The Boston Herald is reporting that the Bruins may be close to a blockbuster trade in-which they will trade RFA Phil Kessel.

According to the sources, the deal likely will be finalized within the next week, as four teams are in the running. Toronto and Nashville have made the best offers in talks with B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli. Minnesota and the New York Rangers also are in the mix.

….I don’t know which is/was worse, all the times Dany Heatley was rumored to be going to the Rangers, after they signed  Gaborik, or these Kessel rumors. He won’t be coming to the Rangers, unless they swap disgruntled RFA’s an Brandon Dubinsky gets traded. The smart money is still on Kessel to Toronto.

Last night on TSN, James Duthie asked the Leafs Brian Burke about the Kessel rumors and Burke said that he had spoken to Chiarelli earlier in the day, the Leafs and Bruins were playing, but Burke had nothing new to report.

….Burke is hysterical, the way he was acting during that interview was great. But, still, his mission is to get Phil Kessel and he should be a Maple Leaf within the week.

According to the Tennessean though, the Nashville Predators have offered a package of draft picks and prospects:

“I certainly believe in being aggressive and persistent and going after what I want. But I’ve made it clear what we can do,” Poile said. “It’s fairly apparent what other teams are doing.”

There have been reports saying Toronto is willing to give up two first-round draft picks and a second-rounder for Kessel.

“If (Chiarelli) gets two firsts and a second, he’s getting really good compensation,” Poile said. “But it is all in the eye of the beholder for a 21-year-old player who scored 36 goals.”

…Nashville is the dark horse and unless they really blow Boston away with an offer, Chiarelli will probably use their offer to just keep raising the steaks until one team, probably the Leafs, overpays significantly.