Appreciation: An open letter to Tomas Kaberle
Dear Tomas:
It's never easy to say goodbye to a family member. And over more than 12 seasons, 878 games and countless memories, that's exactly what you became.
It all started on October 10, 1998.
Two years after getting drafted by Toronto as a shy 18-year-old, there you were in your NHL debut against the Red Wings. There you were in your new home, far away from your old home in the Czech Republic.
A spirit of change floated toward the rafters that night.
It was the last time a season would begin at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was the first time the Leafs were in the Eastern Conference. The word "rebuild" was used more than once that summer.
You played nearly 30 minutes that night. You were on the ice for power plays and even the final minute of Toronto's thrilling 2-1 win. And although it was sketched in the dotted-line silhouette of first impressions, your extraordinary skill level was obvious.
You skated with the grace of a swan. You passed the puck with elegance and precision. None of this ever stopped once it started.
We didn't know much about you back then. Certainly, there was no way to divine the numbers and milestones now attached to your name with bittersweet finality: 520 career points. Eighth on the all-time list for games played in Toronto. The second-highest number of assists and points for a defenceman in team history, behind only a fellow by the name of Borje Salming.
Even this season, even after all this time, the numbers remain impressive: 35 assists ties you for fifth among all NHL defencemen and 16th among all skaters on all teams. Put it this way: You now have one more assist than Sidney Crosby and have factored into more than a quarter of the Leafs’ 146 goals this season.
How the Leafs compensate for these backend numbers is their problem. How you slience criticism that surfaced from certain corners in recent years – "He doesn't shoot enough," "He doesn't really care about winning" – is your problem.
Solving problems is what good families do.
You wanted to stay in Toronto. You asked for a contract extension. But when all was said and done, when it became obvious the family needed to change, you helped the only team you've ever known find a new team for your services.
You did the right thing and for that you should be commended.
In an ideal world, of course, you would have retired in blue and white during a sentimental ceremony. But idealism and sentiment should never cloud the cold decisions that need to be made in the world of professional hockey.
That spirit of change is floating up again toward the rafters.
The Leafs could have lost you for nothing on July 1. The "rebuild" word is in heavy rotation, just like when you were a rookie in that October game against Detroit.
So even though it feels like a day of mourning, the truth is, we should be celebrating. We should be celebrating everything you did for us. And we should celebrate the arrival of yet another first-round pick and yet another promising young prospect.
We may worry about what your departure means to the word we dare not use. We may second-guess this or that. But here's the thing: Sometimes you have to say goodbye to yesterday to welcome tomorrow.
So as trades go, when you factor in both time and need, this one feels beneficial for all involved. In the short-term, Boston benefits. In the long-term, Toronto benefits. And in between, you benefit.
You represented the Leafs in four NHL All-Star games. You represented the Czech Republic in three Winter Olympics. Along the way, you carried yourself with class and dignity, always content to inhabit the shadows away from the spotlight, always the same shy teen when the cameras flashed and the microphones whirred.
So this is it, then. Good luck in Boston. We are excited for you and excited for what we may become in the days and weeks and months ahead.
Farewell and thank you.
TOP PHOTO: COLIN MCCONELL/TORONTO STAR
What is a great song to slay the Sens by? It's gotta be heavy. A good "killing" song. Suggestions?
Here's one. A little post Kabby melancholy too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wEBmLht5g
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 06:18 PM
Anyone hear Warren Zevon's "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" ?
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 06:20 PM
LOL Hoofy, there are three thing in which I am an expert in : Music, Hockey and Literature. You do not like my views on 2 of the first three, and that does not bode well for your IQ my friend. As for literature, I doubt you could even handle what I am reading, let alone offer an opinion.
Posted by: Ostrich_Lover | 02/19/2011 at 06:24 PM
Start the mix here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3h--K5928M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kqGcBIkM4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXkblbJqwn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuRpADKxesQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGlexqj66w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sYcscdNwhk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzqTz_i1NXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9PPogXnmM4
Should take you to puck drop. GO LEAFS GO!
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 06:29 PM
Let me guess,Ostrich. "Hockey For Idiots"?
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 06:41 PM
And for some Canadian content:
Punchbuggy "I'm Around"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0EMYVU_efc
Broken Social Scene "Stars and Sons"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SZtXkEwZXk
By Divine Right "Soul Explosion"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANpAnDvfYM
Arkells "Pulling Punches"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVHmzyyF1FQ
Cheers everyone.
