Speculation following the hiring of head coach Mike Babcock last week has hinted that the Maple Leafs may consider retaining winger Phil Kessel into next season, in hopes that a bounce back offensive year would improve the return in a potential trade.
The 27-year-old winger finished in the top 10 of NHL scoring three straight years prior to last season’s 25-goal campaign, which makes any assumption of diminished value slightly far fetched and possibly an attempt by interested clubs to lessen Kessel’s value. The factor that likely mitigates any return in a potential deal is his $8 Million salary and the seven years remaining on his eight-year, $64 Million contract.
While a career year could enhance the asking price that Toronto could demand, it would be at the cost of using up a year in Kessel's prime and having the Leafs finish in the middle of the pack of the NHL's non playoff teams instead of finishing in the bottom five, where the club would be able to draft a premium prospect.
There is no reason to believe that the hiring of Babcock has altered the Toronto rebuild and that Team President Brendan Shanahan will move forward with the reshuffle of the club’s roster this summer.
Based on a number of factors, including the current state of the acquiring franchise, salary cap availability and financial wherewithal to take on a big salaried player, as well as being a better fit for Kessel after his struggles in big market Toronto, here are a few NHL teams that could be in the mix for the Leafs leading scorer.
St. Louis - The one-year extension given to head coach Ken Hitchcock on Tuesday is an indicator that Blues GM Doug Armstrong will tinker with the roster to shake up the current group that has been eliminated in the first round for four straight years.
Scoring was not a problem for the Blues during the regular season, who finished fifth in the NHL with 248 goals, but they managed just 14 goals in their first round loss to Minnesota and the addition of Kessel would provide the offensive boost that could get St.Louis past the Wild, Hawks and Predators in the tough Central Division. US Olympic teammates Kevin Shattenkirk, David Backes, TJ Oshie and Paul Stastny would provide some familiarity and the presence of Vladimir Tarasenko as an emerging as a scoring threat would alleviate the burden of being "the man".
Nashville - The Predators made great strides offensively under Peter Laviollette, finishing in the middle of the pack with 232 goals, but for Nashville to take the next step in the evolution, they need to add a legitimate scoring threat like Kessel.
Preds GM David Poile has a long affiliation with Kessel through USA Hockey and attempted to get him from Boston in 2009. Small market Nashville would be a perfect fit for the shy winger.
Other than defenseman Shea Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne(who both make over $7 Million per season), Nashville is not overly burdened with high priced players and could accommodate Kessel's hefty salary if Toronto took back former Leaf Viktor Stalberg as a salary dump.
Florida - A young team with incredible potential, including talented centers Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov, but fell short of making the playoffs last season due to their offense scoring only 206 goals(ranked 25th in the NHL).
The addition of veteran Jaromir Jagr at the trade deadline will help provide secondary scoring and leadership, maturing players like Jonathan Huberdeau will contribute more, but GM Dale Tallon needs to add a consistent legitimate scoring threat to get Florida over the hump while goalie Roberto Luongo is still a top flight goaltender.
The Panthers are stocked with NHL prospects, have sufficient room under the salary cap and are hosting the NHL draft next month. A big splash on the floor of the BB&T Center on Draft Day would make for pretty good theater.
NY Islanders - The trade acquisitions of defenseman Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy got the Isles into the post season for the second time in three seasons. Young forwards Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson gave head coach Jack Capuano some much needed secondary scoring, but the club has not found a consistent triggerman to play with superstar center John Tavares since the departure of Matt Moulson.
The Isles have a young stockpile of prospects and may need to make do something big this upcoming season to get some attention away from the Rangers, as they move into the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn….especially if the Broadway Blueshirts win the Stanley Cup.
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