1 year 1 million or let him walk.
He's an important leader on the team, and if he recovered perfectly, he's a great 4th line C and PKer... anything more than 1.5m, anything more than 1 year, let Chiarelli or Benning get him.
Other than leadership and intangibles, this guy brings nothing to the table on the ice. 7 pts in his last 41 games as a Bruin.
He's was slow before a leg-injury cost him a season. He's broken both legs in the last 3 years and sat out the last quarter of 2014 with a back injury.
Doesn't have the wheels anymore to play C, even on the 4th line. If he's brought back the only place for him is 4th line LW. That's it.
He's a mediocre face-off guy, always has been. Good to have on a 4th line in case the regular C gets tossed, but I wouldn't want him taking draws on a regular basis.
Now normally I detest the idea of signing any 35 year old veteran. But as it stands right now Boston's LW situation after you get past Marchand-Belesky-Vatrano(if he doesn't end up on RW) is pretty sketchy. If the season started tomorrow Rinaldo probably makes the team again, it's that bad. Their isn't anyone at LW down in Providence that appears ready to move up, Blidh maybe but he's still just a 2nd year pro.
I'd give it a month before signing Kelly. Exhaust all options to improve the LW position. Wait to see how the Vesey sweepestakes turn out
But if the LW situation is the same come Aug.15 as it is today, I'd offer Kelly 1-year, 750k. That's it, not a penny or year more. If he can find a better deal elsewhere so be it. I doubt he can, better and younger veterans than him had to take PTOs last summer just to get to a camp.
That being said, Sweeney likely offers him the 1-year, 1.2 million he would of paid Connolly on July 1.