Exploring a Phil Kessel Detroit Red Wings Marriage

The Pittsburgh Penguins are apparently fielding offers on forward Phil Kessel as an attempt to “shake” things up. Should the Detroit Red Wings inquire?

With Phil Kessel allegedly on the trade block at the age of 31, he could be a valuable upgrade for the Detroit Red Wings. First off, the Toronto Maple Leafs pay 1.2 million per year on his 8 million per season contract.

That was the retained salary when they struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins and any other team that may add Kessel to their roster would only need to pay him 6.8 million per season.

I say only because I look at it this way; Phil is 31, and he has played 82 games in each of the last five consecutive seasons. Two years ago he recorded 70 points, last season he notched 92 points and this season thru the first 27 games he has recorded 33 points. He would be the team points leader on the Wings. The current point leaders on Detroit are Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist both with 26 points.

People will shake their head at the idea of adding Kessel, but there is a real possibility he could produce at a similar level that he has been playing on the wing with Larkin being the center. At 31 he still has a lot of tread left on the tires. Imagine a top line of Mantha-Larkin-Kessel.

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You would have the big body, power forward who can score in Anthony Mantha. The budding star who can do everything well in Dylan Larkin. Then add the excellent skating veteran sniper of Phil Kessel.

Needless to say, he would be an immediate upgrade over Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader who have both been skating on the Detroit Red Wings top line. It would not be a “buyer” move by the Wings and Ken Holland; it would be a building block.

It seems the Penguins are interested in clearing up some salary cap space. When you have to play Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin, Kris Letang, and Matt Murray, there are only so many mouths a franchise can feed.

During the back to back Penguins Stanley Cup playoff runs, Phil was a contender for the Conn Smyth Trophy. The first playoffs he had 22 points in 24 games. He had an excellent encore performance the following season knocking in 23 points in 25 games.

Phil Kessel has four years left on his deal. A challenge will be Kessel having a modified trade clause where he has to submit an 8 team list to the Pens where he would accept a trade too. Would he want to go to a rebuilding team? He has a pair of cups but players always want the next one.

The Detroit Red Wings would have to clear space to get him as they are tight against the cap. The way Gustav Nyquist has been playing of late, I can’t imagine the Wings interested in a player for player deal. With Gus being only 29 years old, and a free agent at the end of the season I can’t imagine him interested in a contract extension without testing out the July 1st market. If the Pens had interest in him, they truly are looking to dump salary.

Another player that may work is a Kessel for Howard deal. The Penguins have placed Matt Murray on injured reserved. Ken Holland has high hopes of a yacht full of draft choices in return for the services of Jimmy Howard. The Penguins probably over-value Kessel and would most likely expect a player who is a top 9 forward along with a pick in return.

Next. It feels like now or never for Matt Puempel. dark

I don’t see the Red Wings making a move like this, but it wouldn’t be the worst move Ken Holland had ever made. I expect them to sell Nyquist, Howard and Vanek (if he ever gets going) straight for draft picks and or prospects.

Just imagine if they nabbed Kessel though, and resigned Howard in the offseason. Kessel would be a tremendous upgrade to Thomas Vanek. Then the Wings could also add Filip Zadina into their lineup next season. Detroit would have the potential to open some eyes.

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