Dreger: Phil Kessel's trade value taking hit due to poor play

In more ways than one, Phil Kessel isn't doing the Toronto Maple Leafs any favors.

The veteran sniper, toiling in the least-productive season in terms of goal-scoring since being acquired by Toronto having scored just 24 goals, is reportedly seeing his value on the open market diminish.  

With a crucial summer ahead, his fruitlessness doesn't bode well for the Maple Leafs' plan to detonate their roster. 

"In Kessel's case, I firmly believe he's going to be traded," TSN's Darren Dreger said Monday. "And his trade potential has been hurt by his poor play. I don't think that there's any question to that."

Kessel has only three points (all goals) at even strength in 35 games since the calendar turned to 2015 and has scored just 13 at 5-on-5 all year after finishing second in that department league-wide last season.