i would do this in 19-20 season.

why not prior to Feb 25th?

Yotes take this and run. Kessel thrived under Tocchet, and the players the Yotes are giving up don't have near the upside that Kessel has. A line of Keller-Schmaltz-Kessel would be lethal for years.

Yeah but who is going to convince kessel to go to AZ?

Pit will want him for one more cup run. This sounds like a draft day trade.

Rick Tocchet

yeah, I don't think anyone can smooth talk kessel into going into a non competitive team.

they'd be a very competitive with kessel lol

I don't know about that. Are we talking about the same Phil Kessel that loved playing in Toronto despite only playing in one playoff series?

Why would the Penguins do this trade? They need quality players now as now is when Crosby and Malkin are still in the discussion.

And why would they take Bolland?

Nothing about this deal, from the Pens point of view, is logical.

look into the deal a little more, Pens open cap with $6.8M going out with a EXPIRING bolland that is placed to stabilize the cap difference. all the players going to Pitt are solid young players on rookie deals. the pens also boost draft capital and get more depth.

yeah I don't think the deal is bad or anything, I mean, kessel is clearly the best player there, but he's aging. The thing is someone has to get him to waive his NTC and having won 2 cups here and still having a chance at more, I don't see him dropping his NTC.