Bruins and Kessel still at impasse
KITCHENER, Ont. - Opening Night now slightly more than three weeks away, speedy Bruins winger Phil Kessel remains without a contract, putting into doubt his statement last month that he would have a new deal in place by the start of the 2009-10 season.
“I can’t respond to that,’’ said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli, here for this week’s rookie tournament that has brought together freshmen from Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, and Pittsburgh. “Phil is eager to get back in the mix, I guess. I respect the fact that he loves the game and wants to be back . . . and I guess he expects the ice will break because of the [imminent] end of the summertime cap.’’
As of Oct. 1, payrolls for NHL clubs must not exceed the league-mandated $56.8 million cap. However, prior to Oct. 1, clubs are allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent, to a limit of $62.48 million.
The Bruins, with some $55 million committed for next season, have tried to convince Kessel to sign a deal that would increase the payroll to around $59 million, forcing Chiarelli to ditch a roster player in the minors or offload salary via trade. But thus far none of Boston’s offers has been to Kessel’s liking.
“Nothing has really changed,’’ Chiarelli said, noting that at least three clubs have contacted him in recent weeks to try to trade for Kessel, who last season scored 36 goals. “I’d like to have him in the mix, but obviously he’s not . . . and obviously teams are interested.’’
Some four months after his club lost to Carolina in the second round of the playoffs, and with Kessel still unsigned, Chiarelli said he finds himself at what he referred to as a “philosophical impasse’’ in regards to signing his third-year right wing.
“While you like to bring along players of skill and youth and keep them in your organization, I also have to be cognizant of other dynamics,’’ said Chiarelli.
Such as a payroll already at about $55 million. Such as a roster that on July 1 will have top scorer Marc Savard reaching unrestricted free agency and young standouts Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler reaching the same restricted free agency plateau where Kessel now stands. Such as adhering to a style of play that is centered on defense and all-around grittiness and physical play, ingredients that are not key components of Kessel’s game.
To make room for Kessel, the obvious move for Chiarelli would be to offload another right wing, Michael Ryder, who stands to make $4 million each of the next two seasons. But Ryder is a favorite of coach Claude Julien, his former mentor in Montreal, and if that were a path Chiarelli cared to choose, he would have done it weeks ago, not now with NHL training camps set to open this weekend.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Toronto general manager Brian Burke, who tried to deal Tomas Kaberle for Kessel in June, reacquired a second-round draft pick that would enable him to extend a Group 2 offer sheet to Kessel.
The Leafs, along with the Predators and the Rangers, have tried to work a deal with Chiarelli. But the Leafs’ storehouse of talented young players is nearly barren, which could force Burke, rumored to be intent on securing Kessel, to opt for an offer sheet.
The Bruins then would have a right to match the deal (possibly as high as five years, $25 million) or accept the league-mandated compensation package of a first-, second-, and third-round draft pick.
“Yeah, he appears to be loading up here,’’ said Chiarelli, taking note of Burke’s obvious rekindled interest in acquiring Kessel, who also is destined to play on the USA Olympic squad that Burke manages along with Nashville general manager David Poile.
“Is [Burke] trying to push the dynamic? I don’t know. But like I’ve told everyone, we have ownership’s OK to match an offer sheet. And I’ve also had some significant discussions with a number of teams.’’
One way or another, it now appears a fait accompli that Kessel will get his money, but likely not from the Bruins.
With a minimum of three teams bidding, Chiarelli is in a position to play them off one another in an attempt to better the offers. Burke, though, with that second-round pick, could short-circuit all trade talks by dropping a lucrative offer sheet on Kessel at any hour. Chiarelli’s only option then would be to bid Kessel adieu or match the contract, which in turn would prohibit Chiarelli from trading Kessel for the entire 2009-10 season.
It’s that overriding threat that could force Chiarelli’s hand now, encouraging him instead to cut a quality deal with either the Predators or Rangers, or perhaps another club, rather than essentially be dictated terms by the Maple Leafs.
Both the Predators and Rangers have quality prospects that make a Kessel deal feasible. If that’s the case, much like when the Bruins flipped Glen Wesley to Hartford 15 years ago, the club swapping for Kessel no doubt would insist the Bruins first sign him and then make the trade.
Otherwise, just as the Bruins right now are vulnerable to an offer sheet, another club could acquire Kessel’s Group 2 rights but still risk losing him to an offer sheet for the same three draft picks.
“Just part of the job,’’ said Chiarelli, sounding neither resigned nor discouraged over his philosophical impasse.
“We’re going to make it right. And the fact that it has gone this long, Phil probably doesn’t like that, just the same as us.’’
Burke, responding to an e-mail, again offered no comment.
Kessel’s agent did not respond to an e-mail seeking a comment.
