With former Golden Gophers Phil Kessel in a contract year one of the question is what will Kessel sign for? The Bruins are going to have to show him the money. I also think that Kessel is a more complete player than Staal.
Kessel makes fast progress
Jordan Staal's new deal in Pittsburgh - $16 million for the next four years - will be the starting point for Kessel's talks with the Bruins. Selected second overall in the '06draft, just three slots ahead of Kessel, Staal, on the day he agreed to the deal, had career numbers of 52-39-91 in 204 games. Kessel's numbers the same day: 54-52 -106 in 192 games, and Kessel this season has made his mark as a bona fide game-breaker. The bet here is that Kessel gets a two-year pact that averages upward of $5 million, or gets pushed out to five years/$30 million. Quite a turnaround for a kid who suited up for only four of seven playoff games last spring.
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