HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Best fit for Phil Kessel?

Montreal? I hope not.

Hot dog Factory

Hot dog Factory
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Hot dog Factory
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I don't know, man. Phil might have heard of Pink's.

http://www.pinkshollywood.com

Kings need to get younger, faster, and cheaper. Phil's fast, but he's 30ish and expensive. As to the last factor, I can't see Pitt wanting Brown, and sending them Carter only diminishes scoring. So unless Pitt retains salary and Blake gives up Vilardi (please, God, no), Clague, and/or some other top prospect, I don't see anything attractive that Pitt would want.

Kings better try and grab JVR and some speed for the 4th line. Then they should be fine. Don't see them handing over many assets for PK.

Triple XL

Kings need to get younger, faster, and cheaper. Phil's fast, but he's 30ish and expensive. As to the last factor, I can't see Pitt wanting Brown, and sending them Carter only diminishes scoring. So unless Pitt retains salary and Blake gives up Vilardi (please, God, no), Clague, and/or some other top prospect, I don't see anything attractive that Pitt would want.
- Only_A_Ladd

Pittsburgh would probably love to have Muzzin. I could see a trade around that. Well, I mean that theoretically, since it seems like a trade that might suit both teams. The problem is that LA has been so enamored with Muzzin for years that they've refused to part with one of their best tradeable assets, even though they've desperately needed scoring help all of that time. They seem to think that they need him to get back to contending, even though he was carried by an already-championship team before and the team has won only a single playoff game in 4 years since he was promoted to the #2D. They'll probably just continue to hold onto him and continue to go nowhere until the core is too old to contend, he's on the wrong side of 30, himself, and most of his trade value is gone. Blake will probably do little this Summer but demonstrate again that he's just as loyal to a fault as his predecessor was and learned nothing from it.

Pittsburgh would probably love to have Muzzin. I could see a trade around that. Well, I mean that theoretically, since it seems like a trade that might suit both teams. The problem is that LA has been so enamored with Muzzin for years that they've refused to part with one of their best tradeable assets, even though they've desperately needed scoring help all of that time. They seem to think that they need him to get back to contending, even though he was carried by an already-championship team before and the team has won only a single playoff game in 4 years since he was promoted to the #2D. They'll probably just continue to hold onto him and continue to go nowhere until the core is too old to contend, he's on the wrong side of 30, himself, and he's worth a fraction of what he was. Blake's hiring of Stevens and making no drastic changes last Summer lead me to suspect that he learned nothing from Lombardi's loyalty to a fault.
- Osprey

That deal would make sense. Blake's hesitation with this deal might be that if Doughty goes unsigned and the Kings trade Muzzin, then the Kings would have Dion as the top D man going into the 19/20 season. That's...not optimal.

That deal would make sense. Blake's hesitation with this deal might be that if Doughty goes unsigned and the Kings trade Muzzin, then the Kings would have Dion as the top D man going into the 19/20 season. That's...not optimal.
- Only_A_Ladd

I'd consider Phaneuf the top defenseman even if Muzzin isn't traded and think that it'd be even less ideal to promote Muzzin to #1D, but, whichever ever way that you order them, having those two as your top two defensemen isn't optimal; I agree. The only reason why I might hesitate to trade Muzzin for scoring help is that he might be important in acquiring a promising young defenseman who might eventually become the new #1D in Doughty's absence. A contending team might have a such a young player or prospect that it's willing to trade for a veteran defenseman whom they think might help them while their window is open. Then again, you can probably get that same young player for Doughty, himself, if you have the guts to trade him. Perhaps the safest course of action would be to simply trade Muzzin for a top scorer like Kessel now, hope that it convinces Doughty to re-sign, and, if it doesn't by the trade deadline, trade Doughty for a potential future replacement. Either way, I'd definitely trade Muzzin. You can't just let a prime trade asset go unused while he loses value, especially when you're trying to re-tool.

I'd consider Phaneuf the top defenseman even if Muzzin isn't traded and think that it'd be even less ideal to promote Muzzin to #1D, but, whichever ever way that you order them, having those two as your top two defensemen isn't optimal; I agree. The only reason why I might hesitate to trade Muzzin for scoring help is that he might be important in acquiring a promising young defenseman who might eventually become the new #1D in Doughty's absence. A contending team might have a such a young player or prospect that it's willing to trade for a veteran defenseman whom they think might help them while their window is open. Then again, you can probably get that same young player for Doughty, himself, if you have the guts to trade him. Perhaps it'd be the safest course of action would be to simply trade Muzzin for a top scorer like Kessel now, hope that it convinces Doughty to re-sign, and, if it doesn't by the trade deadline, trade Doughty for a potential future replacement. Either way, I'd definitely trade Muzzin. You can't just let a prime trade asset go unused while he loses value, especially when you're trying to re-tool.
- Osprey

Doughty will re sign

It could work but it would take a good package:

Toffoli or Kempe + Muzzin or Forbot
(Pick 2 out of those 4)

For

Kessel/Hunwick

Doughty will re sign
- KINGS67

I serious doubts, no pun intended. LA is a sinking ship, he can see that and he's not shy about wanting to play on a contender. Why would he want to spend the rest of his prime years and most of the rest of his career on an aging team that will probably go through some hard times and a rebuild? I can see him following the Blake model: get out to have fun and success while he's still in his prime, then return to LA in the twilight of his career to re-establish his legacy and good will with the franchise, perhaps partly to set up a post-career position.

It could work but it would take a good package:

Toffoli or Kempe + Muzzin or Forbot
(Pick 2 out of those 4)

For

Kessel/Hunwick
- Barnaby36

I'm not sure that LA would need to add that much because Kessel's cap hit is $8M and Muzzin's is only $4M. Pittsburgh would have an extra $4M that they could spend this Summer to add a player as good as or even better than Kempe or Forbort. Extra cap space is pretty valuable to contending teams as Summer approaches. After all, that's why Pittsburgh would entertain trading Kessel at all. We've seen teams in the past trade good players for a little less than you'd think that they're worth just so that they could free up cap space to sign or trade for a different player that they covet a little bit more.

I'm not sure that LA would need to add that much because Kessel's cap hit is $8M and Muzzin's is only $4M. Pittsburgh would have an extra $4M that they could spend this Summer to add a player as good as or even better than Kempe or Forbort. Extra cap space is pretty valuable to contending teams as Summer approaches. After all, that's why Pittsburgh would entertain trading Kessel at all. We've seen teams in the past trade good players for a little less than you'd think that they're worth just so that they could free up cap space to sign or trade for a different player that they covet a little bit more.
- Osprey

Kessel's cap jit is only 6.8M because Toronto retained 1.2M

Kessel's cap jit is only 6.8M because Toronto retained 1.2M
- Tojo.

I forgot about that. Thanks for the correction.

I serious doubts, no pun intended. LA is a sinking ship, he can see that and he's not shy about wanting to play on a contender. Why would he want to spend the rest of his prime years and most of the rest of his career on an aging team that will probably go through some hard times and a rebuild? I can see him following the Blake model: get out to have fun and success while he's still in his prime, then return to LA in the twilight of his career to re-establish his legacy and good will with the franchise, perhaps partly to set up a post-career position.
- Osprey

https://t.co/rIxngeWzd8

I’m not worried about him. He’ll get re signed. Do I always believe media, he’ll no. But there’s several sources from kings insiders that say it will get done.

Does Phil have the physical game to suit a team like the Kings? There's usually plenty of 'action' in those 'friendly' rilvarly games against the Sharks & Ducks. What happens when EKane goes berko on Phils arse? cue the gifs..........

I forgot about that. Thanks for the correction.
- Osprey

No problem. As a Pens fan, I have no clue what we'd be asking for. Trading Phil creates a bigger hole then what we'd probably get back as we'd be down an elite scoring wing.

If he's traded... Florida. The Panthers need a finisher to augment their core, and have the pieces to land him.

However, that's what the Pens need. So...

Columbus. Desperately need more offense for the playoffs.

Will he go there? No way.

Plenty of good fits, many of which I think he would accept a trade to.

LA
Florida
Minnesota
Montreal
Nashville
Anaheim

Plus St Louis, Carolina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Detroit, Arizona who would be interested but he may or may not want to go there.

Point being there would be no shortage of interest and the Pens could get back an excellent value for him.

I'd consider Phaneuf the top defenseman even if Muzzin isn't traded..

Don't go there. That experiment was tried in Toronto and is a big reason why he's been traded for scraps twice now. Enjoy him for what he is: at best middle pairing, and someone that will make your PP better if he can hit the net.

Don't go there. That experiment was tried in Toronto and is a big reason why he's been traded for scraps twice now. Enjoy him for what he is: at best middle pairing, and someone that will make your PP better if he can hit the net.
- leafsfann

Agreed, and I think Osprey would agree as well. I'm fairly certain his point was, and I tend to agree, that if we were to lose Doughty, Dion would be our de facto #1. Now, that's not to say we think he is a legitimate #1 but simply that he would be best of what's left. As he said, not optimal.