Phil Kessel trade makes Penguins big winners on Day 1 of NHL free agency
The Pittsburgh Penguins were an undeniable winner on the first day of free agent hunting season because they bagged the biggest difference-maker in the marketplace.
While other NHL teams were picking through a mediocre free agent crop, the Penguins made a bold trade to acquire speedy right wing Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs to be Sidney Crosby's linemate.
"He's in the top three scorers in the league on a year-to-year basis," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford told USA TODAY Sports. "You have Alex Ovechkin and then (Steven) Stamkos and then Phil Kessel."
Since Crosby entered the NHL, the Penguins have been looking for a winger with the speed and scoring touch to play with him. Kessel has scored 217 goals over the past seven seasons, an average of 31 goals.
Kessel might be more valuable now because next season the NHL will switch to three-on-three play in overtime, giving Kessel more room to use his speed. He can thunder down the ice like an F15 over open skies.
"We play a lot of tight one-goal games," Rutherford said. "You can never get enough goals or have enough goal scorers."
To land Kessel, right wing Tyler Biggs, defenseman Tim Erixon and a second-round pick in 2016, the Penguins gave up their top forward prospect Kasperi Kapanen, plus American League defenseman Scott Harrington, forward NIck Spaling, plus first- and third-round picks in 2016.
The deal includes a provision that should the Penguins miss the playoffs in 2016, then the first-round pick would be surrendered in 2017. If the Penguins miss the playoffs the next two seasons, Toronto would get a second-round pick in 2017 and Pittsburgh would receive no picks.
This was such a major trade in Toronto that Blue Jays manager Jon Gibbons opened up his news conference by asking whether the first question should be about Kessel.
The Penguins also announced the signing of Sergei Plotnikov, who has played six seasons in the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League. The hope is that he can play with Evgeni Malkov and perhaps Patric Hornqvist.
Rutherford said "at the very least," Plotnikov would be playing among the Penguins' top-nine forwards.
"One of the important things is that we get wingers for Sid and Geno who are there on a more consistent basis," Rutherford said. "Not moving back and forth on the lines."
Rutherford has a long history of being able to pull off major trades, and this has the potential to be one of his better deals. Kessel and Crosby are both 27. Crosby was the No. 1 NHL draft pick in 2005, and Kessel was No. 5 in 2006.
"What we have been looking for is to get some more speed up with Sid," Rutherford said.
Kapanen is considered a blue-chip prospect, but he is still a couple of seasons away from being a significant contributor.
The early reviews on the trade are that the Maple Leafs received less than expected for a player who has been a consistent scorer. The Penguins were able to acquire Kessel without giving up either of their top two younger defensemen, Olli Maatta or Derrick Pouliot.
Kessel didn't get along with the media, but he has never been a troublemaker, just a shy person who doesn't like being in the spotlight.
This deal doesn't automatically transform the Penguins into a Stanley Cup favorite in the Eastern Conference, but they will have one of the league's best offensive players for the next seven seasons at a reasonable $6.8 million cap hit. Crosby, Malkin and Kessel make up close to $25 million of the salary cap until 2022. The salary cap in 2015-16 is $71.4 million.
PHOTOS: Players changing teams in 2015-16
