- Chris Peters of CBS Sports: Ten candidates that could be traded this offseason.
1. Phil Kessel – The Leafs are looking for a big return, something which they should be doing as they don’t have to move him.2. Patrick Sharp – His $5.9 million cap hit will keep some teams away. Seems to be the best option for the Blackhawks to clear cap space, but they might have to retain some salary.
3. Ryan O’Reilly – The Avs don’t really want to trade him, but he’s entering the final year of his deal, and they have to consider it.
4. Dion Phaneuf – A contract is big, so teams will be low-balling offers to see how much the Leafs really want to trade him. Like Kessel, the Leafs don’t have to move him.
5. Milan Lucic – Chances of him being traded may be slim, but he should get some interest. One year left before becoming a UFA.
6. Cam Talbot – The one guy most think will be traded. On a reasonable contract at $1.45 million.
7. Craig Anderson or Robin Lehner – One will be traded.
8. Eddie Lack or Jacob Markstrom – Lack is under contract for one more year at $1.15 million. Markstrom is a RFA. They should be able to get more for Lack.
9. Mike Richards – The Kings would rather trade Richards than buy him out, but it won’t be easy finding a trade partner. A team looking to get to the salary floor and one that could use some veteran leadership might be interested.
10. Bryan Bickell – May be hard to find a team willing to take on $4 million for two more years for the production he brings.
- Matt Larkin ofThe Hockey News: Don’t buy the idea that teams are scared off of trading for Phil Kessel because of the high asking price. The Leafs have the cap space to take back a contract – say P.A. Parenteau’s $4 million if it would help to get a deal done with the Canadiens. Larkin on Kessel.
There’s still a market for what Kessel offers, no matter what his suitors want us to believe. No statistic matters more in hockey than goals, and Kessel has the fourth-most over the past five seasons. That’s worth surrendering a pick, prospect and roster player, even at his price. Consider that Kessel sits behind just Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos and Corey Perry in goals since 2010. Then consider the former trio’s linemates have included Nicklas Backstrom, Martin St-Louis and Ryan Getzlaf. Kessel’s? Solid James van Riemsdyk. Injury-prone Joffrey Lupul. A whole lot of Tyler Bozak. A dash of Kadri. Imagine what Kessel would do with a marquee No. 1 center? His new team would forget about his lack of a six-pack and defensive shortcomings awfully fast. He has one of the best two releases in the NHL. That means he can still be a 50-goal man with the right person feathering him passes.