Adam Williams
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          • FLOWER BLOOMS AGAINST PREDATORS
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          • PENGUINS BLANK DEFENDING CHAMPS
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          • RANGERS END MULTIPLE STREAKS IN 5-0 DRUBBING OF PENGUINS
          • PENS CLOSE OUT ROAD TRIP WITH TOUGH FOUGHT WIN
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          • BENNETT, FLEURY LEAD PENS OVER CANADIENS
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          • ISLANDERS SWEEP HOME AND HOME SERIES
          • FLOWER PICKS UP FIFTH SHUTOUT WIN VERSUS RIVAL DEVILS
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Pens Interested in Kessel?

Picture
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
June 22, 2015

It is another year where the Pittsburgh Penguins are searching for a top-6 winger to play with either/or Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.  Nevermind the fact that they already possess Patric Hornqvist, David Perron, Chris Kunitz and a hopefully soon-to-be healthy Pascal Dupuis.  All facts aside, the newest name that has sparked the imaginations of the Pittsburgh faithful is American born winger Phil Kessel.

Kessel, 27, has spent the last six seasons in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.  Over that time, he has amassed 181 goals; a skill the Penguins would love to add to their line-up.  What is lost on Kessel and his career is his durability, especially as of late.  He has not missed one game these past five seasons.

What there is to question about Kessel is his defensive play, but more so his effort defensively.  While he's not as much of a liability as some other players in the league, his play in the defensive zone can be called into question.  The Penguins were one of the better defensive teams last season, so is it worth sacrificing to get a goal scorer?
Also to mention is his mental stability.  There were times last season where he became quite outspoken about the Toronto media.  That issue does not bother me personally.  The media can be vultures sometimes and in a toxic environment as Toronto was, who would not want to lash out?  Him speaking his mind and speaking out does not bother me in the slightest and a change of scenery could easily change his erratic behavior, as some may call it.

Lastly, let's mention the biggest factor that could prevent a Kessel to Pittsburgh trade: $8 million dollars.  His cap hit would only add to the top heavy forward roster of the Penguins.  It would only hamper progress in the future to add valuable pieces if needed.  While it would be great to have an elite goal scoring winger, is taking on that kind of money and term wise?

I see the talk of Kessel and Pittsburgh out there but Leafs don't want to retain salary. Tough to see a fit in that scenario.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) June 22, 2015
Now, Toronto does not have to trade the winger.  They are simply fielding interest.  The same goes for the Penguins in terms of how willing Toronto is to move him.  What would it take to get Kessel?  Of course, everyone's first instinct is to trade Chris Kunitz, Rob Scuderi and Beau Bennett.  While it's nice to dream that scenario up and think Toronto would take that deal, it's highly improbable.  I don't know what it would take, but I'd assume either Derrick Pouliot or Olli Maatta's name would be part of it somehow.

I'm not opposed to the team looking to improve, but I do not think Kessel is the piece nor do I think the Penguins are even able to give Toronto back what they would be looking for.  There are not enough assets or at least valuable ones for Toronto to make the trade.  All in all, I think it is wishful thinking, but I guess we'll see in the coming months.

