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| Agent: Kessel’s first priority is to get a deal done with Boston | 06.10.09 at 9:53 am ET |
According to agent Wade Arnott, Phil Kessel's first priority is coming back to the Bruins
Reports have been swirling over the last few days that Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli and the agent for 21-year-old B’s sniper Phil Kessel are pretty far apart in negotiations, and that a trade of Kessel this summer could be a certainty if that contractual chasm isn’t bridged.
Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott checked in with the Big Bad Blog on Tuesday afternoon, refuted the notion that the sides are at an impasse, and in fact stated that he and Chiarelli have just recently opened up contract discussions. The negotiations began in earnest this week following Kessel’s surgery to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
Kessel, a restricted free agent able to receive offer sheets from other teams if he’s still unsigned on July 1, has made it clear to Arnott that he wants to remain with the team that drafted him fifth overall in the first round back in the 2006 draft.
“We’re in the early, early stages,” said Arnott of the negotiations. “We’re just beginning to chat now. Everything in our industry is still deadline-oriented and Phil is a restricted free agent, so it doesn’t surprise me (that discussions have only just begun). In addition to that, the priority was the surgery on his shoulder. Now that he’s recovering nicely from that I guess Peter has decided that now is the time to turn his attention to Phil.”
The B’s signed fellow RFA David Krejci to a three-year, $11.25 million contract last week that gives the Black and Gold an affordable burgeoning superstar over the next three seasons, but it’s expected that Kessel is going to cost the Bruins more money than his 23-year-old teammate. Kessel scored a combined 30 goals in his first two NHL seasons while also battling through testicular cancer as a rookie, but the 6-foot, 189-pounder began to blossom this season as a 21-year-old, baby-faced sniper.
Kessel led the Bruins with 36 goals scored despite missing 12 games with a bout of mononucleosis and the shoulder injury that eventually required offseason surgery, and has 15 career points — including nine goals — in 15 playoff games over the last two seasons. The $3.75 million per year mark signed by Krejci is sure to be the jumping off point for Boston in negotiations with Kessel, but there are other contracts that Kessel’s representation is surely looking at as comparable to the budding superstar.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter signed a three-year, $15 million contract prior to last season after scoring 66 goals over his first three NHL seasons (23, 14, and 29 respectively) and then exploded for46 goals as a 24-year-old this season. Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal inked a four-year, $16 million contract extension that begins next season after the 20-year-old scored 63 goals over his first three seasons for the Pens. Washington Capitals Alexander Semin signed a two-year, $9.2 million in Oct. 2007 as a 23-year-old while in the midst of scoring 74 goals in his first three NHL seasons.
Before signing his current deal that will begin paying him $8.25 million per year beginning next season, a then-21-year-old Eric Staal signed a three-year, $13.5 million pact as his second contract in the NHL after scoring 86 goals in his first three seasons — and winning a Stanley Cup as a second-year player with the Canes. On the other end of the spectrum, Zach Parise signed a four-year, $12.5 million cap-friendly extension with the New Jersey Devils in Aug. 2007 after totalling 45 goals in his first two NHL seasons.
With all of those deals utilized as market-setters from the recent past, it’s likely that Kessel’s representation is looking for something in between the younger Staal’s $4 million per year deal and Carter’s $5 million per-annum pact with the Flyers. If the Bruins and Kessel aren’t able to come to an contract agreement by July 1, the young B’s forward can begin fielding offer sheets from other teams around in the NHL — an interesting scenario in a world where the NHL salary cap is shrinking.
Despite the depressed world economy, it’s also a world where 36-goals scorers at 21 years old don’t exactly grow on trees and Kessel’s world class skating speed and deadly snap shot would attract many suitors.
Arnott indicated that both he and Kessel weren’t looking at the July 1 free agency period with any significance at this point. The talented Bruins forward has indicated to his representation that he wants to exhaust every opportunity with Boston before turning to other options.
“My instructions from Phil are that my first priority is to try and get a deal done with Boston,” said Arnott, who also indicated that Kessel’s recovery from shoulder surgery is going well, but that the young winger is likely to miss a month next season. “His interests lie in remaining in Boston, and we’re going to see if we can get that done first.”
Chiarelli recently indicated that he views Kessel an important part of the Bruins hockey club, but that he wouldn’t feel “rushed” or “hurried” by a July 1 date that allows the speedy young winger to begin courting offers from other teams. The danger is that an opposing team will see an opportunity to strike the Bruins with a blow by inking Kessel to an expensive offer sheet — as the Edmonton Oilers did to the tune of seven years and $50 million with Buffalo Sabres RFA Tomas Vanek prior to the 2007-08 season. The salary cap-strapped B’s would be forced to match the offer — and begin trading off other assets in a position of desperation – or watch Kessel sign with somebody else and potentially blossom into a 40-50 goal scorer.
Looking at past hockey history, Arnott hasn’t shown much hesitation in steering clients toward the offer sheet route, if given the option, and signed RFA David Backes to a three-year, $7.5 million offer sheet with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1 last summer. The Blues matched the offer sheet to retain their own free agent, and Backes scored 31 goals for St. Louis during their march to the playoffs last season.
