Happy 4th of July to everyone. Also, props to Richard of the Illegal Curve. Kessel is not being traded to Toronto yet! The rumor deal is off the table right now.
Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is not about to book Phil Kessel a flight to Toronto.
Burke reported yesterday that a deal between the Leafs and the Boston Bruins, which would have seen Toronto defenceman Tomas Kaberle head to Boston for the high-scoring Kessel, is not on the table anymore, at least not at this point.
In fact, Burke added that interest in Kaberle's services, once very high, has cooled down.
Kessel, 21, is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Bruins can match any offer sheet he receives from other NHL clubs, and reportedly is looking for something in the neighbourhood of $5 million US. The Bruins, however, quickly are running out of cap space and probably would have to deal some players to keep him. If not, a trade with the Leafs may again become a possibility.
Kessel, a native of Madison, Wis., led all Bruins with 36 goals last season (the only Beantowner to score more than 30) and added 11 points in 11 playoff games. Kessel has been criticized for his defensive game, but was plus-23 under head coach Claude Julien.
The deal between the Leafs and Bruins fell apart over a miscommunication, that is, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli thought that Toronto's first-round pick in the 2009 draft (seventh overall) was part of the swap. Burke said it never was. [Sun Media]
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