Boynton rejects $1.75m offer

Nick Boynton, originally offered only slightly more than his $1.33 million qualifying offer to rejoin the Bruins, has been offered $1.75 million to play in 2005-06, two sources familiar with both sides of the negotiations confirmed yesterday.

But Boynton remains on his father's turf farm in Ontario, not yet satisfied with general manager Mike O'Connell's proposal.

''They had the right to put this to bed at $1.9 million, right off the bat," said Boynton's agent, Anton Thun, noting that the Bruins in July could have picked up the option for this season on Boynton's contract that was negotiated more than two years ago. ''But they didn't, and that's where we are now."

At $1.75 million, Boynton, 26, would be the second highest-paid Boston defenseman, but still considerably under the $4 million free agent Brian Leetch signed for over the summer. The Bruins hurried to sign Leetch to a one-year deal after Sergei Gonchar bolted Boston for a five-year, $25 million opportunity in Pittsburgh.

''It's not an amount that Nick has indicated he is willing to play for," said Thun, speaking from his office in Toronto. ''So, for now, it's a logjam. But I believe it will get resolved somehow. Nick Boynton is too good a player not be in someone's lineup."

Thun said he continues to talk with other clubs that might be interested in tendering Boynton, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet -- one the Bruins would have the right to match. In prior seasons, such Group 2 offer sheets have been very rare, and no Group 2 offer sheets have been tendered since the signing of the new CBA.

A club signing Boynton would be obligated to compensate the Bruins with a pair of first-round draft picks, one in '06 and the other in '07.

If Boynton does not come to terms here, and also does not field a Group 2 offer, the Bruins could trade his rights. However, O'Connell has said all along that he has no interest in trading the veteran blue liner, and his priority remains to sign him.

Bruins fall in OT

With two Bruins in the penalty box, junior star Guillaume Latendresse scored 2:12 into overtime to give the Canadiens a 4-3 win last night in Montreal.

Glen Murray and Brad Boyes each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who rallied from a 3-0 first-period deficit to force the extra session. It was Murray's third goal in two games and Boyes's second goal of the exhibition season. Brad Isbister scored the Bruins' other goal.

Pierre Dagenais, Ron Hainsey, and Richard Zednik also scored for the Canadiens (4-1-0), who will face the Bruins (2-3-1) again tonight in Moncton, New Brunswick.

After struggling in the first period, Andrew Raycroft finished with 32 saves.

In the overtime, Patrick Leahy got whistled off for hooking at 40 seconds and Jonathan Girard got called for delay of game at 1:05, setting up Latendresse's winner.

Prior to the game, the Bruins sent right wing Martin Samuelson, center Ben Guite and defenseman Jay Leach to Providence, and recalled center Nate Thompson from the Baby B's.

Bourque sent down

The Washington Capitals sent left wing Chris Bourque, 19, to their AHL farm team in Hershey, Pa. Bourque played at Boston University last season, but left school in March to pursue a professional career.

The son of retired great Ray Bourque, Chris was a second-round selection (33d overall) in the 2004 NHL draft.