Chiarelli has already said that he’s intent on matching any offer sheets tendered to Kessel if things get to the free agency period, but it’ll be shocking if it’s allowed to get to that point given Boston’s salary cap situation and the surefire interest around the league in a budding 21-year-old goal scorer.
“Every negotiation is different and every person’s family has different needs,” said Chiarelli. “We’ll see how the rest of the negotiations unfold. (Kessel and Krejci) are both very valued members of our team. (Getting all three signed by July 1) isn’t insignificant, but it’s just one of the factors involved here.
“It’s something where you have to gauge the negotiations as they are, and if someone wants to lead the negotiations until July 1 then we’re prepared to do that. We’re going to match (any offer sheets). It’s one of the factors. There are other tools that we have as a team. We can elect arbitration on certain players. I don’t want to be rushed or hurried by the July 1 (deadline). I recognize that there’s a threat of offer sheets. While there may be some I’m prepared to match in our cases, we’re prepared beyond matching to do the maneuvers that we have to do.”
18 Comments for “Agent: Kessel’s first priority is to get a deal done with Boston”
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June 10th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Right. Because agents never use reporters to spread false stories or use them to fit thier agenda.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Don’t hate the player, Richie Ketchup, hate the game…
–Haggs
June 10th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Im lovin the Richie Ketchup line but really what is the agent going to say? That Kessel is going after the money? Of course he is going to say he wants to come back to the team, thats what they all say. That is Agent Speak 101
June 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
dear,haggs.i hope the bruins can soon get phil kessel signed to a new contract to keep the young sniper in boston alongside david krejci do you think the bruins will get kessel signed to a new contract soon if not the other part of the equasion is if boston fails to resign kessel to a new deal he could be traded i heard he could be traded to colorado for their high 3rd round draft pick what do you think haggs?
June 10th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I think the interesting part is that the Bruins just started talking with Kessel’s agent over the last few days. Weren’t there all kinds of reports about big gaps between what the two sides wanted? What about the trade rumors? I think it’s good to hear that “real discussions” are underway.
But maybe that’s just me…
June 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Sign Kessel, get rid of Sturm and Axey and the some other pricey vets.
There are some younger players on the Baby B’s that can fill those gaps.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Nervous about the Kessel situation………….
I do agree with Roland; I’d like to unload Sturm. Probably won’t be possible because apparently he has a no-trade clause.
But Axey could be kept on the cheap, and he’s great on the PK.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:05 am
I don’t really care if they keep Axellson, Sturm, Kessel or anyone else if they would just please get rid of Jack Edwards. Enough is enough already. He sucks.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:25 am
That’s pretty harsh, Fred…not everybody can be as good as you. Didn’t realize how much I missed your goal calls until I watched that History of the Bruins DVD this season. Fred Cusick, you were some kind of awesome and I tip my hat to you.
–Haggs
June 11th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Sign Kessel now? If the B’s do and it is for the kind of money that he wants or for what the other players mentioned got, you can kiss Savard goodbye. I think they should trade Kessel because he is valuable right now. I think he will be a good player but not great. Savvy is the heart of the team. Don’t forget Lucic is up next year also. What they do this year will have ramifications for next year and beyond. Especially when the cap drops. Am I correct Hags?
June 11th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
The cap system is causing teams to unload players that they normally would keep. In the case of the Bruins, they will need to say goodbye to some good players. It is their GM’s job to try and mold a team that can compete. He needs to decide if the older vets can retain there abilities or sign the young guns. I trully believe he will try to sign Kessel for around 3.7 over 2-3 years. If he cannot get that done he will trade him… simple as that .
He will not sign him to 5M a year… no way. No matter how hard it is to find 21 year olds who score 40 goals.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Jack Edwards is the bomb, I love his call of the game.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Kessel is like the cutest Bruin ever, the things I would love to do to him behind closed doors
June 12th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Whoa Miranda!
Lets get him signed 1st.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:35 am
This Miranda disagrees with the other Miranda:
Blake Wheeler is the cutest Bruin.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Is it possible to have a torn rotator cuff, and then not have a torn rotator cuff?
The guy was invisible down the stretch, either thats Claudes fault for playing him seriously injured or hes just a big household cat.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Dana, do you have any clue whatsoever how freaking painful a torn labrum/rotator cuff is? Most normal human beings wouldn’t be able to function, let alone play hockey, with an injury like that.
Invisible down the stretch? What are you talking about? Six goals, five assists (plus-7) in the playoffs; five goals in the Bruins’ last six regular season games. How is that invisible?
My God, a guy plays and produces with a crippling injury and people question his guts. What would it take to satisfy you, dropping dead on the ice?
June 15th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
If Kessel really wants to stay, he’ll take a similar deal to Krejci, who by the way is a better overall player. Kessel has amazing raw talent, but he is not as consistant a player as he should be, especially if he thinks he deserves $5M per. As much as I want to see him blossom in Boston, I wouldn’t pay him more than Krejci.