General Rumors

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

BRUINS IN A TOUGH SPOT AS THEY TRY TO TRADE KESSEL

I don't doubt the Nashville Predators have significant interest in Boston Bruins' restricted free agent Phil Kessel.

And I don't doubt, all things being equal, Boston would rather move Kessel to Nashville and the Western Conference than to the division rival Toronto Maple Leafs.

But here's why Nashville, regardless of what it offers Boston, is at a serious disadvantage in the Kessel sweepstakes.

Kessel, it appears, wants to play in Toronto, not Nashville. And as long as that remains the case, Nashville can't trade for him.

In order to make the trade with Boston, Nashville has to be sure it can get Kessel signed to a contract. And, by all accounts, as long as Toronto wants Kessel, the player isn't going to agree to terms with any other team.

That leaves both Boston and Nashville in a tough spot.

If Nashville did trade for Kessel without having a contract agreement in place, the Maple Leafs would simply swoop in and deliver a free-agent offer sheet to the goal-scoring winger. Nashville could, in theory, match the offer and keep Kessel. But the chances of that happening would appear to be slim.

We can only guess what the offer sheet would look like, but it's reasonable to think Kessel could get a five or six-year deal with an annual salary and cap hit of about $5.5 million. But it's also possible that the Leafs could front-end load the first calendar year of the contract to the tune of, say, $12 million. There could be a hefty signing bonus now, a big salary for the 2009-10 season and another big signing bonus on July 1st, 2010.

Could the fiscally-responsible Predators afford to do that? Would they want to do that?

My guess is, not a chance.

The Leafs may not be guaranteed to end up with Kessel, but as long as the player holds out for a landing in Toronto, Boston is seriously handcuffed in its ability to trade him. At least that's how it looks from here.

If Kessel isn't traded in the next day or two, I could see the Leafs dropping the offer-sheet bomb as early as this weekend.

Boston would have the right to match, and may do that on principle alone (owner Jeremy Jacobs may order it just to show his team can't be raided), but if they do, with the way the offer sheet is likely to be structured, it's going to be extremely costly in the short term and force the Bruins to shed some other players and salaries to make Kessel fit under the cap.

The dynamics could change if Kessel decides he's prepared to play somewhere other than Toronto, but for now, it looks like the Bruins' options are severely limited. Either trade him to Toronto or don't and risk the Leafs delivering an offer sheet that, at the very least, will cause the Bruins some hardship in the form of having to re-jig a lineup that looks pretty well set.

It should be interesting.

TSN

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

blum+radulov and a pick. deal is going to happen soon.

Depending on how high the draft pick is, that's actually a pretty decent deal.

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Depending on how high the draft pick is, that's actually a pretty decent deal.

Given Bostons history with russian players, I'm not so sure the deal would be great for Boston, well considering that Kessel want resign, getting Radulov and a draft pick wouldn't be bad either.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

Given Bostons history with russian players, I'm not so sure the deal would be great for Boston, well considering that Kessel want resign, getting Radulov and a draft pick wouldn't be bad either.

I doubt Boston would trade for Radulov unless they were pretty confident he'd play for them. And in Blum they are getting a solid young defenseman. A little on the small side and he may struggle during the transition from juniors to pro but he has excellent hockey sense and is one of the smartest players I've seen in junior hockey.

[bigjohnson]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

blum+radulov and a pick. deal is going to happen soon.

This deal is pretty eminent IMO. Its Blum, Radulov, and a 1st round pick.

The only thing keeping this deal from happening is Boston isn't sold on Radulov and him coming back to the NHL. Zach Budish may replace Radulov in this deal.

If I am Chiarelli, I would try to throw in Ference and TB's 2nd round pick we got at the deadline for Dan Hamuis.

To Boston: Blum, Radulov/Budish, Hamuis, 1st round daft pick

To Nashville: Kessel, 2nd round pick

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

This deal is pretty eminent IMO. Its Blum, Radulov, and a 1st round pick.

The only thing keeping this deal from happening is Boston isn't sold on Radulov and him coming back to the NHL. Zach Budish may replace Radulov in this deal.

If I am Chiarelli, I would try to throw in Ference and TB's 2nd round pick we got at the deadline for Dan Hamuis.

To Boston: Blum, Radulov/Budish, Hamuis, 1st round daft pick

To Nashville: Kessel, 2nd round pick

poile would be an absolute idiot to make that deal. hamhuis is worth more than a 2nd pick.

[Gunslinger]

Kessel is starting to sound like a poor mans Heatley. Just go already.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

LEAFS LAND KESSELL?

Although it's not completed, sources say the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins are putting the finishing touches on a trade that will deliver Phil Kessel to the Leafs.

Could be.

[grits207]

Originally Posted by BROKEN*ORBITAL

LEAFS LAND KESSELL?



Could be.

Good news for both teams, assuming it doesn't fall apart at the last minute.

[bigjohnson]

Originally Posted by chilly666

poile would be an absolute idiot to make that deal. hamhuis is worth more than a 2nd pick.

yea, my fault. if you read my entire post i also included Ference but not at the bottom of the post.

[lakingsfan19]

Cane's Anton Babchuk for Pred's Jonathan Blum

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

yea, my fault. if you read my entire post i also included Ference but not at the bottom of the post.

no i read it but poile would still be an idiot. it would be hamhuis (top 2 dman) for kessel (top 6 forward), then blum, other prospect and a 1st for ference and a 2nd. nashville would still be getting shafted cause ference is not as good as hamhuis by a mile. boston would have to include someone like hunwick for stuart for that deal to be feasable

[Viper207]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

Cane's Anton Babchuk for Pred's Jonathan Blum

Why is Nashville so anxious to get rid of Blum? Or is he just the best asset they're willing to part with?

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by Viper207

Why is Nashville so anxious to get rid of Blum? Or is he just the best asset they're willing to part with?

Not sure, just read it as a rumor. His name has been mentioned now a few times.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Viper207

Why is Nashville so anxious to get rid of Blum? Or is he just the best asset they're willing to part with?

he is one of their best prospects on the back end that alot of teams want in return in a deal. he still needs some time in the ahl though before he'll be ready for the nhl.