For those who question why the B's need him.

It's been a long Summer and there is no break through in the contract negotiations between the Bruins GM and Phil Kessel. I have seen a lot of ridiculous things written by Bruins fans that think the Bruins don't need or that the Bruins will be fine without Phil Kessel. Again; who is going to pick up the offensive slack? For those who have forgot what the young man brings to the table check out this speed and these hands as he blow by the Habs defense and deposits the puck behind Habs sieve Carey Price. The last two season Phil Kessel is a Hab killer, who has scored some big time goals against our hated division foe.

Let's play three.

While I do actually find the outdoor game to be a yawner, and an over kill, I do however think this would be the venue that I would like to watch an outdoor game in. When I lived in Massachusetts back in the late 1980's early 1990's I did manage to take in 13 games in the hallowed Fenway Park and the place is absolutely an awesome baseball stadium and it might be worth the price of admission to watch a hockey game or two there. I would recommend an hot drink spike with your favorite beverage though.

BOSTON (AP) -- A college hockey doubleheader will follow the NHL's winter classic at Fenway Park.

The Boston College and Boston University men's teams will play outdoors at the ballpark, as will the women's hockey teams from Northeastern and New Hampshire. The Boston Herald first reported on the games Thursday and a person involved in the negotiations confirmed the deal to The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the official announcement was scheduled for next week.

The games will be on Jan. 8, a week after the New Year's Day pro game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Colborne: I'm a different player than last year

Joe Colborne is a poised young man, I have been impressed with his demeanor during the Boston Bruins prospects camp and I think he will make a good addition for the Boston Bruins in a year or two.

Jumbo Joe Colborne.

Looks like Joe Colborne made quite the impression at the Bruins prospect camp this past week. There have been a few comparisons to former Bruins Joe Thornton, the only thing that concerns me is I hope he is a better player in the NHL playoffs.

Dalton could be a keeper...

Here is a nice story on former BSU Goalie Matt Dalton. It will be interesting to see where he ends up playing this season.

WILMINGTON - Most of the interest that NCAA teams showed in Matt Dalton disappeared when the goalie’s self-admitted “academic issues’’ came to light.

“Being from Canada, my high school classes weren’t going to work,’’ said the Clinton, Ontario, native. “I didn’t find that out until my second-to-last year of juniors. So I had to do a full year of university while I was in juniors just to get eligible for NCAAs. That scared a lot of schools off. I was talking to a lot of schools at the time. Once all the academic issues came out, it was like they all quit talking.’’

As Dalton prepares for his first year as a pro goalie, it appears he’s getting the last laugh on the spooked schools.

Dalton has been one of three goalies at Ristuccia Arena this week for development camp (Adam Courchaine and Michael Hutchinson are the others). The 23-year-old is in the Boston fold for the next two seasons, aiming to become the latest unorthodox netminder to make it in Black-and-Gold. Like Tim Thomas, Dalton isn’t committed to following the butterfly style that has become the norm.

“A modified butterfly goalie, maybe?’’ Dalton said. “I don’t think I’m a true butterfly goalie like a lot of the French-Canadian goalies. But I do butterfly quite a bit.’’

The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Dalton considers himself more of a track-and-react goalie. This week, Dalton has put his style to the test against the prospects’ shots. Dalton holds his glove up and out (Courchaine and Hutchinson keep their catchers closer to their bodies) and tries to make himself as big as possible.

“I think I play my best when I’m tracking the puck well and reacting,’’ Dalton said. “More reacting than dropping down into a butterfly. It’s different with every person. It’s something that I found works well for me.’’

It's no mystery where Kevin Paul Dupont stands.

It never ceases to amaze me how Boston Globe Sports Writer KPD is always out there waving the trade Kessel flag. This article comes right after the Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli says that 'Phil Kessel will be back.' I believe this also the rumors he is talking about from that interview on NESN.

No progress in GM Peter Chiarelli’s attempts to strike a new deal with 36-goal scorer Phil Kessel. If an offer sheet is coming from another club, it’s not likely to be made until close to the season opener in October, at which time the Bruins, with little or no cap room left by then, would be forced to let him go or frantically dump salary. Unlike the summer, when clubs are allowed to go 10 percent over the $56.8 million salary cap, there is no overage allowed once the season starts. It’s far more likely that Kessel will be signed in the next few weeks or traded well before the start of October. Restricted free agents who fail to sign by Dec. 1 are forced to sit out the remainder of the season . . . The Ducks and Bruins once might have discussed a Kessel-for-Bobby Ryan swap. Ryan, the No. 2 pick in the ’05 draft, was a finalist last season for Rookie of the Year . . .
[Boston Globe]