What could have been with Phil Kessel?

This was my commentary written for my sports writing class earlier today. Since it's not being handed in for a graded assignment, I think it's fair game to post this on my blog:

I can’t get over it. At least not yet.

Much like the fallout in any type of relationship that I have invested myself in, I just cannot get over it. Maybe I sound like the psychotic ex-girlfriend who can’t seem to let go of something that’s no longer in my control, but regardless ... Phil Kessel, you broke my heart.

A month ago, Kessel from traded from my beloved Boston Bruins to division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Quite simply, it sucked. I hated to see him go. He was young (No. 5 overall pick in 2006), he was good (36 goals, 24 assists last season), and he was a part of a Bruins squad that had shown more promise and heart than I’ve ever seen.

For the first time in a decade, Boston had won a playoff series (sweeping hated rivals Montreal in four) but more importantly, people in Beantown were starting to care again.

The potential for something great was there.

But as soon as the Bruins were shown an exit from the postseason with a heartbreakingly devastating Game 7 overtime loss at home, I knew at that moment, something had to give. After all, doesn’t something always have to give when a season ends?

I don’t blame Boston GM Peter Chiarelli. He had a job to do. To be honest, I find myself blaming the only person I can: Kessel.

Perhaps my bitter feelings are the getting the best of me, but I guess I’ll never fully understand why he chose to leave Boston. He had everything going for him. He could have returned to a team that was on the rise. He could have returned to help win a championship. He could have shown loyalty. But instead, he chose money. Isn’t that always the way of the business?

Chiarelli had a lot to deal with during the off-season including dealing with other young budding stars in 23-year-old center David Krejci and 24-year-old defenseman Matt Hunwick while also attempting to re-sign Vezina (Best Goalie) winning goaltender Tim Thomas.

Thomas was re-signed to a four-year, $20 million deal while Hunwick got a two-year, $2.9 million extension. Securing Krejci with a 3-year, $11.25 million dollar contract the Czech native scored 22 goals and dished 51 assists to finish second in points on the team, Kessel seemed the lone man out.

In hindsight, I wonder if re-signing Krejci first had any effect to how Kessel viewed his contract negotiations. Perhaps the Wisconsin native believed by holding out, he could get a better offer for more money. Instead, he got traded.

Could the Bruins use those two first-round draft picks and a second rounder to their advantage? Absolutely. Could letting Kessel go possibly come back to bite the B's in the ass? Absolutely. Letting him sign a 5-year, $27 million contract is a risky move by Toronto but they heavily believe he is the future. The same way Boston once believed it too.

Maybe in my fairytale world, athletes who get drafted by an organization actually show some devotion for the team that helped get them started. Maybe athletes wouldn’t be driven by money? Maybe athletes wouldn’t ever leave until they wanted to retire? Hell, maybe the Bruins would find a way to finally win the damn Stanley Cup?

Ah, if only fairytales existed.

Two weeks into the NHL season and neither the Bruins or Maple Leafs are having very much success. Boston went 2-3-0 in their five-game homestand while Toronto is an even more unimpressive 0-5-1 to start the season. In fairness to the Bruins, their big problem seems to be defense rather than offense. After having one of the stingiest defenses last season, the B's have done a complete turn around. The team's GAA (goals against average) ranks them 27th in the league while Thomas is 1-2-0 with a 4.01 GAA and .868 save percentage. Very un-Vezina like numbers.

But maybe I need to give it a rest. I'm going to try to give the B's the benefit of the doubt and assume they'll get better as the season goes on. Do they need Kessel? It doesn't appear so. Would it have been nice to have him around? Probably. Will this stop me from wondering what could have been if he had stayed? Not likely.

That won't happen until I learn to just get over it.

*Photo from www.boston.com and www.hockeyheadblog.com