It seems like Pittsburgh Penguins’ winger Phil Kessel will wear a different jersey once the next NHL season kicks off. According to multiple reports, including one from TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Penguins are working the phones in recent days in an attempt to trade Kessel.
Penguins were eliminated in the first round of Stanley Cup playoffs this season, which prompted the team to think about reconstructing their roster. The team is considering various options, but they would reportedly like to kick off the process by trading Kessel.
The Athletic reports that Pittsburgh already received an offer for Phil Kessel in recent days, with Minnesota Wild prepared to send a package centered on Jason Zucker and Victor Rask. Still, this deal might have a hard time finding traction, as it would require Kessel to waive his no-trade clause. According to sources close to the situation, the 31-year-old isn’t willing to do that at the moment.
Kessel has a partial no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to name eight teams he would be willing to play for. He already handed the list to Penguins, but his these teams still haven’t made a serious offer.
Kessel joined Pittsburgh from Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 in a blockbuster trade that saw Kasperi Kapanen, Scott Harrington, Nick Spaling and a couple of drafts picks heading to the opposite direction. Since then he helped Penguins get to playoffs in each of the past four years, while also winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
