Chiarelli carves out his position on Kessel
BOSTON — After announcing a multi-year contract extension for head coach Claude Julien, Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli was of course asked about another contract agreement that hasn’t been reached yet — that of star winger Phil Kessel.
Chiarelli stuck to his guns about not commenting on ongoing negotiations — at least the specific negotiations. But the GM acknowledged that he thought Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott was “waging a bit of a media war.”Arnott was recently quoted as saying that there have been no talks.
And then Chiarelli decided it was time to explain his position on the situation with the restricted free agent. Chiarelli joked that he could “just give him a pailful of money and it will be done.” He went on to explain:
“It’s a different system now. It really is a different system now and to be a hard-liner so to speak, you have to keep in mind what these players make after their entry-level contracts. The percentage of increase is huge. And what it does is it throws everything else out of whack. So there’s a balance that you have to keep. And Phil’s a terrific young player.
“And I’m responsible to our team and the fact that there’s a fixed-cost system that may go down, all parties considered have to look at the team, have to look at their own interest and you see more sacrifices made on both sides now. These are things that a lot of people don’t understand or they fail to look at. It’s a lot more of a balancing act now than ever.
“Hey, if you’re pushed toward the cap, you’re in a position where you have to balance it even more. That’s the position that we’re in. I’ve said publicly and I’ll say it again that I want Phil to be on our team. And I’ll do everything I can do to put him on our team, within reason, with the balance that I’m talking about. If it means moving players, I’ll do it. If it means matching offer sheets I’ll do it.”
Chiarelli has not had a player holdout of training camp since he came to the Bruins. With training camp a week away from opening, he’s not concerned that the absence of one of his stars will hinder his team’s focus or ability to get down to the business at hand.
“It becomes a distraction because the other party starts making it a distraction,” he said. “I understand all the tools of their trade too. I used to be an agent. So you deal with it. We have a strong room, we’ve got strong leadership. It’s just part of the game.
“I just get a little disturbed when they talk about us being cheap. Because it’s not about that. Look at some of the second contracts we’ve given — (Patrice) Bergeron, (David) Krejci. It’s not about that. It’s about a balance.”
chara and Savard most certainly were over paid at that point in their careers for the money that the Bruins gave them. Hell chara sucked his first 2 years in Boston after getting the contract.
Savard certainly has earned every penny, but that doesnt mean he wasnt overpaid at the time….
Hockeyfan – it is more than the money when it comes to an offer sheet. it is the money, plus three draft picks. Thats a lot to consider.
No – I dont consider Eklund one of the reporters. DO me a favor and google Kessel + trade. U can see for yourself all the reporters who have “rumored” kessel to be traded.
idk eddie, if kessel is worth what they are asking for, why hasnt he gotten an offer?? there are pleanty of teams that could use him, and could pay what hes asking.
//there have been dozens of reports, by dozens of reporters all the tiems that Kessel has been almost traded. //
Dozens, huh? Yeah, and most of them are named Eklund.
Sorry, I don’t buy it. And I’m not a “homer,” thank you, in that I have blind devotion, but sure, I’m a Bruins fan. Nothing wrong with that, I wouldn’t think.
And Chara and Savard, overpaid? Hahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.
A – If you are going to deny that Chiarelli talks out of both sides of his mouth, then u are too much of a homer to even engage in this sort of discussion.
B – Yes, it is Arnott’s Job. And yes, by all accounts we have heard that Kessel has made an offer, it is the Bruins who have not countered.
C – You have yet to hear a credible source that says Chiarelli has tried to trade Kessel a number of times. You use the media to your advantage when it counts, and you dismiss it when it doesnt. there have been dozens of reports, by dozens of reporters all the tiems that Kessel has been almost traded. Too many for me to go into detail, but to name the two big ones, it would be Hossa at deadline two years ago, and Kaberle at this years trade deadline.
