I was afraid this was going to happen. First to the Bruins fans that are suggesting that
Marco Sturm can take up Kessel slack are delirious. I have seen that post a few times in various places on internet fan pages and blogs and it defies logic. Sturm has never scored 30 goals in a season for Boston or anyone. Also, Sturm is 30 years old and Kessel is only 21. Just for the Record
Zach Parise who was the third highest goal score this season is currently making 2,500,000.00 a season
(45 GOALS - 49 ASSISTS - 94 POINTS) so $5 million a year might be a little high because I don't think Kessel is in Parie's league.
According to the Ottawa Sun, Bruins leading goal scorer and current restricted free agent Phil Kessel is seeking a $5 million a year contract. The Bruins, however, aren’t willing to dish out such loot for Kessel, who underwent successful shoulder surgery earlier this offseason following a career year in which he scored 36 goals and 24 assists in 70 games.
Bruce Garrioch of ottawasun.com writes: “The Bruins and F Phil Kessel appear to be far apart on a contract. Coming off an entry-level salary of $850,000, Kessel wants a huge raise to $5 million per season. It appears GM Peter Chiarelli wants Kessel to accept a similar deal C David Krejci inked earlier this week — $11.25 million over three years. If Kessel won’t budge, he could be moved.”
Boston is already paying forwards Marc Savard $5 million, Patrice Bergeron $4.75 million, and Marco Sturm $3.5 million as well as Krejci, who will make $3.75 per year [NESN]
This is from Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch, so...
ReplyDeleteSo I guess my question to Bruce would be is, how do you know how much Kessel wants?
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of the salary cap.
ReplyDeleteO the wonderful world of the wonderful inside reporters. Just as the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Rob Rossi reported last off season that Marian Hossa was a lock at roughly $4.8 million a year for about a 4 to 5 year deal, from his "inside source."
ReplyDeleteI think we all know where Marian ended up.
Kessell has that potential of being a 35 to 40 goal scorer on a consistent basis, this season was his first bright spot as a productive top six forward for Boston. The question is, $5 million may not be worth it right now, but if you can lock a guy in that you have faith that he will perform at an $8 million dollar level, but for only $5 million, do you take that chance?