Kessel heading north?

Trade embers sparked by the recent Phil Kessel rumours are on the verge of becoming a five-alarm blaze.

The extra gallons of gas necessary to light the fire came in the form of a Boston Globe article published this morning.  The newspaper maintains that Wade Arnott, Kessel’s agent, has stopped negotiating with the Boston Bruins.  Both Arnott and Kessel refuted that idea last week — a move the paper says was designed simply to deflect any Heatley-like criticism away from the young star.

Toronto is reported to be Kessel’s new team of choice, and agent Arnott has apparently been meeting with Maple Leafs brass on both sides of the border in an effort to reach a deal.  Toronto GM Brian Burke was reportedly spotted talking to Arnott in Boston two weeks ago.  Yesterday, Arnott took in the Maple Leafs workout — this time chatting up Dave Nonis.

Various media, including TSN and ESPN have said that the Leafs seem to be set on giving up three draft picks (two first-rounders and a second-rounder) to land Kessel, who turns 22 October 2.  The Globe reports that the Leafs would also like to see Boston throw in a third-round pick.

Should the two sides not come to an agreement, Toronto can also table an offer sheet for the restricted free agent.  At Kessel’s suspected asking price of $5-million, that move would cost the Leafs a first, second and third round pick in exchange.  Toronto made such a manoeuver possible by reacquiring their own second round pick from Chicago earlier this month.  (Under the NHL’s collective bargaining rules, the draft picks you give up via an offer sheet must be your own).

Both sides have publicly admitted that tabling an offer sheet route remains a possibility.  Burke — who fumed two summers ago when he lost Dustin Penner to the Oilers via an offer sheet signing — told TSN last week that this situation is different, however, because he has been engaged in talks with Bruins’ GM Peter Chiarelli.

As a restricted free agent, Phil Kessel must sign with an NHL team by December 1, or miss the entire season.