I had speculated a week (or so) ago, that the Phil Kessel-Bruins-Burke Saga was beginning to "smell" like that of Dany Heatley (and the Senators).
Well, lookie here - Damian Cox (of the Toronto Star) writes:
Don't Let the Door Hit You On the Way Out
"Kessel, says Chiarelli, demanded a trade and wouldn't negotiate a contract, so that was that. Indications are that was indeed the situation, and Kessel's statement that he "never once" demanded a trade was really just semantics. Whether his agent made the demand or whether his unwillingness to talk contract was a passive aggressive strategy, it really doesn't matter now.
Clearly, Julien's coaching style was part of the issue, and so the most fascinating part of Kessel's career as a Leaf when it begins in two months or so will be how he and Ron Wilson are able to forge a working relationship. Wilson's a demanding coach, and he can be caustic and pointed in his public and private remarks when he feels it is warranted. San Jose officials make no bones about the fact they believe Wilson's riding of Patrick Marleau retarded Marleau's development."
Damn. Heatley-Lite, indeed. The parallels are uncanny.
Have fun in Toronto, Phil. But, don't you dare fuck up - The fans and media will skin your scrawny ass, alive.
