Stanley Cup of Chowder, a Boston Bruins community

In the Boston cookbook, most of its tasty concoctions based on defensive ingredients, Kessel is viewed as that little sprig of parsley that makes the plate look better but really doesn’t factor into whether the meal is a true success.

"Don't jinx me yet. I could always be traded,'' Ward said in half-jest. "Hopefully we have a good start to the season so Peter [Chiarelli, the Bruins general manager] gets comfortable with this lineup.''

"Certainly Phil is a type of player that if it comes to a point where I have to make a move to get him in the mix, I will certainly do that"

"It's hockey, one day you play for one team. Another day you play for another team. It's part of the game. In all those years I played against Boston in the playoffs, a lot of things happened. I'm going to be on the right side now."