There's something about Kaberle

The Leafs are in Motown this evening for their penultimate pre-season game. Jeff Finger is expected to be in the line-up as a replacement for Luke Schenn, who is resting a troubling sore back.

But never mind all that. Let's talk about Tomas Kaberle.

Why do I want to talk about Tomas Kaberle? Because there is absolutely no reason to talk about Tomas Kaberle, which seems odd since the only thing anyone was talking about this summer was Tomas Kaberle.

The truth is, I am worried about the guy.

Last season, he finished with 7 goals and 42 assists in 82 games, which placed him second in scoring behind Phil Kessel. In four games this pre-season, he has managed only two assists, which ranks him 10th. Furthermore, two other defencemen – Dion Phaneuf and Francois Beauchemin – are ahead of him.

So right now, at this precise moment, Kaberle is not the Leafs top scoring rearguard and that also seems strange.

I know, I know.

Pre-season play doesn't mean squat. But beyond the points, possibly beyond even the ice, it's hard not to wonder about how Kaberle is feeling these days.

The official line from the team is everything is fine. There is no rift between Kaberle and coach Ron Wilson! That was all a big (bleep) misunderstanding caused by his father! Tomas is an important part of our team!

Fine. Good to know.

But if you're Kaberle, and you know the Leafs wanted to unload you the way a used car salesman wants to unload a 1970 AMC Gremlin, what long-term impact does that have on your play? At some point, don't you start to feel like the guy getting dressed for a party while staring at an invite that has another name scratched out?

There's no question Kaberle can help this team offensively.

When he takes the puck from behind his net, gracefully swoops toward the blue line like a swan on amphetamines and head-mans the puck to a rushing forward, he creates scoring chances. (Over at Pension Plan Puppets, Chemmy has a splendid frame-by-frame analysis of what I'm talking about. You can also see the video he's dissecting over here, starting at the 4:35 mark.)

Kaberle should benefit this season from playing on a team that is bigger and nastier and not inclined to let stuff like this pass without a riot. He should benefit from getting more room. He should benefit from playing on the power play with Phaneuf. And the young guys around him should benefit from Kaberle's experience in this fish bowl of a hockey town.

So the question becomes: How does Tomas Kaberle fit into this revamped team? And more important, does he spend too much time worrying about this?

PHOTO: CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Geoff Read]

I've always liked Kaberle - he's been under-appreciated here in Toronto.

That Janssen hit was horrific - you're right, I don't see that happening this year without some major retribution - and it doesn't have to be Colton Orr who deals it out - team toughness and togetherness dictates the first guy to get to Janssen has to take care of business. In this case, Carlo Colaiacovo totally let the team down, and that's probably part of the reason he's now a St. Louis Blue.

[Vinay Menon]

@Geoff Read: I am unable to read your comments now without hearing "More Than A Feeling" inside my head. This could be a problem.

[Geoff Read]

Yikes. That saddens me. Try thinking of this instead, a song I can't get enough of since it was released this spring (it's also a very cool video... at least for this 30 something die hard music fan):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ZnmXrRUIQ&ob=av2e

[Stanley Roper]

the only part about this blog entry that opened my eyes was the 1979 AMC Gremlin part...my dad owned 2 of them. Brought back some good memories. Now let me go back and read your entry again so I know what the real subject matter is. Oh, its about Kaberle...i'll just close my browser now.

[Colin W]

Kaberle is a really classy guy. If he was playing for any other team, he would certain garner far more respect from his coaches, fans and media. But in Toronto, heck, we eat our own. From fans who have never played the game to those wannabe GMs, everybody has an opinon on Kabby. It would be interesting if he played baseball and had Cito for a manager. Maybe that is the problem. Ron Wilson should be ordered to sit at Cito's feet and learn the nuances of what it means to be a leader and a gentleman. But I digress. I wish Kabby a bust-out season and though I know he LOVES the Leafs, he goes somewhere else and win the cup like some other ex-Leafs have managed to do. Go Kabby!

[Pension Plan Puppets]

@Colin - I agree that no one that has played in the NHL should have an opinion on Kaberle. It's the height of conceit.

[Jamieson]

My only issue with Kaberle is that he tends to give the puck away a lot.