Detroit Red Wings has been one of the most mentioned names at the NHL trade deadline and teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks could all be in play for the Vancouver Canucks star as the deadline comes up on Wednesday.
Kesler has been mentioned in trade rumors for the past couple weeks after the team and the star could not find common ground on a contract and there already has been some movement regarding a deal. According to Pro Hockey Talk, Kesler has said that he will not go in a trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets and has said that the Rangers and Penguins would be better options for him. The report says that the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Rangers have all shown interest, but New York may not get a deal done if they decide to keep Ryan Callahan on an extension.
The 29 year old Kesler is generating a lot of buzz and the Canucks are asking for a very high asking price, including draft picks and top prospects as well as a veteran player. Kesler has a $5 million annual cap number for the next couple seasons and his size and skills would be a perfect fit for the Penguins. According to TSN, the team is willing to meet the price of the Canucks and this comes after the team made high profile moves at the deadline last season and then did not advance to the Stanley Cup.
Kesler has 21 goals and 18 assists this season and it looked at as one of the top players on the market heading into the deadline along with Ryan Callahan. The Flyers are considered to be in the mix and the Blackhawks as well after Marian Hossa was injured, as they are battling with the Blues for the division in the central.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren't getting any younger and making a move for Kesler would put the Penguins far above anyone else in the east. The Flyers and Penguins have reportedly made offers and those are the two teams that appear to be the most likely to get a deal done. Kesler would be a long term option where he gets traded and teams will be looking for him to stay and not just be a couple months rental. The Penguins appear to be best suited to make the move.
There have already been some major moves at the deadline, as Ryan Miller was traded to the St. Louis Blues form the Buffalo Sabres for Jaroslav Halak and now the Sabres could continue to make trades as well. The other deals that started moving on Tuesday included the Capitals getting a deal done for Dustin Penner, while the Wild showed up their goalie situation, as Minnesota brought in Ilya Bryzgalov in a trade.
The Oilers made a number of moves, bringing in Viktor Fasth from the Anaheim Ducks and dealing Bryzgalov to the Wild and now they also moved Penner to the Caps for a draft pick. The Canadiens wanted Mike Weaver, while defenseman Stephane Robidas was traded to the Ducks from the Stars despite his injury.