Kessel negotiations on hold?

I am trying to figure out what the heck Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is trying to do? Looks like the Bruins GM is playing hard ball with Kessel. To the fans on message boards that I see suggesting that Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron are going to be able to pick up the slack if Kessel leaves. Seriously; that isn't going to happen. Patrice Bergeron is one hit away from a medical retirement after suffering two concussions and Sturm has never scored more than 27 goals in a season. Also neither players is a pure scorer like Kessel.

As far as the current Bruins roster goes, according to a source close to the Phil Kessel negotiations, there has been no communication between the Bruins and the Kessel camp since the NHL entry draft. The last time Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli spoke, they reportedly let it be known where they stand, with Arnott stressing that his client’s first preference was to remain a Bruin. Chiarelli, according to this source, said the Bruins would get back to him, but as of Monday, they had not done so yet... [NESN]

Hunwick files for arbitration. (Zajac and Smaby too)

The Bruins need to have Matt Hunwick and Phil Kessel signed and in their lineup for the next season. First off this is a good sign for Matt Hunwick. Also, former Sioux hockey playersTravis Zajac (New Jersey) and Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay)filed for arbitration as well.

As expected, Matt Hunwick filed for arbitration by today's 5 p.m. deadline. Hunwick was one of 20 restricted free agents to file for arbitration. Hunwick is expected to come to an agreement prior to his hearing.

"Still negotiating with B's," agent Peter Fish wrote in an e-mail to colleague Kevin Dupont. "It will work out."

Hearings will take place in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4. Players who have filed for arbitration are not eligible to sign offer sheets. The deadline for club-elected arbitration is tomorrow at 5 p.m.

The other players to file:

James Wisniewski
Colby Armstrong
Clarke MacArthur
Tuomo Ruutu
Aaron Johnson
Marc Methot
Jiri Hudler
Denis Grebeshkov
Kyle Brodziak
Tomas Plekanec
Travis Zajac
Nate Thompson
Ryan Callahan
Nikolai Zherdev
Nigel Dawes
Daniel Winnik
Matt Smaby
Kyle Wellwood
Milan Jurcina
[Boston.com]

Here is what was on the Quick facts twitter.
QuickFacts: Mpls native D Matt Smaby of the Tampa Bay Lightning filed for salary arbitration. He made $825K in last yr of 3yr entry level deal in 08-09.

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.

Kessel, Thornton and Ward back in for the Bruins.

The three Bruins that were hurt this week are back in tonight's line up to play against Brian Lee's team the Ottawa Senators. Manny Fernandez in net.

Blake Wheeler---Marc Savard----Phil Kessel
Mark Recchi---Patrice Bergeron---Chuck Kobasew
Milan Lucic---David Krejci---Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton---Stephane Yelle--- Byron Bitz

Zdeno Chara --- Aaron Ward
Matt Hunwick --- Steve Montador
Mark Stuart --- Shane Hnidy

Manny Fernandez
Tim Thomas
(source Boston Globe)