NHL insider reveals the real motivation behind the Kessel trade.

Kessel has worn out his welcome.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
NHL insider reveals the real motivation behind the Kessel trade.
Peter Joneleit/CSM/Zuma

It appears that Phil Kessel's time as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins is well and truly over.

By now you have probably all heard the rumors regarding the possibility of Kessel being traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins but if you're like me you've probably been wondering why the Penguins would consider such a move. Kessel has his flaws to be certain but when you consider the fact that the guy is a consistent offensive producer and is doing so at a very reasonable $6.8 million per season, you have to wonder what Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is thinking.'

Even in a down year for the Penguins the veteran forward produced 27 goals and 55 assists for a total of 82 points over a full 82 game season in which he appeared in every game. That level of consistency and durability are hard to come by in the National Hockey League and if the Penguins believe they will find another point per game player to swap Kessel for at under $6.8 million per season, I think they are insane. This of course all looks very questionable on the part of the Pittsburgh Penguins, unless of course there are other motivating factors behind the desire to trade Kessel and get him out of town.

On Saturday Sportsnet's National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman hinted at the fact that problems behind the scenes between Kessel and the Pittsburgh Penguins organization may have played a role in this past season unraveling for the Penguins. In fact those problems, combined with the fact that Kessel allegedly blocked a 4 player trade this week, may be why the news of the failed trade leaked in the first place. Friedman hinted at this as well in his most recent 31 Thoughts, from Friedman:

Here’s my sense of what’s going on with Phil Kessel: he vetoed a trade to Minnesota and the story is out because both teams are unhappy. He cannot be traded to the Wild without specific approval, and, if you know Kessel, you know he will stand up for his rights no matter what anyone else thinks. The fact it got out may make it even harder to complete, because he’ll push back against pressure.

I’d heard things went badly last season between him and the organization, and this confirms it. 

If Friedman is correct than this trade from the Penguins may be one that the organization feels it must make for the sake of team chemistry in their locker room. Kessel has always had the "uncoachable" or "coach killer" monikers follow him around his whole career, and there have been rumors of serious friction between him and Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan dating back as far back as 2 years ago during their most recent Stanley Cup Championship run. Additionally there have been well documented incidents of Kessel openly berating or arguing with teammates on the bench during games and among those was star forward Evgeni Malkin, by all accounts a franchise player. If Kessel is indeed rubbing everyone in Pittsburgh the wrong way, Rutherford may be handcuffed here.

If that is indeed the case the Penguins may be forced to make a deal that their fans will not love.

Source: