Chiarelli on Hamill

Yesterday, before Zach Hamill had signed his entry-level deal, GM Peter Chiarelli spoke about the importance of getting the center into the fold, even though he'll most likely spend 2007-08 in Seattle with his junior team.

"There's a collective peace of mind from the player's perspective and the organization's perspective," Chiarelli said of signing prospects who may be a year away from pro hockey. "The longer you wait, if the players are good, the more expensive they get. Now they can't get any more expensive because of the cap. But with the extent of bonuses, who knows? And maybe at the end of the day, they don't want to sign here. It's more for development. We've identified him as an NHL player. If we get him under contract, we're better able to develop him when he's with us."

When Hamill touches down in Boston next month, it will be the third time he's visited his future NHL city. Hamill came to Boston for the first time before the draft, and was most recently in Wilmington for the team's development camp.

"He was really happy," Ross Gurney, Hamill's agent, said of the center's stay last month with the rest of the youngsters. "It was a continuation for him to get to know the staff better, feel comfortable with the group, and get an idea of what the first camp will be like. They've done a really good job of preparing him. When he comes, he can showcase his talent and not have the nerves of all the details and how things will unfold."