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 06:42 PM
Thanks for the mix TG77. Nice. Listening to "Hit Somebody" now.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 06:49 PM
TG77 Thanks for throwing The Who in. Best rock drummer bar none in my opinion.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 06:55 PM
Don't be silly Ostrich. I'm sure hoof could offer an opinion; even if that "opinion" might be holding you upside down by your ankles and dunking your head into a freshly used toilet. I'm sure you remember what that feels like. lol.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 06:55 PM
8 bells,I'm off to the TV.Go Leafs!!!!
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 07:00 PM
Man this is an important game tonight. I want you to all imagine if we actually lost this one. Unimaginable, I know. Let's end this one early. Two words: Joffrey Lupul. And a goal from Phaneuf!
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 07:04 PM
Wow, the Oilers beat the Thrashers today!
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 07:07 PM
A little BBQ party tonight but I'll be checking in regularly. We NEED this one guys. Go Kabbiless Leafs, Go!
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 07:09 PM
You guys! I am out tonight!
Hoping to be back by third period...
But who knows...
Posted by: Vinay Menon | 02/19/2011 at 07:10 PM
nice warry pre-show
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 07:15 PM
have fun Vinay, or good luck whichever is appropriate.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 07:16 PM
Has anyone posted this yet? This is my favourite pre-Sens game tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHfCk81rTAU
Posted by: Boo Who? | 02/19/2011 at 07:16 PM
The "A" looks good on Schenn; couldn't have gone to a more deserving person!
Posted by: gettingcozywithsarkozy | 02/19/2011 at 07:39 PM
Also, look no further than that first Leaf powerplay tonight for the "gaping hole' I was referring to (which Mr. Culoman so adamantly argued against). That hole is the chasm that now exists between the defense and offense (especially evident on the PP). They looked like lost sheep there!
Posted by: gettingcozywithsarkozy | 02/19/2011 at 07:58 PM
Wow. A dispirited looking bunch. And disorganized. I forget, do they have a coach?And agreed regarding the gaping hole sarcozy. Let's hope they can fill it fast.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 08:05 PM
I hate to point out the obvious,but our power play was crap way before tonight.And I would like credit for not once saying "canceled Czech" when speaking of the trade.Boring game so far.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 08:09 PM
Oilers beat Atlanta. Devils lead Carolina 3-0 in second.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 08:11 PM
Oilers did the Leafs a favour earlier, panthers are losing and so are the Canes so the Leafs need to step up and take advantage tonight against a team that even with the players they traded were doing really poorly. Unbelievable to see the Devils coming out of nowhere and if Parise comes back, they could sneak in the 8 spot.
The bits of the Leafs PP I saw were looking pretty bad and disorganized. Weird. I saw on the Don and Ron show that Colborne scored today. Why not just plunk him between Kessel and Lupul and see what happens, move Bozak down to the 3rd line. He looks great playing with Armstrong so maybe that is a move that will be made with Army is back healthy. I still could see someone like Sjostrom moving before the deadline for a 4th or 5th (maybe later) pick to be honest, we have a handful of guys with the same level of skill so may as well keep trying to add more picks. Anyone see the huge trade between the Blues and Avs. I would love Chris Stewart in a Leafs jersey, ah well.
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 08:22 PM
There is a small army of scouts at tonight's game, from teams all over the league. Sjostrom hasn't seen much ice time lately, has he? Wonder if he's being showcased?
'Canceled Czech' made me choke on my drink, ha ha ha!!
Posted by: Boo Who? | 02/19/2011 at 09:00 PM
I wonder if the team is a little upset at Burke. Maybe he talked the playoff race talk with these guys and then pulled the rug out. That's what it looks like. This team looks dead. This team looks like finally they know it's over.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:02 PM
Disorganized/tentative on power play and getting stymied by a hot goalie when we're NOT on the power play. 0-0 after two periods...'gulp'. Get back here Vinay! We need your positive vibe!
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 09:04 PM
Can't believe that didn't go in......Hello.....Hello....is there anybody in there...just nod if you can hear me.....
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 09:06 PM
Well said...unfortunately Leafs fans wished they could say the same thing for Sundin
Posted by: ZAKIMAK | 02/19/2011 at 09:08 PM
Thank goodness it is the Senators that we are playing. If t was a good team we would getting our butts kick. What lousy game. It's putting me to sleep,
Posted by: Ken Baumgartner | 02/19/2011 at 09:11 PM
I was a little disappointed Ron and Don didn't do another skit.Hello....Hello....????
