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Penguins trade Phil Kessel to Coyotes in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk
The Pittsburgh Penguins are trading forward Phil Kessel, defenceman Dane Birks and a fourth-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes, in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
PO Joseph and Galchenyuk to Pittsburgh for Kessel and a 4th round pick.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 29, 2019
Kessel scored 27 goals and notched 82 points in 82 games with the Penguins in 2018-19. He was a key component of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, and continued to be along the league’s most productive scorers. Kessel led all players with 10 game-winning goals last season.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Phil Kessel for his contributions to the Penguins. He was a key component to our success in winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. We couldn't have done it without him, and for that, we are grateful," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "With that being said, we are excited to welcome a young, skilled player in Alex, and add depth to our defense with first-round draft pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph.”
Rutherfold also confirmed via The Athletic’s Josh Yohe that Kessel asked for a trade several times last season.
Kessel responded, however, and denied that he asked for a trade.
Kessel said #penguins GM Rutherford is "mistaken" with claim that he went to team asking for a trade a few times. Adds Rutherford can says what he wants, doesn't want to get involved. #nhlcoyotes
— Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) June 30, 2019
The veteran forward carries a $8 million cap hit for each season until 2021-22, in the middle of his sixth year of an eight-year contract worth $64 million.
The Coyotes acquire Phil Kessel & 5th Round Pick from #Penguins for Galchenyuk & Pierre-Olivier Joseph.
Kessel: Yr 6/8 $8M ($1.2M retained by #Leafs)
Galchenyuk: Yr 3/3 $4.9M Cap Hit then UFA
Net Cap impact is $1.9 increase to Coyoteshttps://t.co/3TSXDE5ESt— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 29, 2019
Galchenyuk posted 19 goals and 41 points in 72 games during the 2018-19 season, his first with the Coyotes. Prior to the 2018-19 season, Galchenyuk featured for the Montreal Canadiens, but was traded last June in exchange for Max Domi.
The 25-year-old holds a $4.9 million cap hit and is slated to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Joseph was selected in the first round (23rd overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old defenceman posted 22 points as a member of the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2018-19.
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