Penguins/NHL
Kessel Trade Talk has re-emerged
Industry buzz when the Penguins were really floundering a few weeks ago is that if the team misses the playoffs or has an early playoff exit, most likely scenario, Phil Kessel will come out of it as the scapegoat and be traded.
And a growing consensus among NHL executives is that Pittsburgh will not win a Kessel trade whether one happens during this season or next summer.
Pittsburgh tested the trade market for Kessel last May/June, getting varying levels of interest from the likes of the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, league sources say.
At the end of the day, none of the four teams took the plunge and all backed out of talks during the week leading into the draft.
Pittsburgh was the aggressive initiator in a some of these talks. The team offered Kessel to Florida for [hide] Nick Bjugstad, something executives have believed could reconvene at some-point, though, indications are Florida decided against going through with the deal because of the $10 million in signing bonuses Kessel is due in the final two years of his contract.
So why is Kessel trade talk now back in the news?
Elliotte Friedman reports the Penguins did test the market again on Kessel, which is consistent with talk among rival clubs that Kessel is likely playing his last season in Pittsburgh, barring the team making a very deep run.
They’re holding off for now…….
“[From Friedman: 8. According to multiple sources, Pittsburgh “tested the market” on Phil Kessel. This one is tricky, because the Penguins appear to have decided to hold off on anything involving him for the time being, but that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t be revisited. Three weeks ago, the Penguins were last in the Eastern Conference. Tuesday’s win over Colorado put them within two points of the playoffs, and who is betting against them? GM Jim Rutherford’s been searching for ways to upgrade the roster. He’s made two moves — Carl Hagelin to Los Angeles for Tanner Pearson, Daniel Sprong to Anaheim for Marcus Pettersson — but is eyeing more. The Penguins don’t have a ton to trade without seriously altering the team. Kessel has some control of the process with partial no-trade protection. Toronto still pays $1.2 million of his $8-million salary. The winger has 10 goals and 29 points in 26 games, so the production is still there. We’ll see where it goes.]”
Kessel can block trades to 22 teams and has three years left on his contract. [/hide]
