No budge on Boynton

On Sept. 16, the day the Bruins held their annual Black and White scrimmage at Boston University's Agganis Arena, defenseman Nick Boynton said he was optimistic a deal with the club would be completed shortly. That afternoon, the team had signed goaltender Andrew Raycroft to a one-year, $1.35 million contract, and it appeared Boynton would be next, imminently.

''I really think it'll get done in the next few days," Boynton said at the time. ''I think we're really, really close. That's my opinion. I hope it does. I'm kind of packed, ready to go. I'm just waiting for it to get to the point where I'll be happy with the deal."

Now, 13 days later, the impasse between player and team continues. When the team upped its offer to Raycroft to complete a deal, it did so too with Boynton, putting a one-year, $1.75 million contract on the table. Boynton and his agent, Anton Thun, rejected it then, and show no signs of settling for it now.

The offer is $150,000 shy of Boynton's option, which the Bruins declined to exercise. So, what now? General manager Mike O'Connell said he wasn't sure. Opening night is Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, and although the Bruins' blue-line corps is decent, it's nowhere near as good as it would be with Boynton.

''I upped our offers on both players when Raycroft signed," said O'Connell. ''I don't know what [the issue] is. As I've said all along, we want [Boynton] on our team. He's a good player, he's a very good player, and he'd make our team better."

When asked if the Bruins could increase their offer, O'Connell said they could if they wanted to.

''We have a number in mind and we've been generous with every one of our players," he said. ''We feel we're being generous here, as well."

Boynton has a clear picture of what he believes he is worth. That's been evident since 1997, when he was drafted, by Washington. He couldn't come to terms with the Capitals, and went back into the draft. Two years later the Bruins made him the 21st pick overall. O'Connell said he doesn't believe Boynton is trying to force a trade.

''I think he wants to play in Boston for sure, that's what I hear," said the GM.

O'Connell is an optimist, but he said he's not clear on how to read the situation.

''I don't know if it will [get done] or not," he said.

Whatever happens, O'Connell said he doesn't want it to turn ugly.

''Our first thing is we'd like to have him in camp getting ready," said O'Connell. ''I don't know what's going to happen or what he wants to do. We really like Nick. I don't want this to become [a war of words]. You don't want it to be, 'He said this,' or 'We said that,' because it just gets way out of hand. It's just a decision Nick has to make regarding what he wants to do."

Big third earns victory

The Bruins scored four unanswered goals in the third period and rallied past the Canadiens, 5-2, in an exhibition game last night in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Patrice Bergeron knotted the game at 2 with his fourth goal of the preseason at 6:36 of the third (he has 6 points in five games), and Tom Fitzgerald, Ben Walter, and Brad Boyes all followed suit as Boston improved to 3-3-1. Left wing Pat Leahy had given the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 3:08 of the first.

Rookie Hannu Toivonen went the distance in goal and made 39 saves as the Canadiens outshot the Bruins, 41-29.

Boston will wrap up the exhibition season Saturday at the Garden against the Rangers.