NHL Trade Rumors: 15 players who may be moved this summer
By Simon Vacca
2. Phil Kessel
Age: 31
Position: RW
Current Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
If you are Jim Rutherford, you can look at the prospect of dealing RW Phil Kessel as either a “glass half full” or a “glass half empty” type of situation.
On the one hand, the 31-year-old should yield some kind of favorable return. Goals are expensive at the professional level, and the winger can surely provide ample opportunities for scoring regardless of the organization that he finds himself a part of once a trade materializes.
On the other hand, Kessel has the capacity to carry power at the negotiating table, which makes a move that categorically benefits the Pittsburgh Penguins that much more difficult to set into motion. He recently did not hesitate to shy away from rejecting a swap to the Minnesota Wild, and both sides are rumored to be disappointed with the manner in which the trade collapsed.
If reports that Kessel’s relationship with the Penguins franchise has been strained are to be believed, then the offseason could be a long one for Rutherford & Co. The Penguins are at something of a crossroads, as the present moment dictates that a move — or moves — of sort will have to be made if the team can still be competitive while Sidney Crosby continues to produce.
It might not be easy, but look for Kessel to be the subject of speculative discussion as the offseason advances.