Phil Kessel traded before July 1st seemed to be an impossible dream. Then, on Saturday night, the impossible happened. Kessel and Alex Galchenyuk swapped locales and with that, the “Kessel Era” was over in Pittsburgh.
The trade itself involves a bit more than that. It also includes Pittsburgh sending a fourth-round 2021 draft pick and defense prospect Dane Birks. Pittsburgh, in turn, receives Pierre-Olivier Joseph (also a defense prospect).
Let’s quickly dig into the trade impacts for both teams and what repercussions may come.
What Phil Kessel means to the Arizona Coyotes
Kessel instantly adds credibility to one of the worst offenses in the league.