CBC-Sports

Kessel Bowl chock full of pre-season intrigue

September 16, 2009 02:28 AM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

Toronto/Boston at the Air Canada Centre Wednesday night - the Kessel Bowl.

Even though he won't be playing, he will be the focus, especially with both Brian Burke and Peter Chiarelli in the building.

(Interestingly, Wade Arnott, Kessel's agent, said he probably won't attend because of all the hype. Otherwise, he declined comment for this blog.)

Around the NHL, the belief is the Maple Leafs are the frontrunners for the 36-goal man's services and that we're getting close to a resolution.

It's been reported that Toronto is offering two first-round picks and a third-rounder for Kessel.

One source said that offer is now the two first-rounders, a second-rounder and a player – although Burke denied that by e-mail Tuesday night.

As for the player, I can't get confirmation, so I'm not going to guess.

Predators in pursuit

At least one other team isn't giving up hope.

It's been a four days since Nashville's David Poile admitted his interest. Since then, he hasn't spoken to his Boston counterpart.

"Nothing is happening ... I don't know where it stands,” the Predators GM said Tuesday afternoon.

"But we're interested. Who wouldn’t be?”

Fresh from watching his rookies beat Atlanta's 3-0, Poile added that he hoped to hear from Chiarelli before the Bruins boss made a deal with any other team.

An offer sheet is the wild card in all of this, although the Predators prefer not go that route.

For the time being, Poile wants to give his young players a shot at earning the open spots on his roster – three available on defence, two or three more up front.

That's why he told an interested Chris Chelios it isn't a good fit right now.

"Let's see how our exhibition games go," Poile said. "You could call me on Monday and I may feel differently."

Kessel is an exception.

For awhile, the Predators were the only serious competition for the Red Wings in the Central.

Now, it is probably the NHL's toughest division; only the Atlantic can argue.

Nashville was the only team from its group to miss the playoffs last season, the first time in five years the Predators didn't get in.

Poile's done a fantastic job under difficult circumstances in Nashville and has said in the past that finally winning a playoff round will give his team the best possible chance at succeeding in Tennessee.

Last year's problem was scoring.

The Predators were tied for 24th with 207 goals, which tells you why he covets Kessel.

The organization has done such a great job of drafting and developing that it can make a deal without emptying itself of prospects.

Poile wouldn't go into what he would be willing to pay Kessel, but the reputed $4.5 million US the winger wants is exactly what his four highest-paid players - Jason Arnott, Martin Erat, David Legwand and Shea Weber - currently earn.

He did say that he does have some budget space to play with.

The Predators' payroll is just under $43 million US.

Rangers, Wild in running?

There are a couple of other teams believed to have some interest.

One is the Rangers, although their own cap issues make this a more difficult manoeuvre.

They have to go dollar-in/dollar-out, which doesn't interest Boston because the Bruins are also squeezed.

New York would have to trade someone else – or put them in the minors – to free up space for Kessel.

Then again, the Rangers might need more help in the middle than they do on the wing.

The other is Minnesota. (San Jose probably kicked tires, too, but the Dany Heatley trade eliminates any need.)

At various points, the Wild have had some interest.

It did cool off recently and there are differing opinions as to how hard they are trying right now.

They only have about $3.5 million US in cap space available, which necessitates clearing some room.

But if this was the Kentucky Derby – or since this is a Canadian media company, the Queen's Plate – we'd be heading down the stretch in a four-horse race.

The Maple Leafs, the heavy favourite, would be in the lead.

The Predators would be charging hard, trying to make up ground, determined to find a way to win.

The Wild would be third and the Rangers fourth – both in the race but behind the leaders.

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