For more on the situation, be sure to read the following pieces:
  • HockeyBuzz
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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  • Home
  • My Books
    • Rest Easy, My Pounding Heart
  • About
    • Book Update
    • Taking a Powder
  • Sports
    • NHL >
      • The Pensimist Podcast
      • Pittsburgh Penguins >
        • 2018 Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Deadline Projections
        • Pittsburgh Penguins 2016 Off-Season Blog
        • 2016 Penguins Trade Deadline
        • 2015 Pittsburgh Penguins Offseason
        • Pens Interested in Kessel?
        • The Magnificent Malkin Drama
        • Reaction to Pens Trade Deadline Acquisitions
        • Penguins Lose Dupuis For Six Months
        • Pens, Fleury Agree to Four Year Extension
        • Penguins Training Camp Thoughts
        • A Look At Potential Penguins Lines
        • New Penguins, New Numbers
        • Penguins Sign Steve Downie
        • Penguins Head Coach, Free Agency, Trade Updates
        • Penguins Head Coaching Prospects
        • Penguins Free Agent Wishlist
        • Penguins New Look...So Far
        • Pens New GM, Neal Wants Out?, WBS to Game 6
        • Shero out as Pens GM; More Change to Come
        • Pittsburgh Penguins: What's Wrong?
      • Game Reviews/Recaps >
        • 2014-15 Game Reviews >
          • PENGUINS, JOHNSTON WIN FIRST GAME OF SEASON
          • PENGUINS SURGE PAST MAPLE LEAFS
          • STARS OUT IN FORCE, DEFEAT PENGUINS
          • PENGUINS DOWN UNDEFEATED ISLANDERS
          • FLYERS FLY PAST PENGUINS
          • LATE SURGE PUSHES WINGS PAST PENGUINS
          • FLOWER BLOOMS AGAINST PREDATORS
          • COLD START LEADS TO HOT FINISH: PENS ROMP 8-3
          • PENGUINS BLANK DEFENDING CHAMPS
          • PENGUINS SWEEP HOMESTAND
          • PENS RUN WILD OVER MINNESOTA
          • SHOOTOUT IN WINNIPEG FAVORS PENGUINS
          • CROSBY, PENS CRUISE TO SEVEN STRAIGHT
          • RANGERS END MULTIPLE STREAKS IN 5-0 DRUBBING OF PENGUINS
          • PENS CLOSE OUT ROAD TRIP WITH TOUGH FOUGHT WIN
          • UNUSUAL FINISH GIVES PENGUINS THE REDEMPTION WIN
          • BENNETT, FLEURY LEAD PENS OVER CANADIENS
          • OKPOSO, ISLANDERS WIN SHOOTOUT OVER PENGUINS
          • ISLANDERS SWEEP HOME AND HOME SERIES
          • FLOWER PICKS UP FIFTH SHUTOUT WIN VERSUS RIVAL DEVILS
          • ORPIK, NISKANEN HAUNT PENGUINS IN RETURN
          • PENGUINS END 2014 WITH NEEDED VICTORY
          • CROSBY'S OT WINNER PUSHES PENGUINS PAST HABS
        • 2014-15 Game Recaps >
          • Game 1: Anaheim Ducks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 2: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
          • Game 3: Dallas Stars vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 4: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 5: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings
          • Game 7: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Nashville Predators
          • Game 8: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 9- Los Angeles Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 10: Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 11: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild
          • Game 12: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Winnipeg Jets
          • Game 13: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres
          • Game 14: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
          • Game 15: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
          • Game 16: New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 17: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
          • Game 18: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 19: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
          • Game 24: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 35- Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 37- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
          • Game 41: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
      • Fantasy Hockey Team #1- The Last of Us
      • Fantasy Hockey Team #2- Canadensis Malsby
      • 2014-15 NHL Bold Predictions
      • 2014 NHL Free Agent Frenzy
      • NHL Free Agency Predictions
      • 2014 NHL Draft Winners and Losers
    • Wrestling >
      • 2016 WWE PPV Reactions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fastlane
      • 2016 WWE PPV Predictions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fastlane
      • 2015 WWE PPV Reactions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
      • 2015 PPV Predictions >
        • WWE Royal Rumble
        • WWE Fast Lane
        • WWE Wrestlemania 31
      • 2014 PPV Predictions >
        • WWE Survivor Series Predictions
        • WWE Hell In A Cell Predictions
        • WWE Night of Champions Predictions
        • WWE SummerSlam Predictions
        • WWE Battleground Predictions
        • WWE Money In The Bank Predictions
