Agent: Kessel, Bruins not close on a deal

By all accounts, the Bruins are one cap-clearing roster move away from re-signing Phil Kessel. But according to the sniper’s agent, the two parties are not close to consumating a deal.

“We’ve had ongoing dialogue with the Boston Bruins,” said Wade Arnott, Kessel’s agent, when contacted at his Ontario office on Thursday. “I really won’t get into any detail other than that, but we’ve had ongoing discussions.”

According to Arnott, Boston has been Kessel’s priority from the start. Last week, the Bruins shaved some dollars off the salary cap when they dealt defenseman Aaron Ward to Carolina for Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round pick and immediatley buying out Eaves’ contract.

That night, the Bruins signed defenseman Derek Morris, cutting the cap room to approximently $1.7 million. It’s been speculated that Kessel will demand slightly more than what David Krejci signed for ($3.75 million) in June.

“Boston is Phil’s priority,” Arnott said. “Obviously, the feeling has to be mutual. Our discussions have been very professional but are we anywhere near consumating a deal? No, we’re not.”

During the NHL Draft in June, Kessel’s name was the centerpiece of a potential trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for blue liner Tomas Kaberle. Due to a miscommunication between Bruins’ GM Peter Chiarelli and Toronto boss Brian Burke, the trade was never finalized.

“He handled it very well,” Arnott said of Kessel hearing his name brought up in talks. “He’s a 21-year-old young man and (Boston) is his first NHL team and I think he handled it on a mature basis, but it’s still difficult for any player to hear his name brought up in a trade in the public forum. Not only that, but this was a trade that was talked about in detail. I would say that he handled it very well, but it was difficult, as it would be for any player.”