Nothing new on Raycroft and Boynton

WILMINGTON -- The Bruins opened rookie training camp yesterday and will conduct the first day of full camp Monday. However, two critical pieces of the team's puzzle remain missing. Neither No. 1 goaltender Andrew Raycroft nor defenseman Nick Boynton is signed.

''Nothing has changed," said assistant general manager Jeff Gorton. ''We haven't talked to [the players' agents] for the last couple of days.

''We're just trying to work through the numbers. We're somewhere and they're another place, and we're trying to work it out. I wouldn't say either one is closer. There is a difference in both situations and we're trying to get through it."

The club would like to sign both players to short-term deals to remain flexible under the new $39 million salary cap.

''Right now, we're probably looking at lower term more than anything else to fit them in after all the moves we made," said Gorton. ''Obviously, if they want to do a long-term deal for our numbers, that'd be great. We'll see."

Traffic in front

For the most part, the opening of rookie camp went off without a hitch. The only exception was the team bus hit heavy traffic on the way to the Ristuccia Center, which limited the players to only a scrimmage rather than the planned practices for one group prior to the scrimmage and one after. ''It was a hard evaluation," said Gorton, referring to the limited ice time. ''But it was good, it was competitive. I think we saw some good things." Gorton said one player who acquitted himself well was defenseman Matt Lashoff, who was Boston's first pick (No. 22 overall) in this year's draft. ''As the scrimmage went on, he was getting better," said Gorton. ''He looked a little nervous when he first started, which is expected. As the second half was going on, he was getting better. I thought he looked good. He moves the puck well, he skates well. He should get better as this week goes on. When you meet the kid, you're impressed that he wants to get better. He's got a lot of good qualities." Lashoff, who turns 19 Sept. 29, is considered a long shot to make Boston's roster. He is expected to return to his junior team, Kitchener of the Western Hockey League . . . Coach Mike Sullivan is due back today from Team USA's orientation camp in Colorado Springs. Sullivan will serve as an assistant coach under Peter Laviolette during the Olympics in Turin, Italy, in February . . . Defenseman Lars Jonsson, the Bruins' first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in 2000, signed with HV71 Jonkoping in his native Sweden. It is doubtful he will ever suit up for the Bruins. ''We're due a compensatory pick on him if we can't sign him by June 1," said Gorton. ''That would be the seventh pick in the second round. It's disappointing because we couldn't come to terms. We tried for a number of years, but it's not that disappointing when you look at [defensemen Andrew] Alberts and [Mark] Stuart and Lashoff and the way [Jonathan] Sigalet played [yesterday]. It's not that big of a blow."