        • WWE Payback Predictions
      • The Shield >
        • Dean Ambrose- Best in the World?
        • R.I.P. The Shield
        • Dean Ambrose
        • Believe In The Shield
      • Wrestling Articles >
        • Macho Madness: Randy Savage's Long Overdue Induction
        • NXT R Evolution Predictions
        • Fantasy Booking Kevin Owens Debut
        • Sting Strikes at Survivor Series
        • Let the Madness Begin: Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt
        • Knockouts Outshine Divas
        • The Wyatt Family and What's Next...
        • Main Event and Smackdown Spoilers- September 9, 2014
        • Brock Lesnar: How Will He Be Booked?
        • "Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman" DVD Review
        • Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon
        • What's Wrong with WWE Countdown
  • TV
    • TV on Netflix >
      • Your Lie in April
      • Low Winter Sun- Netflix Binge
      • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp- Netflix Binge
      • The Killing- Netflix Binge
      • The Red Road- Netflix Binge
      • Flashpoint- Netflix Binge
      • Archer- Netflix Binge
      • The 100- Netflix Binge Watch
      • Mixology- Netflix Binge Watch
      • The Spoils of Babylon Review
      • Boss on Netflix
      • Baby Daddy- Netflix Binge Watch
      • Sons of Anarchy- Netflix Binge Watch
    • We're on in 3, 2, 1...Welcome to Sports Night
    • Hidden Gem- Hidden Palms
    • The Day I Met Austin St. John
    • Mountain Monsters
  • Film
    • Netflix Pix >
      • They Look Like People
      • Queen of Earth
      • Toad Road
      • Compliance
      • Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story
      • If I Stay
      • They Came Together
      • Wet Hot American Summer
      • Three Night Stand
      • Rich Hill
      • Save The Date
      • Live at The Foxes Den
      • Wish You Were Here
      • Goon
      • Liberal Arts
      • Dragonfyre
      • Jugface
      • Adore
      • Forgetting the Girl
      • Awful Nice
      • Grand Piano
      • The Dirties
      • We Are What We Are
      • A Teacher
      • The Lifeguard
    • Reviews >
      • The Dust Storm
      • Bokeh
      • Something Real and Good
      • Nightcrawler
      • The Lonliest Planet
      • The Skeleton Twins
      • Girl Most Likely
      • Bad Turn Worse
      • Starry Eyes
      • Mean Creek
      • White Bird in a Blizzard
      • Come Back To Me
      • The Don Cherry Story
      • Breathe In
      • Bridgend
      • Silent House
      • Not Waving, But Drowning
      • The Sacrament
      • After The Dark
      • Blue Ruin
      • BENT
      • Sharknado 2
      • Carrie
      • Brick
    • Back To Action? New Power Rangers Film
    • "Where Does He Go At Night?" Donnie Darko
  • Music
    • Top 10 >
      • Top 10- Ligeia Songs
      • Top 10- The Saddest Landscape Songs
      • Top 10- Emmure Songs
    • Reviews >
      • Classic CD's >
        • Classic CD- Chevelle "Wonder What's Next"
        • Classic CD- The Modern Day Saint ...And Tomorrow We Will Have Nothing
        • Classic CD- Emmure "Goodbye to the Gallows"
        • Classic CD- The Fray "How to Save a Life"
        • Classic CD- The Saddest Landscape "All is Apologized For. All is Forgiven"
        • Classic CD- Ligeia "Your Ghost Is A Gift"
      • Slaves- Routine Breathing
      • Angus and Julia Stone- Angus and Julia Stone
      • We Came As Romans- We Came As Romans
      • Pianos Become The Teeth- Keep You
      • Keyes- Wandermere
      • Heart In Hand- A Beautiful White
      • Slaves- Through Art We Are All Equals
      • Volumes- No Sleep
      • La Dispute- Wildlife
      • Pianos Become The Teeth- The Lack Long After
      • Heart in Hand- Only Memories
      • Emmure- Eternal Enemies
  • Personal
    • Lyrics >
      • To Madison (Kirsti)
      • On That Wintry Night
      • The Slumbering Tongue
      • Room 147
      • Illusion of Night
      • "I Never Thought I'd Catch A Writer With No Words"
      • Delay
      • The Ballad of Brendan Wayne and Mikela Austen
      • Roam
    • Stories >
      • ...And It's like We Never Existed >
        • 1. Introduction
        • 2. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 1
        • 3. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 2
        • 4. Waiting For Answers
        • 5. Midnight Murmurs and Pinky Promises
        • 6. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 3
        • 7. To Madison (Kirsti)
        • 8. Quiver
        • 9. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 4
        • 10. Running in Circles from the Squares
        • 11. Foundations
        • 12. Carlisle Nights
        • 13. Rest Easy My Pounding Heart, Pt. 5
        • 14. The Storm in Between Separate Sets of Sheets
        • 15. Ruminating on Repeat
        • 16. Starlit Skies Filled with Solemn Sighs
        • 17. What We Knew Is Not What We Know Now
        • 18. These February Nights
        • 19. Conclusion
  • Contact