D – Chiarelli talks about a pail full of money he cant just throw away. Well he did that for Ryder, Sturm, Chara, Morris and Savard. All of thsoe guys, at that point in time, were given offers that were far larger than they should have gotten. Most of them have nto earned those contracts as of right now. Chiarelli has overpayed veterans to the point that he now can’t sign the young players that are better and will mean more to the team. And I’m not just talking about Kessel this year, I’m talking about all the players coming up next year. The fact that Phil can’t be resigned is by design by Chiarelli. he deosn’t value him. he would rather have Ryder for 4 mil a year than kessel for 5. To me, that is insane.
E – Sorry for spelling eras, but I dont have time to reread this.
//However, has tried to trade him at every point that he could.//
Says who? I have yet to see a credible source say the Bruins have tried to “trade Kessel at every point.” Media rumors are a dime a dozen, especially when fanned by writers who hate Kessell (i.e., Dupont).
//So I belive Wade Arnott when he says that Phil has not even been offered a contract outside of the tender that was only a formality//
So, if this is to be believed, why didn’t Arnott make a counteroffer and engage in negotiations? Isn’t that an agent’s job? Get creative, make some offers, stop whining, get off your butt and NEGOTIATE.
[...] The Bruins Blog: Chiarelli carves out his position on Kessel. Interesting little shot at Kessel’s agent. Quite candid considering he wouldn’t discuss specifics. [...]
[...] After announcing and celebrating the multi-year extension to Jack Adams-winning head coach Claude Julien, Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was pestered restricted free agent Phil Kessel’s(notes) status and accused the forward’s agent of "waging a bit of a media war," according to The Bruins Blog. [...]
[...] After announcing and celebrating the multi-year extension to Jack Adams-winning head coach Claude Julien, Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was pestered restricted free agent Phil Kessel’s(notes) status and accused the forward’s agent of "waging a bit of a media war," according to The Bruins Blog. [...]
[...] Kalman of the Bruins Blog reports that things are getting a little strained between the Bruins and the Phil Kessel camp, [...]
if chia makes an anouncement like that, he would lose all leverage in a trade, so he’s really better off doing what he’s doing. All this is is just spin, like you pointed out, so who knows what to believe. Its been reported both ways, that the club has offered more than one contract and also that they only offered the one prior to the draft. As far as chia trying to trade kessel goes, that can also be spun differently and we will never know the way things really went down. Maybe Chia was always approached about Kessel instead of him actively trying to trade him. Or maybe Kessel is his best and most tradeable asset, whether that has been determined by the market and other GMs or by management, you can really only guess.
[...] After announcing and celebrating the multi-year extension to Jack Adams-winning head coach Claude Julien, Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was pestered restricted free agent Phil Kessel’s(notes) status and accused the forward’s agent of "waging a bit of a media war," according to The Bruins Blog. [...]
As everyone who reads my comments here and on Boston.com, I’m as big of a Kessel fan as their is. I think he is the future of the Bruins and the game. He’s a young stud, and in my opinion, more important than Krejci. However, with that being said, We have to look at this report as who do we believe. Chiarelli says things such as, “We don’t comment on negotiations,” but then throws in comments like this. Now maybe he is firing back, or maybe not, so lets give him a pass. Chiarelli says, “We think Phil is great and want him to be a part of our franchise.” However, has tried to trade him at every point that he could. He plays both sides of the fence more than glen ordway. So I belive Wade Arnott when he says that Phil has not even been offered a contract outside of the tender that was only a formality. I don’t see a “Media War.” Chiarelli says he wants to sign, but that it needs to be for the right price. So if thats the case, then why wasnt he offered him a contract at the right price.
Bottom line – it is what it is. Chiarelli doesn’t like, nor want Kessel on his roster. I believe he is trying to get rid of him while saving face, and I have always thought he was waiting to trade him this summer until a point like this would happen. A heatley type situation. This would give the Bruins positive spin. However, It would be better for the Bruins and all parties involved, if Chiarell just admitted he didn’t want him, and sent him packing so his team could move on to being a mediocre team that cant put the puck in the net and stretch defenses the way that it needs to to compete in the NEW NHL.