Powered By Panago: The Draft Day Rumour Roundup

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports

Phil Kessel Trade Watch

• James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail cautions fans not to expect the Leafs to accept a lowball offer on Kessel, since he’s talented enough to bring in a high yield return. This may mean that a trade is going to take a while to go down – and that’s not a bad thing. Kessel has scored the fifth highest number of goals in the NHL – yes, the entire NHL – since getting dealt to the Leafs in 2009. Why accept a bargain for that kind of offensive talent? 
• this is worth thinking about. 
• We talked last week about how the Pittsburgh Penguins are ‘kicking tires’ on Kessel. Depending on who you listen to, this is either an intriguing and realistic possibility or the worst idea ever. 
• Chris Johnston of Sportsnet confirms that teams are interested in Kessel. As supported by the idea presented by Mirtle (see above) that Toronto can afford to let Kessel’s price drive itself back up from the attempted bargains teams are offering, there are clearly multiple bidders in play for the American-born winger – if not with serious offers right now, then at least with a serious and healthy curiosity about what it would take to be considered a serious offer-maker. 

Pacific Division: Sam Gagner, Tyler Toffoli, and Kevin Bieksa

• The Arizona Coyotes, as reported through The Leafs Nation, could be contemplating the buyout of former Edmonton Oilers centre Sam Gagner – and if they do, it’s possible the Leafs would want to take him on. It’s important to consider that Gagner hasn’t developed into a possession driver, but also hasn’t managed to develop into a play driver — and for a club looking to rebuild, the Coyotes likely don’t want to have Gagner taking up space. The only concern with this rumor, of course, is that the Coyotes could likely get a return for Gagner – so unless teams would only want a pick for the forward (which would lower their already-low salary payroll), buying him out is actually the better option for the club next season. 
• Kevin Bieksa has agreed to waive his NTC for a move to the San Jose Sharks. 
• Tyler Toffoli is the first of four high-profile pending restricted free agents to come to terms with his club, signing a two year, $6.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings. That crosses him off a list that still includes defenseman Dougie Hamilton and forwards Brandon Saad and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Odds and Ends