On Sept. 18, 2009, the Bruins and Maple Leafs executed the trade that would alter both franchises. Kessel, an unsigned restricted free agent, went to Toronto and promptly signed a five-year, $27 million contract.
In return, the Bruins hauled in the picks that would become Seguin, Jared Knight, and Dougie Hamilton. Kessel is a first-line right wing. Seguin is riding on Boston’s No. 2 line. Knight could be a second- or third-line NHL wing. The Bruins project Hamilton to become a No. 1 defenseman.
All that was put to the side yesterday. Seguin had one assist. Kessel racked up a goal and two helpers.
Four in a row
Technically, Tim Thomas should have been Julien’s starter. He had earned the honor by fan vote. But Thomas wanted the chance to gun for his fourth straight win. Nobody was going to deny him that chance.
After Jimmy Howard and Carey Price played Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine which period they would play, Thomas entered the game after 40 minutes. The game was tied at 6-6, but Thomas’s Team Chara boys brought the offense in the third period, pumping six pucks past Brian Elliott.
At the other end, Thomas turned back 18 shots.
“I’m very happy with the end result,’’ Thomas said. “I went into it shooting for four. But I don’t think I realized how much I wanted it until we got into it. My team came up big and scored a couple goals early for me.
“I was like, ‘Let’s do this. I’m ready to go.’ ’’
Choices abound
It has yet to be determined whether the NHL will release its players for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. If NHLers receive the green light, Team USA will have plenty of resources to choose from for the sport’s most important position.
Given his performance, Thomas projects to remain in high puckstopping form two years from now. He was the No. 2 goalie for the Stars & Stripes in 2010 in Vancouver when the Americans came home with silver. Thomas would like nothing better than to be the go-to guy - and strike gold, naturally - in 2014. By then, Thomas will be 39.
