NHL Rumors: Phil Kessel Linked to 2 Teams

Some are finding it quite surprising free-agent forward Phil Kessel has yet to sign a contract. With a young family and a busy summer on tap, Kessel has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract. Expect to see a deal done soon and with all the rumblings out there, here's the two teams Kessel has been linked to the most of late:

Edmonton Oilers

Some of the biggest hockey insiders see the iron man heading to the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers could use some more depth at right wing as the likes of Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto have been inconsistent at times. Connor McDavid, Kessel and Evander Kane would be a dynamic line to watch and it would be curious to see if Kessel's veteran legs could keep up.

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

He's an underrated passer of the puck and still holds one of the best snap shots in the league. Does he really want to live in Edmonton during the winter is the biggest question?

Florida Panthers

The Panthers lost a few pieces up front and could use some more depth. There's a giant spotlight on Matthew Tkachuk for next season and adding an under the radar type in Kessel could go a long way for their secondary scoring. Warm winters, golf and boating should entice Kessel to sign in Florida, and if the Panthers are able to move someone like Patric Hornqvist, there's a really good chance they circle back on Kessel. They currently are in a tough cap constraint and would need to make at least one more move to make it happen.

While Kessel turned into quite the mentor in the desert these past few seasons, don't expect to see him sign with a bottom-feeding team and look to the contenders for his next contract.

Phil Kessel could add depth to a Panthers team looking remain a strong Cup contender.@Rupper17 | @JamieHersch | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/FlKEIalH3B
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 3, 2022