By: Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
Good as new after an offseason of shoulder surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and equally tedious contract negotiations, Phil Kessel will reportedly take the ice when his miserable Leafs host the Lightning tonight. Needless to say, should the Bruins’ offense continue to flounder against the Wings, Kessel’s performance will be closely monitored by a growing number of concerned Black ‘N’ Gold enthusiasts.
Kessel’s scoring touch has eluded his former teammates thus far, as the Bruins rank just 22nd in the NHL with 31 goals in 13 games. Last season, the Bruins finished second overall in scoring behind a well-balanced, consistent attack. They certainly haven’t been helped by the absences of Marc Savard and Milan Lucic–injuries that appear to finally be catching up to a beleaguered offensive unit. That being said, the upcoming weeks could serve as a strong determinant of just how much Kessel’s services are missed.
Boston’s struggles have been highlighted in the past three games, a span in which the Bruins have gone 1-2 while managing just three goals. They returned to the .500 mark after being shut out 1-0 by the Rangers on Sunday afternoon, continuing their bizarre, frustrating trend of alternating wins and losses each [...]

By Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
Training camp has begun and opening night is less than a month away, so here are some general questions for Bruins fans to ponder heading into the 2009-10 campaign:
What becomes of Phil Kessel?
Contract negotiations with Boston’s lone 30-goal scorer remain at an impasse. Kessel was already slated to miss significant time recovering from shoulder surgery, but one has to wonder if his future beyond that lies outside of Boston–especially considering the lack of available cap space and the upcoming free-agent mess in 2010 (Lucic, Savard, Wheeler and Stuart will all be seeking new contracts). 
While Kessel would be a substantial loss–he potted 36 goals despite missing 12 games last season–his departure wouldn’t go uncompensated. As a Group II restricted free agent, he could potentially walk in exchange for a first, second and third-round draft pick should the Bruins refuse to match an offer sheet from elsewhere. Management also has the option of trading Kessel’s rights, which may be the route of best interest since the return package can be negotiated–if, say, Boston is seeking a current player in lieu of/alongside draft picks.
How will the new faces fit in?
Steve Begin was a menace to the Bruins during his [...]