or 3 goals….not to mention we don’t have the defense for it either.
Kessel >>>>> Neal, not even close to the same thing.
It’s the same situation. Trading Malkin’s 30-40 goal scoring winger because some coach and front office person doesn’t like their practice habits or attitude. These suits need to get over themselves and realize it’s the players who are the important ones.
Neal had a bad rep in the locker room.
JN off the ice antics doomed him – go old frosty
He was a fucken liability in every way but that shot ffs. This isn’t a mystery… there is a good reason he’s been on three teams, going on 4, since Pittsburgh and why his numbers have cliffed. His first shift in the 2016 finals was exactly why he was shipped out of town. Hornqvist draws a penalty and Neal reacts by punching the Penguin next to him setting the Pens up with a 2 man advantage. He’s a fucken moron… that’s why it was a trade that had to happen. He is bigger than Kessel, suffers some of the same… Read more »
interesting Zucker for Rust Ill take that….
or Zucker and Rask $ $9.5 (rask will do well in Pittsburgh solid player off year)
for Rust and Johnson $7.8
$ 1.7 million difference salary….
thn we peddle kessel to Arizona
Kessel and Matta $$10.9
Grabner dman – Hjalmarsson $8 million
$1.9 million dofference
Mario needs to re- evaluate all. Gmjr kinda poo his pants the last 2 years imo.
GMJR did his job, he needs to step aside now.
Agreed……….. just period he’s a cold sore waiting to blister.
Trade Letang