Don't Mess With The Metro

Two years, Two Cups, 49 goals, 80 assists and 213 Games Played. Phil Kessel boasts an impressive resume while playing in Pittsburgh however could the 29 year old need that resume for a job search sometime this offseason? The answer: quite possibly. Although the famed “HBK’ line carried the Penguins to the 2016 cup, Phil Kessel and Co. struggled to have the same chemistry on the ice this year. Sidney Crosby was deemed to be better fit with other wingers and Evgeni Malkin stressed displeasure to playing with Kessel (via Pens Beat Writer Ron Cook). While his old linemate Carl Hagelin struggled with injuries chemistry seemed to be an issue at times for the Pens although it didn’t stop them from achieving their ultimate goal. Kessel at 29 is still a premier winger in the NHL, and on most teams would be a top line Winger while the Pens carry a blatant need at center. Trading Kessel for a Center and picks or a prospect and picks could open many possibilities for the Penguins. 

There are two likely possibilities to Kessel’s future as a Penguin, and a lot of it rests on the shoulders of Mike Sullivan, head coach, and Jim Rutherford, GM. If Sullivan doesn't believe that Malkin’s game isn’t benefitting from Kessel, or vice versa, Sullivan will speak out against the two working together, as he did when Kessel and Crosby worked together back in 2015. If Rutherford fields a right offer for Kessel, he will ship him off. Kessel’s value in terms of points shows how much of an asset he is to this team, but will that matter if him and Malkin, let alone him and Crosby, can’t work?

Yesterday DMWTM published an article stating the Penguins’ need for a 3rd line center to compliment Crosby and Malkin and replace Kessel’s old linemate Nick Bonino. It stated guys like Matt Duchene, Henrik Zetterberg and Vladislav Namestnikov as trade targets for the Pens to fill that 3c role. Trading Kessel would not only open cap space to sign a 3c it could also grab the Pens a prospect and a pick that they could deal for one of these guys to fix up their bottom 6. Trading Phil Kessel leaves the Penguins an abundance of possible moves in their attempt for a 3rd straight cup.

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