By Joe Ballway, YawkeyTalkies Correspondent
Turns out we’ll see plenty of Phil Kessel this year–just not in a Bruins uniform. According to TSN, Kessel signed a 5-year, $27 million contract with Toronto on Friday after the Leafs acquired his rights from Boston. In exchange, the Bruins received a first and second-round pick in the 2010 draft, as well as a first-round pick in the 2011 draft.
The deal signals the end of Kessel’s tenuous relationship with the Bruins. Drafted fifth overall in 2006, his talent never really came to fruition until last season, when he spearheaded Boston’s much-improved offense with 36 goals in just 70 games. Prior to his breakout he had never scored more than 19 goals in a season, and questions of his work ethic and character lingered. In the 2008 first-round playoff series against Montreal, Kessel was benched due to his unwillingness to commit to the physical and defensive aspects of the game. While the benching served as a wake-up call heading into last season, he continues to be criticized for his one-dimensional play; his softness was again exposed in the conference semi-finals against Carolina last season, when he failed to score in six of the seven games and [...]

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 [...]