{"id":47150,"date":"2019-05-18T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T14:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=47150"},"modified":"2020-12-21T15:10:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T20:10:19","slug":"pittsburgh-penguins-phil-kessel-trade-rumours-and-the-arizona-coyotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2019\/05\/18\/pittsburgh-penguins-phil-kessel-trade-rumours-and-the-arizona-coyotes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh Penguins Phil Kessel Trade Rumours and the Arizona Coyotes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It seems that at about this time every year since he was acquired the Phil Kessel<\/a><\/strong> trade rumours stick their head through the ice surface of PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

This time around the rumours may<\/em> have some validity. It seems that general manager\u00a0Jim Rutherford<\/a> <\/strong>is more open to trading his star 31-year-old right winger to seek new pastures. It has been reported<\/a> that head coach Mike Sullivan<\/a><\/strong> is tiring of Kessel\u2019s antics and did all he could to keep the team together. There was even speculation that Kessel and Evgeni Malkin<\/a><\/strong> were not seeing eye-to-eye.<\/p>\n

Phil Kessel Trade Rumours Again<\/h1>\n

There are many teams who would love to add a proven scorer (even if he is a pain) to their roster. Teams needing scoring come to mind the most.<\/p>\n

Like the Arizona Coyotes<\/a>. Kessel being rumoured to join his former assistant coach Rick Tocchet<\/a><\/strong> (who was in Pittsburgh) is not old news. Last June it was also talked about but nothing transpired. Can the Coyotes who were a horrible 28th<\/sup> in the NHL in scoring with just 2.55 goals per game, be looking at adding the talented forward again?<\/p>\n

This time the likelihood seems a bit more plausible with the Arizona club missing the playoffs by a mere four points. The Colorado Avalanche<\/a> finished strongly to take the last wild-card spot. What general manager John Chayka<\/strong> of the Coyotes must be thinking is\u2026 what would it take to convince Kessel to come to Arizona? And what assets would Chayka need to give up to get him?<\/p>\n

One Trade Proposal<\/h2>\n

If Kessel has the Coyotes on his list of teams he would accept a trade to, then who could the Yotes offer for Kessel\u2019s services?<\/p>\n

One suggestion could be offering young right-wing Christian Fischer<\/a><\/strong> along with right wing\/left wing Richard Panik<\/a><\/strong>. Fischer has completed two years of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent on July 1st<\/sup> next year. If signed he would be expected to get a raise and a longer-term contract perhaps in the $2-3 million range. Panik is an unrestricted free agent and depending on who you talk to may or may not be in the future plans of the Arizona team.<\/p>\n

Fischer is just 22-years-old and has really not progressed offensively. At 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds, he\u2019s just the type of player who would fit in nicely in Pittsburgh. He hasn\u2019t exactly burned up the scoreboard with just 29 goals and 25 assists for 54 points in 157 games. He has just a 0.34 points per game average. Because of his size, he is a good defensive player and can crash the net. The Coyotes were hoping he could develop into a power forward type player who could resemble Shane Doan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Panik, 28-years-old has completed his two-year $5.6 million contract and could also help the Penguins with his physical style of play as well as being an above average penalty killer. He has deposited 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points in 110 games with the Coyotes. That comes to a 0.47 points per game average. He is a good possession player with 51.8 percent Corsi-for and a +2.6 relative Corsi.<\/p>\n

Now if that were not enough to entice the Penguins then the Coyotes do retain the 14th<\/sup> overall selection in the NHL draft.<\/p>\n

Phil Kessel\u2019s Stats Are Difficult to Not Like<\/h2>\n