The rift between Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel and coach Mike Sullivan is unlikely to result in a trade, general manager Jim Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday.

Kessel, who had an NHL career-high 92 points (34 goals, 58 assists) this season, scored one goal in 12 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Second Round by the Washington Capitals in six games.

Kessel has four years remaining on his contract.

"I think it will be resolved," Rutherford said. "Will they get together for a special meeting? I'm not sure that's necessary at this point. If it is, they'll figure that out themselves. Knowing Phil the way I know him, knowing [Mike] the way I know him and their passion for winning, when they come back to camp, it'll be business as usual."

Video: PIT@PHI, Gm4: Kessel goes five-hole on Elliott

If Kessel and Sullivan get together this summer, it would be the second time they've met in as many offseasons; they had lunch in Toronto last August to iron out their differences.

"I can say throughout the three years that there could've been a difference of opinion at times as to the thought process of what line Phil was going to play on," Rutherford said. "I certainly wouldn't turn that into a rift.

"They always had good communication directly and indirectly through the assistant coaches. I don't see where that has changed. The only thing that's changed is that we won the first two years, so nobody wants to talk about it. We didn't win the Stanley Cup this year, so it's become a bigger public issue. To me, that's the only reason."

Tweet from @JMackeyPG: Much has been made of the Mike Sullivan-Phil Kessel relationship. Relax a little. Coaches and players do disagree. GMJR believes it'll be cool come fall: https://t.co/HthVnmogUw