Bruins' playoff exit hurt in so many ways.

Byline: Bud Barth

BOSTON - As it turns out, the Bruins have been licking more than just metaphorical wounds since last Thursday's excruciating Game 7 overtime loss to Carolina.

Just how much they were fighting - besides the Hurricanes' superior speed and playoff experience - was revealed yesterday when Boston players came to the Garden for their breakup meeting and to pick up the remnants of their shattered season.

The most shocking news: Forwards David Krejci (torn hip labrum) and Phil Kessel (torn rotator cuff and shoulder labrum), who were playing despite those injuries, will undergo surgery soon - Kessel on Thursday, Krejci next month - and are questionable for the start of next season. They are looking at 4-6 months on the sidelines.

Defenseman Andrew Ference, who played the first three games of the Carolina series while injured, will have surgery for a torn groin muscle and hernia (he also has a bruised pelvis). His recuperation time is expected to be much shorter.

It also was disclosed yesterday that winger Chuck Kobasew was playing with a couple of broken ribs, and defenseman Zdeno Chara was slowed by shoulder, knee and groin problems.

When you add in forward Mark Recchi playing from Game 5 on with injured ribs and kidney stones, which were surgically removed the day before Game 7, and center Marc Savard being limited by a sprained knee suffered in Game 6, Boston's mid-series swoon and sudden-death demise in Game 7 are a little easier to comprehend.

It also adds legitimacy to coach Claude Julien's declaration yesterday that, "The team that played the best won that series, but not necessarily the best team."

Defenseman Aaron Ward said simply: "We should have been in the third round. You ask coaches or players - no one thinks that this is where we should have ended."

Center Patrice Bergeron, who overcame a pair of concussions within 14 months, marveled at the 41-year-old Recchi's ability to play despite being in the trainer's room with an IV in his arm before Game 6, and then having a surgical stent removed the morning of Game 7.

"I couldn't believe it - seriously," Bergeron said. "I've seen a lot in six years, but there's no words for that."

Kessel hurt his shoulder on March 10 against Columbus, while Krejci played most of the season with the hip problem that was finally diagnosed during an MRI in January, when he also learned surgery would be needed.

Despite those burdens, Kessel finished with a team-high 36 goals in just 70 games, while Krejci played in all 82 games and wound up second on the team to Savard in assists (51) and points (73).

General manager Peter Chiarelli said the injuries won't be a factor when he tries to negotiate new deals with Kessel and Krejci, who are among the Bruins' 10 potential free agents as of July 1.

"I would expect to take the normal course with them trying to get them signed," the GM said.

Recchi, whose contract also is up, said he'd like to return, and if he doesn't, he might retire. Aside from goalie Manny Fernandez, who knows he's history here, the other Bruins whose deals are up said they'd like to return - Kessel, Krejci, forwards P.J. Axelsson, Stephane Yelle and Byron Bitz, and defensemen Matt Hunwick, Shane Hnidy and Steve Montador.

Clearly, there isn't room under the salary cap for all of them, especially if Chiarelli is serious that "at least three or four" members of the Providence Bruins have "justified long looks" at next training camp.

"We've got some decisions to make," Chiarelli said, "as far as signings, the amounts, the term (in years), how that impacts future years under the cap.

"These are things that we've been addressing and looking at all year, so it's coming time now that we have to make these decisions. Part of those decisions will come out of how we negotiate, part of those decisions will come out of with whom we negotiate. So, really, to tell you exactly what we're going to do... We'll see."

Chiarelli and Julien repeatedly expressed disappointment over the team's elimination. Both indicated the presence of Ference and Hunwick (ruptured spleen) might have tipped the scales against the Carolina forecheck, but it was clear there was some dissatisfaction with the more inexperienced Bruins' psychological preparations, especially for Game 7.

"Our guys have to know that the level of play, the level of mental preparation, all that stuff, is heightened," Chiarelli said, though he quickly added: "I just don't want to be too quick in judging us from one series."

Later, when talking about how young players like Milan Lucic and Krejci benefited from last spring's Game 7 against Montreal, Chiarelli played a similar tune.

"You have to be mentally strong," he said. "That's what these guys have to take from it, and I hope that they will."

Let the bidding begin

The 10 Bruins whose contracts are up, their status as free agents (restricted or unrestricted) if still unsigned by July 1; their base salaries and their salary cap hits this season; and gut feeling about whether they'll be re-signed:

Player Status Salary Cap Hit Re-up?

Phil Kessel RFA $850,000 $2.2M Yes

David Krejci RFA $825,000 $883,333 Yes

Mark Recchi UFA $1.5M $1.5M Yes

Matt Hunwick RFA $775,000 $750,000 Yes

P.J. Axelsson UFA $1.85M $1.85M No

Steve Montador UFA $800,000 $800,000 No

Byron Bitz RFA $675,000 $740,000 Yes

Stephane Yelle UFA $750,000 $750,000 No

Shane Hnidy UFA $760,000 $757,000 No

Manny Fernandez UFA $4.75M $4.33M No

Source: nhlscap.com

NAME: BOSTON BRUINS

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Boston's Phil Kessel carries his equipment after cleaning out his locker yesterday.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS