Some updated information on the Kessel situation from Michael Russo of The Athletic:
According to several people close to Kessel, the veteran goal scorer has a couple of concerns about playing for the Wild, but the biggest by far is the fact he has examined the Wild’s recently blown-up roster and simply doesn’t think the team is close to contending for a Stanley Cup. Not even a recent telephone conversation with Fenton was able to change his mind, sources say.
Kessel just doesn’t like the makeup of the Wild’s roster, sources say, and doesn’t think they’re close to contending in a cutthroat Central Division in which they finished last. Fenton tried to convince him otherwise, but sources say Kessel wondered who would get him the puck and wasn’t swayed by the touted young talent — presumably Fiala, Donato, Luke Kunin, Jordan Greenway, etc.
A few sources say Kessel could always change his mind about Minnesota if options for a trade become limited over the next month. But even if Kessel suddenly had a change of heart, would the Wild even want to revisit this when Kessel has already shown he’s not exactly captivated by coming to Minnesota?
The Minnesota Wild were in their win now bubble the last several seasons. Phil is right to suggest that they aren’t all that close to contending for a Stanley Cup. When you look at the division and the sporadic moves Paul Fenton has made I’m not sure I would be all that confident moving into that situation for the next three years. Sure, Phil is a former Gopher and from neighboring Wisconsin, but if the team is going to be a perennial bubble team for the playoffs I can understand why he would decline to go there.
I also can’t blame him for wondering who would get him the puck. Phil might be fine with leaving the Penguins, but I can’t imagine he would want another situation where he isn’t getting the puck in good spots. His most common defensive linemate was Jack Johnson this past season. I can’t imagine he wanted to be moved in a deal where he would still have to play with him.
The last section makes a good point. Now that Kessel has clearly made his opinion known about not wanting to come to Minnesota I could see the Wild putting this on the back burner and not making it a focal point of their offseason anymore. Rutherford is going to have to come up with a backup idea.
We’ll have wait for a little while either way because any big trades are going to be put on hold now that the Stanley Cup Final is in progress. Gary Bettman doesn't want anything to upstage the sports' biggest event.
Whatever is in the works Phil doesn’t seem like the kind of person who is just going to go along with something he’s not on board with. He’s not going to waive his NTC unless he’s 100% OK with the destination. He is going to use his CBA bargained rights whether it helps the Penguins or not. It is a difficult situation for the Penguins general manager.
Thanks for reading!
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