It seems the Phil Kessel negotiations have caused quite a stir here in Boston. Most fans are hooting and hollering to re-sign Kessel, while there still are a few mild mannered Bruin fans who are choosing the, 'In Chiarelli We Trust' stance.
The Kessel story is big news, although many Bruins fans are getting tired of all the talk and no action. Don't believe me? Well, check out some of the biggest NHL outlets and you soon will.
Kessel's name has been thrown around in many different scenarios, but none of which have come true as of today. Kessel is a 21 year-old talent who can fly and score with some of the best in the league. So, why the lack of interest in signing the young sniper?
Well, of course Kessel is a resticted free agent so any offer sheet he is signed to, Boston can match it. Many GM's are fearful that if they offer a sheet to Kessel and Boston matches it, they may upset Bruin brass and they may never be able to mend the relationship. This of course can effect a possible future deal.
Now, we understand things from that end, but what about Boston's end? Boston was quick to sign players, David Krejci and Byron Bitz, granted Bitz wasn't in the position to hold out for a lot of dollars. Then there is Krejci who is an impact player in his own right, and future number one center on the Bruins, so you can understand the quick signing there.
However, Kessel is an impact player too, that currently, despite his young age is one of the best goal scorers in the game. Krejci, 23, is blooming into one of the best center's in the league with fantastic vision.
Now, I don't know about you, but I would like to see a young duo like that come up through the system and be a potent one-two punch for years to come. Anyone recall, Oates, to Neely, to net?
Kessel currently plays with Marc Savard but I have been the first to speculate that Savard's days in black and gold could be numbered. Savard has been quoted as saying he would like to eventually end up in Canada, closer to Ottawa and his family.
Next Summer, Savard will be a free agent, along with, Blake Wheeler, Milan Lucic, Mark Recchi, Steve Begin, Shawn Thornton, Tuukka Rask, Derek Morris, Andrew Ference and Mark Stuart, (Wheeler, Lucic, Stuart and Rask are RFA's).
With half of their defensemen being free agents, and young guns Lucic, Wheeler and Rask being RFA's, Savard may be unaffordable. Savard is a big money talent, as he is a consistent top 10 point man. Savard will look for at least $5 million a year, and with raises coming to Rask, Lucic, and Wheeler Savard may be the odd man out.
Now, it seems as though it would make sense to sign Kessel and get he and Krejci together to form a connection that could last for years to come. How about a line of Wheeler, Krejci and Kessel who have the ages of, 22, 23, and 21 respectively?
OK, so back to reality. The Bruins have approximately, $1.3 million left on their salary cap and Kessel left to sign. Kessel could be signed to an offer sheet, but then whoever signs Kessel will have to give Boston a first, second and third round draft pick.
Now, with few teams able to make a serious offer to Kessel due to their cap situations, if Boston were to clear another $2.5 million they would have a clear path to sign Kessel.
A player that may be on the hot seat for trading, just due to cap numbers alone may be Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew's number, plus Boston's already available cap space would give the Bruins $3,637,500 to try and accommodate Kessel.
Now, if you remember Kobasew's name was mentioned as trade bait to accommodate Kessel previously along with Aaron Ward. Now, Ward was traded to Carolina to create space for Derek Morris. But, will Kobasew go to accommodate Kessel?
All questions that have us scratching our heads, and not envying the decisions that Peter Chiarelli will have to make.
Last Tuesday, Chiarelli was quoted as saying, "I like where we are because we have for the most part our team in place," "Cap-wise we are getting up there, but certainly Phil is a player that if there comes a point where we have to make a move to get him in the mix I will certainly do that."
Chiarelli also said, "Summer is not done yet," last Tuesday. However, with the trade for Morris, is it over now?
The Kessel story is big news, although many Bruins fans are getting tired of all the talk and no action. Don't believe me? Well, check out some of the biggest NHL outlets and you soon will.
Kessel's name has been thrown around in many different scenarios, but none of which have come true as of today. Kessel is a 21 year-old talent who can fly and score with some of the best in the league. So, why the lack of interest in signing the young sniper?
Well, of course Kessel is a resticted free agent so any offer sheet he is signed to, Boston can match it. Many GM's are fearful that if they offer a sheet to Kessel and Boston matches it, they may upset Bruin brass and they may never be able to mend the relationship. This of course can effect a possible future deal.
Now, we understand things from that end, but what about Boston's end? Boston was quick to sign players, David Krejci and Byron Bitz, granted Bitz wasn't in the position to hold out for a lot of dollars. Then there is Krejci who is an impact player in his own right, and future number one center on the Bruins, so you can understand the quick signing there.
However, Kessel is an impact player too, that currently, despite his young age is one of the best goal scorers in the game. Krejci, 23, is blooming into one of the best center's in the league with fantastic vision.
Now, I don't know about you, but I would like to see a young duo like that come up through the system and be a potent one-two punch for years to come. Anyone recall, Oates, to Neely, to net?
Kessel currently plays with Marc Savard but I have been the first to speculate that Savard's days in black and gold could be numbered. Savard has been quoted as saying he would like to eventually end up in Canada, closer to Ottawa and his family.
Next Summer, Savard will be a free agent, along with, Blake Wheeler, Milan Lucic, Mark Recchi, Steve Begin, Shawn Thornton, Tuukka Rask, Derek Morris, Andrew Ference and Mark Stuart, (Wheeler, Lucic, Stuart and Rask are RFA's).
You better believe Lucic, Wheeler and Rask will get a lot of attention from the Bruins and Boston loves retaining their defensemen.
With half of their defensemen being free agents, and young guns Lucic, Wheeler and Rask being RFA's, Savard may be unaffordable. Savard is a big money talent, as he is a consistent top 10 point man. Savard will look for at least $5 million a year, and with raises coming to Rask, Lucic, and Wheeler Savard may be the odd man out.
Now, it seems as though it would make sense to sign Kessel and get he and Krejci together to form a connection that could last for years to come. How about a line of Wheeler, Krejci and Kessel who have the ages of, 22, 23, and 21 respectively?
OK, so back to reality. The Bruins have approximately, $1.3 million left on their salary cap and Kessel left to sign. Kessel could be signed to an offer sheet, but then whoever signs Kessel will have to give Boston a first, second and third round draft pick.
Now, with few teams able to make a serious offer to Kessel due to their cap situations, if Boston were to clear another $2.5 million they would have a clear path to sign Kessel.
A player that may be on the hot seat for trading, just due to cap numbers alone may be Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew's number, plus Boston's already available cap space would give the Bruins $3,637,500 to try and accommodate Kessel.
Now, if you remember Kobasew's name was mentioned as trade bait to accommodate Kessel previously along with Aaron Ward. Now, Ward was traded to Carolina to create space for Derek Morris. But, will Kobasew go to accommodate Kessel?
All questions that have us scratching our heads, and not envying the decisions that Peter Chiarelli will have to make.
Last Tuesday, Chiarelli was quoted as saying, "I like where we are because we have for the most part our team in place," "Cap-wise we are getting up there, but certainly Phil is a player that if there comes a point where we have to make a move to get him in the mix I will certainly do that."
Now, a move was made on Friday, in trading Ward and then Saturday in signing Morris. But, not a Kessel move.
Chiarelli also said, "Summer is not done yet," last Tuesday. However, with the trade for Morris, is it over now?
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