BOSTON (AP) – Phil Kessel, the fifth choice in this year’s NHL draft, has signed a multiyear contract with the Boston Bruins, forgoing the rest of his college career to join one of the Eastern Conference’s worst teams.

“It was a tough decision, but I think it was the best decision for me and my hockey career,” the 18-year-old center said Thursday during a conference call. “For me it was a good time to step in and be a Bruin.”

Kessel was highly recruited before choosing Minnesota, but stayed just one season there, finishing second on the Gophers in scoring with 18 goals and 33 assists in 34 games last season. He was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Rookie of the Year.

Kessel had retained an adviser, rather than an agent, while making his decision whether to go pro, which allowed him to keep his eligibility at Minnesota. Had he decided to return for his sophomore season, the Bruins would have retained his rights through his senior year. Terms of Kessel’s contract were not released.

He said his decision to turn pro was made easier by his performance at the World Ice Hockey Championship, when he played against professional players.

“I think I adapted well to play with them,” he said.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Kessel would bring speed, skilled puck pursuit and offensive grit to a team that won 29 games last season and hasn’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs since 1999.

“We have a certain level of expectation for Phil,” Chiarelli said. “We expect for him to compete for a spot, and make it very, very interesting.”

The NHL’s rule changes last season also could help the speedy player, Chiarelli said.

“Those that can skate, especially someone like Phil, are able to compete better,” he said.

Chiarelli, though, stopped short of defining a role for Kessel, a 6-foot, 189-pounder from Madison, Wis.

“He’s got some things to learn,” Chiarelli said. “I’d have to see how he adapts and starts. I expect him to make strides along the way.”

During the 2004-05 season, Kessel set the record for career goals (104) and points (180) for the USA Hockey’s national development team. During USA Hockey’s national junior evaluation camp last week in Lake Placid, N.Y., he led the team in scoring with three goals and four assists in four games.

It was at the event that Chiarelli said he evaluated whether Kessel was ready to make the jump to the NHL.

It wasn’t the teenager’s on-ice performance that Chiarelli looked into, though. More important, the general manager said, was verifying Kessel’s motivation and desire to play in Boston.

“He came through with flying colors,” Chiarelli said. “He wants to play, he loves to play, he’s enthusiastic on the ice.”

AP-ES-08-17-06 1752EDT

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