[Rumour] Wild & Pens are discussing Phil Kessel + Jack Johnson for Jason Zucker + Viktor Rask

[sureLoss]

Michael Russo
@RussoHockey
Penguins, #mnwild in trade talks surrounding Phil Kessel.

@JoshYohe_PGH has confirmed what I reported Tuesday about potential Jason Zucker-Victor Rask for Kessel-Jack Johnson swap. Lots of details in this story + other possible landing spots for Zucker

https://theathletic.com/992102/2019/...d-phil-kessel/

The Penguins and Minnesota Wild have a trade proposal on the table with Phil Kessel as the centerpiece, numerous sources confirmed to The Athletic.

Many in the Penguins organization assumed Kessel would be willing to play for the Wild. He is a Wisconsin native and played his one NCAA season at the University of Minnesota.

However, numerous sources confirmed that Kessel is unsure if he wants to play in Minnesota. He did research on Minnesota and the Wild during the past week, the sources said. Kessel is very close friends with Ryan Suter. Both are natives of Madison, Wisconsin, and played internationally together for Team USA.

It is believed Jason Zucker, the speedy Wild forward who scored 76 goals the past three seasons, would be part of the deal. Minnesota made it clear to other franchises that Zucker, 27, is available.

The Penguins and Wild also discussed a couple of players with long-term contracts in Jack Johnson and Victor Rask.

According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Wild are actively shopping Zucker and have talked to Calgary about Sam Bennett and Michael Frolik; to Arizona about Christian Dvorak and Christian Fischer; and to Vegas about Jonathan Marchessault.

[SuperMatt18]

Dammit - I still wanted Zucker.

[Toonage]

Get in there Tre. Give em Brodie. And Neal. Under a mask.

[Ashasx]

Smart move by the Pens to sign Jack Johnson to that contract. It certainly wasn't terrible the second it was signed.

[Erick Estrada]

I suppose Kessel would offer them an offensive boost for a few seasons but that team is currently built on a treadmill as they are not going anywhere.

[Toonage]

Sam Bennett?!? Whoa whoa whoa.

Maybe.

[devo22]

I thought the Wild are kind of rebuilding? Not sure why they'd swap Zucker for Kessel.

[Jordan!]

Kessel is coming to AZ to play under Tocchet again

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by devo22

I thought the Wild are kind of rebuilding? Not sure why they'd swap Zucker for Kessel.

they fired their analytics staff and have made borderline bizarre moves for the last 5 years.

From the outside it looks like an impetuous owner playing with his toy.

[sureLoss]

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Further to @JoshYohe_PGH report — there is a small list of teams Kessel can be traded to without specific permission. MIN is not one of them.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Semi-related.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1131627128498348033

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Get in there Tre. Give em Brodie. And Neal. Under a mask.

Or travel two years back in time and then skip the mask.

[ComixZone]

If Sam Bennett gets subtracted from this roster...we'll go from probably being the softest team in the league to being the softest team in the league.

I would not like this.

"We need to make sure we don't go flat in the playoffs again"

hmmmm....

"Whelp, we better trade the best playoff performing forward we have".

[Toonage]

I assume Bennett is looking for more money than the Flames feel he's worth? Interesting.

[keenan87]

This is good. I had no interest in Zucker.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by keenan87

This is good. I had no interest in Zucker.

I'm with you, I hope the deal with the Pens goes through.

[GreenLantern2814]

Why don't we just cut the line and build a trade for Kessel around Bennett?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Why don't we just cut the line and build a trade for Kessel around Bennett?

If he doesn't want to go to Minnesota you think he's going to want to go to Calgary?

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The original article is here:
https://theathletic.com/987908/2019/...possible-fits/

The wording doesn't suggest it is Forlik + Bennett for Zucker. Just that Bennett could be a target for the Wild.

Russo mentions at the deadline Zucker was almost dealt for Frolik + 'high pick'. We know from other sources around deadline time that the rumoured deal was Frolik + 1st round pick for Zucker.

Later in Russo's article he suggests Minnesota would be interested in James Neal, Bennett or Frolik if you consider them top 6 players (the implication here being that he doesn't think that's what they are).

If Kessel is wiling to go to Minnesota, Kessel + JMFJ for Rask + Zucker, a Calgary offer of Bennett/Neal/Frolik + 26th OA doesn't cut it.

If Kessel doesn't want to go to the Wild though, I could see the Flames dangling RFA Bennett + 26th overall if they think they are looking at a contentious negotiation with Bennett's camp (which I think is likely).

I don't really understand why the Wild want to do this, but I'm not going to stop them if they want to light themselves on fire.

[SportsJunky]

They have to take Zucker's wife, too. Deal breaker?

[Vinny01]

No interest in moving Bennett for Zucker.

Frolik+Neal+1st for Zucker and Rask