2 Potential Landing Spots For Phil Kessel

 

The Arizona Coyotes appear to be in for a very busy off-season. There are an array of players who are currently in the rumor mill from them, including captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson. However, another big name who also could be on his way out is veteran forward, Phil Kessel. A huge reason behind is that Rick Tocchet will not be the head coach of the team next season. Tocchet was the major influence behind Kessel accepting a deal there in the first place.

With the Coyotes missing the postseason this year, they are looking to get younger. With Kessel being 33-years-old, he just does not fit into that demographic. There should be a great deal of teams interested in him though, as he still contributes well offensively. He also only has one year left on his contract, so there is not much risk in trading for him. Kessel does have an 8-team trade list, so the Coyotes do have that working against them, though. However, they should easily be able convince him to go to a true contender when looking at the current state of the Coyotes. 

These two teams could be great landing spots for him. 

Colorado Avalanche 

Kessel on the Avalanche could be a lot of fun to see. Even if they successfully re-sign Gabriel Landeskog and Philipp Grubauer, they still should have money to work with. Kessel would be a nice addition to the second-line and power play. It would make the Avalanche's offense even stronger, which could help them finally win a Stanley Cup with their stacked core. That could certainly be enough to persuade Kessel to join them.

Washington Capitals 

The Washington Capitals are being talked about a lot, too. After losing in the first round to the Boston Bruins, they could use a bit of changes to their roster. They are reportedly shopping Evgeny Kuznetsov and may even lose T.J. Oshie to Seattle through the Expansion Draft. Kessel could be a player to target if the latter occurs, as they will need a top-six right winger. The Capitals also are not afraid to bring in older guys, too. Lastly, Kessel on the same power play line as Alex Ovechkin would be a perfect match. Kessel is a gifted passer who would be able to set Ovechkin up continuously.  

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