Bruins move Kessel to Toronto

The drama has finally come to an end (so we are told). The Boston Bruins have traded disgruntled sniper Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Curtis Joseph, Tie Domi, first- and second-round draft picks in 2010 and a first-round pick in 2011.

Within seconds, the Leafs and Kessel agreed on a new five-year, $27 million contract.

“Bringing Phil Kessel aboard, it’s a statement to our players that we intend to be competitive right away, and I think he gives us a dimension that we need,” Leafs GM Brian Burke said to some people who were there when he said it.

“This is a free agent that could have signed with other teams, he wanted to sign with us, and I think it’s an important pick up for us,” Burke continued, apparently not aware that they gave up three high draft picks for him in a trade and not a free-agent signing.

“It’s a very high price but it’s one we feel makes sense for us and I think what’s made it possible to expend those picks is two focuses: one is that he’s a young player, he’s not even 22 yet,” Burke said, not realizing that that is only one thing and not two.

Photo Caption: You ever notice that hockey players never have nicknames like P Kess? Or even Phi Kess? Go water the Phi Kess? We’ll wager a guess that his nickname is Kessie.

“And second, we think with some of the players we acquired without giving up picks like Tyler Bozak, (Robert) Slaney, (Christian) Hanson and (Jonas) Gustavsson, these are players that were they available on the draft would command a high price like that,” Burke continued, realizing that his last sentence only listed one thing. “We feel by stocking the cupboard we can take some of the cans off the shelf for the future.”

Kessel couldn’t come to an agreement with the Bruins and said he planned on signing an offer sheet with another club. He was looking for a contract in the $4-$5 million a year range.