Phil Kessel has made it clear that he doesn't intend to negotiate any longer with the Bruins, his Toronto-based agent in recent days informing the Boston front office that the right winger's priority instead is to sign a free-agent offer sheet with one of the league's 29 other teams.

All of which doesn't necessarily mean that Kessel's days in the Hub are numbered.

The Bruins, per CBA rules and guidelines, still reserve the right to match any offer sheet Kessel sign, and if they choose to match they are only prohibited from trading Kessel for the first year of his new deal.

''No comment,'' Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli responded via email early this afternoon when asked about Kessel's latest stance on negotiations.

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