The Maple Leafs have made a series of moves over the past week or so, seemingly preparing themselves to make a big offer for restricted free agent Phil Kessel. The Bruins have maintained he wasn’t going anywhere, but today word comes down that Kessel has officially cut off negotiations with Boston and is ready to see offers from other teams.
Kessel Ends Negotiations With Bruins; Leafs Ready To Pounce?
Pension Plan Puppets has the rundown on the story, and what the circumstances are surrounding the possibility of the Leafs going after Kessel:
The day is here, Phil Kessel isn’t negotiating with Boston and is waiting for an offer sheet to sign. This alone doesn’t mean that Kessel won’t stay with Boston or is hostile towards management. This means Kessel is testing the waters. Boston reserves the right to match any offer made to Kessel or to accept compensatory draft picks from the team that signs him to the offer sheet.Kessel’s looking for salary in the $4.5-$5M range meaning compensation for signing Kessel will be a first, second and third round draft pick.
Once again Brian Burke has put the Leafs in position to make a big move, all the while denying anything will happen. But where there’s smoke...
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