Fansided

Report: Phil Kessel would accept a trade to eight teams

By Nathaniel Reeves

Apr 8, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel (81) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Jackets won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly hoping to trade one of the NHL’s most prolific goal scorers ahead of the NHL Draft.

It is widely believed that the floundering Toronto Maple Leafs will try to deal star forward Phil Kessel in an attempt to get some young value before the NHL Draft on June 26. On Saturday, the framework for a potential blockbuster deal became a little more clear.

Kessel has a limited no-trade clause in his eight-year, $64 million deal, making things a little more difficult for the team. However, Kessel would accept a trade to eight teams according to a report from Bob McKenzie of TSN.

"Kessel’s limited NTC is believed to include eight teams he can be traded to. Prior to the trade deadline, TSN reported those eight teams were believed to be: Boston; Chicago; Los Angeles; Minnesota; Montreal; New York Rangers; Philadelphia; and Pittsburgh."

McKenzie adds that Toronto can ask Kessel to amend the list if a suitable deal is found and that he can add new teams to the clause on June 30.

It makes sense that the Maple Leafs would be looking to deal Kessel before the draft. Toronto finished 2014 with just 68 points, have a long way to go before they are ready to compete, and are ready to usher in a new era under head coach Mike Babcock.

Kessel is the kind of player who would provide enough young value to kickstart that rebuild. The 27-year-old has scored 181 goals over his six-year career and is fifth in the NHL with 275 points over the last four years.

The problem is that a trade might be difficult to complete with Kessel’s no-trade clause. Most teams on that list are in win-now mode, meaning they either don’t have the young pieces to complete a trade or would run into too much cap trouble to make Kessel worth it, as good as he is.

One exception would be the Philadelphia Flyers, but it wouldn’t make much sense for them to acquire Kessel when they are facing a rebuild themselves.

Perhaps the most interesting fit of the eight would be the Minnesota Wild. Minnesota has a very good young team that could be just one goal scorer away from winning the Stanley Cup.

The Wild can still have a strong young core even if they deal a few players. There would have to be some salary shifting, but Kessel could be a huge step forward for Minnesota.

It would be interesting to see the Maple Leafs complete a trade with archrival Montreal for a star player. However, that would probably require the Canadiens to part with at least Alex Galchenyuk, which they might not be willing to do.

The Maple Leafs desperately need to sell off whatever veteran parts they can, and Kessel would make just about any team in the NHL better. But finding a suitable trading partner could prove to be a difficult task.

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