June 28, 2009 Where do Kessel, Bruins stand? Play video

(NECN: Mike Giardi) - The NHL Draft has come and passed, and Bruins restricted free agent Phil Kessel remains tied to yellow and gold.

There were trade rumors that Kessel was Toronto-bound in exchange for defenseman Thomas Kaberle and negotiable parts. But those rumors never came to fruition.

With Marco Sturm slated to return from injury and Blake Wheeler and Milan Lucic expected to improve, it might be possible for the Bruins to have success with Kessel and his 36 goals of a season ago.

"I think that (the Bruins) feel like -- all of that stuff combined -- they'll be able to absorb the loss of Kessel, if he does move on," WEEI.com's Haggerty told Mike Giardi on NECN's Sports Late Night. "It's kind of by osmosis they might add a few more goals to make up for it."

And if the Bruins hope to make a deeper run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, keeping goals off the board may be the priority.

"Biggest need is defensemen. They need a puck-moving guy, or they'll get blown out by a good team in the playoffs just like they did last year," Haggerty said.

Watch the full interview in the video player above. For more from Giardi, visit Boston Score. Haggerty's writings on the Red Sox can be found at WEEI.com.