Did Malkin force Kessel out of PIT?

[Axeman33]

Interesting read.

https://www.thescore.com/news/1829829

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin may have influenced the club's decision to ship former linemate Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes.

The Russian sniper asked to be traded if the Penguins kept Kessel, multiple team sources told The Athletic's Rob Rossi, though Malkin denied it when asked and said his friendship with Kessel is real.

Malkin was tired of feeling caught in the ongoing conflict between his linemate and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan, multiple team and league sources told Rossi. "By the end of last season, everybody from ownership to management to coaches believed Kessel had to go for Malkin to stay," Rossi wrote.

Kessel joined the club ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, and his incredible on-ice chemistry with Malkin played a pivotal role in the Penguins capturing back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Malkin believed Kessel was content with two titles and mostly interested in his statistics, and the 33-year-old worried he'd be seen in the same light if the American remained his winger, according to Rossi's team and league sources.

The Penguins traded Kessel to the Coyotes on June 30 in exchange for forward Alex Galchenyuk and defense prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

[rataylor22]

https://theathletic.com/1192049/2019...russia-hockey/

Or could read the original.

[Eskimo Brother]

I read the Athletic article before I saw this one, and the Athletic's was much better, while not pointing Malkin out as the only reason Kessel was traded.

I think it probably played a part, and we'll never know how big or small, but I also don't think Malkin was the biggest factor.

[Axeman33]

https://theathletic.com/1192049/2019...russia-hockey/

Or could read the original.

I did, but don't know how many subscribe to The Athletic so I shared this instead.

[lucafen4]

his incredible on-ice chemistry with Malkin played a pivotal role in the Penguins capturing back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

I really liked this line, forgetting the fact Kessel spent the majority of the playoffs on the 3rd line with Hagelin & Bonino... NOT Malkin.

[butch]

I did, but don't know how many subscribe to The Athletic so I shared this instead.

I subscribed over the weekend and I'm enjoying it so far . I'm trying to find older articles by Pronman to see his 2019 draft rankings / opinions on the draftees etc. but when I select his articles they only go so far back .....

[als_revenge]

I subscribed over the weekend and I'm enjoying it so far . I'm trying to find older articles by Pronman to see his 2019 draft rankings / opinions on the draftees etc. but when I select his articles they only go so far back .....

Technically, that's correct. But you can still get his older articles. For example, if you google "pronman top draft prospects 2018", then you'll get links to all of his main material from the 2018 draft. Click on those links and you'll get the articles.

[Mr. Guru]

A bunch of bullshit IMO

[agentzero]

A bunch of bullshit IMO

Ditto.. Man, let's get real hockey stories back already.

[butch]

Geno , maybe your less lonely if wife and kids lived with you in PIT during the season instead of your miami suburb second home .