According to NHL insider Darren Dreger, recently hired Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong does not see Kessel, who is in the final year of his current contract, as a future player.
"We also know Bill Armstrong and the Coyotes have determined their direction, which excludes Phil Kessel," Dreger stated on Insider Trading.
As noted previously, it appears as if clubs throughout the league are already keeping an eye on the issue. This week, Craig Morgan reported seeing 15 NHL scouts at the Coyotes-Blues game on Monday night, indicating some teams may be seeking to move early.