Kukla's Korner Hockey
Report- The Pittsburgh Penguins Will Try To Trade Phil Kessel
by Paul on 05/25/18 at 07:54 AM ET
Comments (8)
from Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
The Penguins are trying to trade Phil Kessel.
That's according to Mark Madden of the team's flagship station, 105.9 FM. He made the statement on his radio show yesterday.
According to Madden, the Penguins are going to try to move Kessel to another team this offseason, and "Kessel is OK with that."
As Madden phrased it, "the key word is try." He couched the chances of a potential deal happening because of Kessel's $6.8 million price tag and his reputation of being a hard player to coach.
Madden cited "sources close to the Penguins and to Phil Kessel." His explanation for Kessel's endorsement of a potential trade stems from two points.
The first of which is Kessel's alleged displeasure over the fact that he hasn't been able to play on a line with Evgeni Malkin full-time, instead being used as the balancing point for head coach Mike Sullivan to spread his top talent over three scoring lines.
The second is "underlying dissatisfaction" between Kessel and Sullivan.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: phil+kessel
Comments
This seems right up KH’s alley for a free agent pickup. Another “veteran presence” for the process, perhaps?
Posted by MikeMac on 05/25/18 at 08:08 AM ET
Too bad he is not a free agent
Posted by George0211 on 05/25/18 at 08:36 AM ET
MikeMac, under performing season?! Kessel had the best season of his career with 92 pts. I call BS on this rumor.
Posted by NHLJeff from Denver on 05/25/18 at 08:46 AM ET
Under-performing season? Check!
Third highest goal total of his career, highest point total of his career, 7th in the league in points.
But please, regale us some more with your accurate analysis.
Posted by CharDeeMacDennis on 05/25/18 at 08:55 AM ET
Underperforming season? Uh, no.These playoffs, perhaps, but the prior two Cups might suggest a mission accomplished.
Posted by Unhealthy Scratch on 05/25/18 at 10:12 AM ET
Has Toronto sports media chimed in yet that they need a guy like Kessel?
Posted by HaHasek on 05/25/18 at 12:36 PM ET
Under-performing season? Check!
Dogpile!
I don’t know how much you could have wanted out of Phil Kessel this season. His playoff was weak most likely due to injury, but under-performing is not a description of his season.
Bloated contract with term still remaining? Check!
Evander Kane just signed a 7/7 deal. Pittsburgh paid 6.8 for a player that undeniably put them over the top and towards back to back cups. It’s a lot going forward, but not a penny too much. Toronto paid 1.2 to watch him lift those cups for someone else. You take the value you can get when you need it.
Posted by PMP5030 on 05/25/18 at 01:46 PM ET
He would certainly add value to a lot of teams but few are going to be willing to take on that cap hit when it is bound to mess up their salary cap structure. Pittsburgh is going to want to free cap space in return so they won’t take any bloated contracts back.
I sincerely hope Pittsburgh cannot move him as they need the cap space going forward.
I wonder if Vegas might be interested? Doesn’t sound like he’d fit into their team concept.
Posted by evileye on 05/30/18 at 11:29 AM ET
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Let’s see…
Aging veteran over 30? Check!
Under-performing season? Check!
Bloated contract with term still remaining? Check!
This seems right up KH’s alley for a free agent pickup. Another “veteran presence” for the process, perhaps?
Posted by MikeMac on 05/25/18 at 08:08 AM ET