Bruins Preparing for a 'Kessel Run?'

by Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Excuse the reference to a popular science-fiction trilogy (I say trilogy because I don't count those heinous cinematic abortions people call the prequels), but by all accounts, Boston Bruins fans should start bracing for the day that skilled center Phil Kessel bolts Beantown for greener pastures.

With news that the Bruins re-signed defenseman Matt Hunwick on Monday, Fluto Shinizawa of the Boston Globe reported that the Bruins are pushing up against the league salary cap's ceiling of $56.8 million, with a little more than $2.8 million of wiggle room to re-sign No. 81.

Bruins' GM Peter Chiarelli has been mum on the matter, while Kessel and his agent have barely commented at all.

"I have no clue what's going to happen at this point," Kessel told AM 640 in Toronto on Monday. "I think obviously it's been a slow process but you never know what happens. I don't think it's any closer than it has been in the months past or anything like that."

At this point, there are a few options that both parties can take. Make no mistake, the Bruins are not going to be able to break the bank to keep Kessel playing at TD BankNorth Garden in the fall. Kessel can accept a one-year deal worth whatever's left in Boston's budget or request a trade, which likely won't be made until after the season has already started. Although with the cap expected to go down the following year, pursuing a deal for Kessel may make some GM’s wary.

Kessel, a restricted free agent, can also be signed to an offer sheet by another team, but there's an inherent risk with this move; GM's were furious when the Edmonton Oilers signed forward Dustin Penner to an offer sheet in the summer of 2007, and that experiment wasn't worth the risk for the Oilers in hindsight, after giving up several draft picks.

Pure and simple, Kessel is a playmaking sniper. Unlike players like Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci, Kessel, who potted 36 goals last year, isn't known for his defensive ability or leadership skills. That may be a contributing factor for both camps to reach an agreement on a deal, because other players such as Bergeron and Krejci play a more solid all-around game.

Which leads to perhaps the best possible solution: Kessel accepts a three-year deal worth $10-12 million, which gives the forward a couple of seasons to improve his game and attitude (value), and buys some time for Chiarelli to restructure his team's finances.

The jury is still out on what will be done, but don't expect any headway to be made until the dog days of summer.