The summer long contract standoff between the Boston Bruins and forward Phil Kessel ended tonight when the Bruins shipped the 21-year-old forward to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the Leafs first and second round picks in 2010 and their first round pick in 2011. 

Kessel also agreed to a five-year, $27 million contract with his new club, which will count as $5.4 million per season againt the Leafs salary cap. 

This news doesn't come as a surprise for most NHL fans, particularly those in Toronto and Boston. Leafs general manager Brian Burke tried unsuccessfully back at the June entry draft in Montreal to land Kessel via trade, offering up defenseman Tomas Kaberle at the time but the deal fell through over a disagreement of the draft picks to be included. 

Burke's

Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel must’ve gone into this year’s Labor Day weekend believing his days with the Bruins are numbered.

Trade rumors have dogged Kessel for the past two years, most generated by the local press which -while acknowledging his offensive talent - have issues with his defensive skills, overlooking the fact Kessel is only 21 and most young offensive talents like him tend to improve their all-round play over time.

This summer however the rumors have more than a kernel of truth, as the Bruins nearly had a deal in place which would’ve shipped Kessel to Toronto for defenseman Tomas Kaberle at this year’s draft until it fell apart over which draft picks would be included in the swap.

Intensifying the situation is Kessel’s contract status.