Phil Kessel and the Boston Bruins are getting nowhere fast, and the there seems to be no end to their contract squabble. GM Peter Chiarelli has no doubt about what's ahead for the 21-year-old winger who scored 36 goals last season. He will be back, Chiarelli told NESN, the Bruins' telecast outlet.
"I don't like to talk about negotiations, but he's a player of impact. [He has] the speed, and he's still a young player," Chiarelli said.
"I can't dismiss me talking about players to trade because that's my job. It's unfortunate that [trade rumors] leak out but Phil's a good person -- a very good person and a very good player -- and we fully intend to keep him."
The Bruins' need for offensive talent would back up Chiarelli's sentiments.
The question is what will happen with other players as the Bruins try to stay under the salary cap. Defenseman Matt Hunwick is headed for arbitration, and the team is likely to accept the arbiter's decision. However, NESN notes that forwards Chuck Kobasew and Michael Ryder and defensemen Aaron Ward and Andrew Ference have been mentioned in trade rumors. Until a deal with Kessel is made, the team won't know if it must cut salary or how much.
The sooner the deal is done, the better, because the Bruins' return in trade might diminish the longer things drag out.
Meanwhile, questions are being asked about Kessel. Nobody seems to be calling about a deal or pitching a free-agent offer sheet.
Despite his scoring prowess, the Worcester Telegraph says critics point to Kessel's aversion to defensive play, "lack of a physical game and his allegedly weak role in the team dynamic."
Those questions could be pushed aside as Kessel matures, and the Bruins know he can be a presence in the playoffs. That means a contract settlement would be in the best thing for both the player and the team, assuming it falls within a reasonable financial plan. ...
Roman Polak and the Blues continue a long, slow negotiation but have yet to settle on a contract. Polak, 23, is a restricted free agent, meaning the Blues have control of his rights if the two sides are unable to negotiate a contract extension. The Blues say that while discussions have been drawn out, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, they remain amicable, and the club is confident Polak will be re-signed by the start of training camp in mid-September. ...
To fill the hole left by the departure of Sergei Fedorov, the Capitals are counting on center Brendan Morrison as a second-line center. Morrison is a good playmaker with experience and has 505 points in 755 games. He fits the team's desire to get strong center to anchor their lines. The team also counts on defenseman Shaone Morrisonn to continue his improvement. Entering his fifth season with the team, he will be a stay-at-home defenseman and comes off a plus-4 season. ...
The Senators signed 2008 No. 1 pick Erik Karlsson before their prospect camp and see him as a good bet to crack the lineup this season. There were concerns about Karlsson's lack of size, but he has gained 20 pounds in the past year. ...
Having done little in free agency, the Devils' biggest offseason move so far was bringing Jacques Lemaire back as coach. They made a minor signing in giving veteran defenseman Cory Murphy a two-way deal. He had five goals and 10 assists last season with the Lightning, all on the power play. ...
Rick DiPietro remains on target to be skating by August and good to go for the start of Islanders training camp in September. Just to be sure, they signed Dwayne Roloson as a backup but also as a veteran starter if necessary. DiPietro had two knee surgeries that limited him to five games last season.
