Kessel denies 5 million dollar demand.

Boston Bruins forward and former Gopher Phil Kessel is denying a report from the reported by the Ottawa Sun that he is demanding five million dollars a year. Kessel also said that he wants to remain a Boston Bruin. That could also probably shoot down the rumor from hockeybuzz.com that Boston isn’t looking to give Phil Kessel an offer even matching the $3.75 they gave teammate David Krejci, meaning that Kessel will likely be moved.

FRANKLIN — After Phil Kessel finished fielding the creampuff questions from precocious fifth-graders here at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School yesterday, the Bruins forward got down to the harder stuff with a couple reporters.

No, he said, he and his agent, Wade Arnott, have not asked for $5 million a year during negotiations with the Bruins on a new contract, as was reported by the Ottawa Sun.

Yes, his first priority is to remain with the Bruins rather than play elsewhere, although he will become a restricted free agent in a little less than two weeks (July 1) if no agreement is struck with Boston before then.

And yes, his left shoulder is coming along nicely some four weeks after surgery to repair a torn labrum, but even the notoriously fast-healing Kessel doubts he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season in early October.