The Maple Leafs are expected to trade some key components to their team this offseason and no one has drawn more interest than forward Phil Kessel.
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Toronto brought in long-time Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock on an eight-year, $50 million deal this offseason and president Brendan Shanahan has said that there is sure to be many moves before the puck drops on the 2015-16 campaign as the club looks to turn things around.
While the Maple Leafs have received interest in several of their players, Shanahan said that he has fielded more conversations regarding Kessel than anyone else, though a deal isn't expected to be imminent.
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"We're in no rush; we need to have a deal we're comfortable with," Shanahan said, according to NHL.com. "We don't feel the need to do anything knee jerk to get something done on a deadline."
Kessel has been a part of the Maple Leafs since a 2009 trade with the Boston Bruins and he has four 30-goal seasons in his tenure.
Toronto has made the playoffs just once in that span, coughing up a three-goal third period lead in Game 7 in the opening round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against Boston and being eliminated in overtime.
Since then, Toronto endured a late-season collapse in 2013-14 to miss the playoffs and then this past season it stumbled to a 30-44-8 record in a controversial campaign. The overall mark was the second-worst in the Eastern Conference.
The Maple Leafs are armed with the No. 4 pick in the NHL Draft on Friday at the BB&T Center in Florida and while they've entertained trading it, they'll likely make a selection when they're on the clock.
"Right now we're expecting to pick fourth," Shanahan said. "We think there are a few guys who could be available who we're excited about."
Kessel is reportedly only willing to move his no-trade clause to play for eight clubs.
The list includes the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.
Kessel carries an $8 million annual salary cap hit through the 2021-22 campaign on a deal that pays him until he turns 34.
The 27-year-old winger had 25 goals and 35 assists for 61 points last season and is 247-273--520 in 668 games in his nine-year career spent between the Bruins and Maple Leafs.
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