NHL Trade Rumors: Should Ducks Make a Play For Phil Kessel?

Could the 30-goal scorer be the final piece of the puzzle?  Discuss!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . for NHL trade rumors!

With all but two NHL teams firmly in the opening stages of the offseason, now is the time for rumors to swirl regarding players and draft picks.

The loudest rumors right now are coming out of Toronto, who just recently made Mike Babcock the richest coach in the NHL.   Coming off yet another disappointing season in which the Maple Leafs went from being a playoff hopeful to a team in a full-blown downward spiral, the team is looking to make big changes: let the fire sale begin!

I know, I know: lots of teams would like to add a player who has the potential to score 30+ goals a season, so the Ducks will have plenty of competition, many of whom will have better draft picks to use when they negotiate.

Plus, Kessel has 7 years and $64 million left on his contract, and carries with him a $8 million salary-cap charge, as per NHL.com.   Anaheim Ducks General Manager Bob Murray would have to be very creative in finding a way to acquire Kessel without crippling the team in the long run.

And even if Anaheim could assemble an offer that would entice the Leafs and allow the Ducks to retain some of their exciting young talent, does Anaheim really want to add Phil Kessel to the locker room?  Isn’t he one of those players who divides, rather than unites, a team?

Clearly, these are all valid concerns – but that’s the fun of this!

While some would argue that the Ducks have all of the pieces in place to win a Stanley Cup, the recent domination of the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks would argue otherwise.  The Ducks need something, or someone, to help get them over the hump, and given the team’s failure to produce goals in a timely fashion in Games 6 & 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Kessel could be just the guy to do that.

There are negatives to consider besides just Kessel’s disposition, of course (and I would like to think that a change of scenery and the chance to win something meaningful might curb his antics); Kessel isn’t exactly known for playing defense, or even understanding what the word “defense” means.  He was an astonishing -34 in 2014-2015.  Let that sink in: -34.

Wow.  I know Toronto was a perpetual dumpster fire and all that last season, but -34?

On top of that, Anaheim would have to give up a handful of young talent to convince the Leafs to bring Kessel in.  I would imagine Jakob Silfverberg and Hampus Lindholm would be absolutely required elements of any trade bringing Kessel into Anaheim.

I am sure the pressure to win now, rather than later, is on Murray, Bruce Boudreau and the rest of the Anaheim Ducks organization.  If that is truly the case, the Ducks might be willing to trade their future for the thought of winning a title in the next 2-3 years.   Teams like the Buffalo Sabres and the Leafs have little choice but to commit to a rebuilding phase, but with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry not getting any younger, could the Ducks take a huge risk and commit to the win now mentality?

As always, we love a good discussion, so weigh in below after you take our poll.

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