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 09:20 PM
This Leafs PP has only had a year or so to practice. Only a year or so.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:25 PM
Can we please get a shot on net during one of our power plays? Please?
Posted by: Ken Baumgartner | 02/19/2011 at 09:25 PM
Remember Pedro's reaction on Napoleon Dynamite: "A skeet?"
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:30 PM
This... this is not good.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:31 PM
The Leafs could use a really good puck-moving defenseman... Not a big scorer, just a more of a set-up guy who could move the puck confidently from his own zone and QB the Powerplay. There's a guy in Boston...
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:36 PM
Do you think the team feels they've been abandoned and lied to by Burke?
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 09:38 PM
Dear lord! As pretty a 3 way pass play as you'll see and we hit the post...I am starting to pace and sweat again.
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 09:46 PM
I don't think so Moe. I do think they are adjusting to the fact that Kaberle is not there but they better finish their adjusting or they are going to be on the wrong end of this game. I was afraid of having a new goalie in the net trying to impress. Anderson is playing well.
Posted by: Ken Baumgartner | 02/19/2011 at 09:53 PM
I am back now. What the hell? What is going on here?
Posted by: Vinay Menon | 02/19/2011 at 09:53 PM
Vinay is back! Leafs will score now. Hot goalie in Anderson...shots 45 - 23 for Toronto. Ugh.
VM Replies: Dixon, how can it be 0-0???
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 10:04 PM
Kessel!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....... okay, it's just a not in the cards kinda night.
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 10:10 PM
You can almost taste the shootout loss. It's so Leafs. But this isthe new Leafs right! Right?
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:10 PM
Pretty exciting O.T.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:11 PM
How can it be 0-0? Like I said...HOT goalie. Hot HOT goalie. And not enough traffic in front of the net.
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 10:13 PM
Yeah, great. After all the positives they built up. Burkey broke their back.
VM Replies: Oh, man. What happened? I now have to watch the game knowing they lose 1-0 in a shootout. Brutal.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:14 PM
Moe is officially banned from suggesting games are going to be easy wins! Last week you said look how small the habs are, this is going to to be easy. Man, that game was horrid. No flow to it whatsoever. Why couldn't that trade for anderson have been made say, tomorrow?
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 10:15 PM
No one is really going to say the trade is responsible for this lose,are they?
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:18 PM
Don't watch. Go to sleep. Like the rest of us almost did.
VM Replies: Yikes. I appreciate the advice, enJoy.
Posted by: enJoy hockey | 02/19/2011 at 10:18 PM
Plus you went out and didn't put up a game commenting post...it's all YOUR fault this weekend Vinay!
(I kid...you know that)
Watch the Leafs power play in OT and you'll get an idea of how most of the game went. Upside - they played well but couldn't beat this Anderson...defense stood up well...and Reimer was solid.
VM Replies: Sounds a little bizarre.
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 10:21 PM
There is no prize for neatness!
Ottawa played last night, got in at about 2:30 am and we come out like this?
There is something seriously wrong. Yes the Ottawa goal tender was out of his mind, but that happens. You have to find a way to beat that. Like going to the net with the puck.
Good grief!
VM Replies: Robert, when you say "good grief," I know it's never good.
Posted by: Robert | 02/19/2011 at 10:23 PM
We really needed that extra point.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:25 PM
@TimB: The Kaberle trade is directly and indirectly responsible for the loss. 100%. This team was duped by Burke and now they know it. They thought they were in a playoff race. Burke let them know what kind of playoff race they were in. According to Burke, the wrong kind. You don't say those things to a team after you trade their best defenseman. That was bush!
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:27 PM
Wow. Shutout. For the 10th time this season. By Ottawa, no less. Ugly.
Posted by: nugentmania | 02/19/2011 at 10:27 PM
It is the easy thing to do to point to a rather bad looking powerplay tonight and suggest Kaberle would have made it better but the PP was in the bottom half of the league with him and if you take away about 4 mins of powerplay time against the Thrashers in the 9-3 game and 3 or 4 goals against the Preds on a bunch of 5 on 3's, it hasn't clicked all year. The guys on the hot stove suggested the Leafs are looking for a d-man. Ostrich suggested the Leafs need a guy with a cannon shot to help take the attention off of Dion, so you think Burke would take a huge gamble on Souray since he was put on re-entry waivers today? It would be half his salary now but he has next year on his contract too. Only 3 goals in the AHL so he isn't exactly lighting it up. Weird to think of guys like him, Redden and Cheechoo riding the buses.
