NHL Trade Rumors: Top 6 trade candidates following NHL draft

1. Phil Kessel

Age: 31
Position: RW
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

After disappointing results in the Stanley Cup playoffs in both 2016-17 and 2017-18, the Pittsburgh Penguins have just one fundamental goal for the next few seasons — stay competitive while Sidney Crosby remains a dominant force. As such, the prospect of GM Jim Rutherford moving pieces that seemed to be staples of Pittsburgh’s roster has become all the more fathomable in recent weeks, with right winger Phil Kessel at the forefront of public rumination.

A proven point-getter, Kessel offers interested parties a valuable commodity in today’s NHL — an easy goal on a consistent basis. The 31-year-old has had campaigns of 70 or more points in the past three years and has not missed a game in six consecutive seasons. He also remains a devastating threat on the power play, having netted 30 points in 2016-17, 42 in 2017-18 and 36 in 2018-19, respectively.

The most difficult part of moving on from Kessel is the power that the player carries within negotiating circles. The forward recently vetoed a move to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for the aforementioned Zucker, a process that culminated with both parties experiencing frustrated with the way that the prospective deal fell apart. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that the Penguins’ marriage between organization and player has been strained — perhaps beyond the point of return.

Whatever the case, look for speculation surrounding Kessel to continue to swirl. A concrete decision is coming soon.

And make no mistake: it is no longer a matter of if…but when.