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Report: Kessel not opposed to trade, would play for Tocchet's Coyotes

Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Phil Kessel has two Stanley Cup rings as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he's only been rocking black and yellow for three seasons.

However, Kessel would consider a trade out of Pittsburgh, as The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports.

Furthermore, Kessel would even be willing to play for his former assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who is now the head coach of the Arizona Coyotes, per Yohe. Although, Kessel's $6.8-million price tag is likely too juicy for the Desert Dogs to take on.

Regardless, Kessel is coming off a career season in which he netted 34 goals and 58 assists for a career-high 92 points, so if he were to be made available, multiple teams would be lined up in an attempt to acquire his super-sniper services.

The rumblings about Kessel's potential departure come less than a month after a reported beef between he and head coach Mike Sullivan. Kessel was apparently furious about not playing regularly with Evgeni Malkin during Pittsburgh's 2018 playoff run.

Kessel played most of the postseason on the Penguins' third line, registering only one goal in 12 games. He is under contract in Pittsburgh for the next four seasons.

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