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 10:28 PM
I enjoyed the music blog tonight.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:28 PM
I think the Leafs should bribe the schedule makers so that they don't play on Saturday nights anymore. 2 Satuday night shut outs in a row.
Posted by: hoofheartz | 02/19/2011 at 10:30 PM
Watching Burke in the press box cheering made me gag. They look like a bunch of flailing kids out their tonight. I can't help the sour grapes, nice trade with Kabby, but he bare-face lied to the team and the fans. That's how the team played tonight. Like they'd been had. Like they were hurt and misled. Did anyone else get that vibe?
I wonder if any free-agents are gonna buy his "win now" malarkey? Why trade Kabs if you are going after Richards? Are you going after a stud defenseman too? Does one exist?
Okay so no more false hope. We'll start caring again when he does.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:30 PM
Does anyone here believe we actually caught ANOTHER hot goalie? Please.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:31 PM
Well Moe,I guess that does let the whole team off the hook.I'm not giving up however.I'll be front and center Tuesday!
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:32 PM
Just to rub salt in the Leafs wound, John Mitchell scored in the shootout tonight for the Marlies! Oh man. Is Kessel not being paid to snipe so why not start the shootout with him? Bozak has been good but we missed Colby Armstrong's awkward, gangly looking SO attempts that somehow hit the top corner.
Posted by: TG77 | 02/19/2011 at 10:36 PM
The Leafs have looked worse than tonight many times prior to the Bouncing Czech.
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:37 PM
@TimB: It's like I said. I think this team feels they were duped by Bukre. He told them they were a playoff team. He lied. He did nothing to add to the team. It's okay, he just misled us and them. That's the vibe I get. The Kaberle trade was the straw that broke their back.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:38 PM
@TimB: I know you and I will be there Tuesday. The question is, will the team be there? Not so sure about that.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:39 PM
I disagree. This is the worst they looked this season. The Sens are awful. Okay, maybe not the worst but bottom five. Bottom three.
VM Replies: Were they really that awful tonight? Just glancing at the box score: 47 shots? That definitely sounds like a lack of finish but perhaps not a lack of effort, no?
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:40 PM
@Moe.I'm afraid we just never know.G'night Moe
Posted by: TimB | 02/19/2011 at 10:42 PM
No they really looked like they suffered a hope-ectomy. They really looked like a bunch of un-coached kids out there. Just remember the last two games they played and then look at this one. Completely different teams. They just gave their blood and guts to beat the Bruins and then their leader goes and sends their best d-man to that same team. This group was demoralized. Simple as that.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:46 PM
Well I thought they looked lost Vinay. As usual a lot of insignificant shots. I dunno, like I said disorganized and missing a puck-moving, over thirty defenseman. They looked like they stopped playing serious game. They were flying around trying to score. Ottawa offered zero defensive resistance. It was bad shinny. Ottawa have given up already, remember. Watch the game, I'd love your opinion. That's the way I saw it.
VM Replies: I will watch. Though perhaps I'll wait until the morning. Thanks for the updates tonight, Moe.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:49 PM
When you are in a playoff race you leave it all on the ice. When the race is over you're not gonna hurt yourself to stop a shot. Ottawa didn't care. They have completely given up. The Leafs gave their all and Burke slapped them in the face. The Leafs flew around aimlessly trying to score easy goals. They couldn't. That was the game.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:53 PM
Night TimB, all.
Posted by: moe green | 02/19/2011 at 10:53 PM
I just spent a couple of minutes combing through all the comments, having not looked at this thread yet, and as always I learned something I didn't already know.
DeVry is now offering Ph.d's in English.
VM Replies: Oh, man. You are bloody hilarious.
Posted by: nugentmania | 02/19/2011 at 10:56 PM
on the positive side, Colbourne scored in his first game. ;-)
i hate losing to the Sens. and nobody beat up that jerk Neil...
Posted by: Peter | 02/19/2011 at 11:08 PM
I am gonna disagree with others painting Leafs as hapless. Anderson got in Leafs head. Sometimes you can't beat that.
Posted by: wcdixon | 02/19/2011 at 11:10 PM
A few late random thoughts and questions:
Has anyone done the calculations? Leafs must now be the youngest team in the league if we just traded one of our oldest guys.
If the prospect and the draft picks would actually turn out to be good players, is it possible that we got a hell of a lot for a hell of a guy? Was getting huge value/possibilities for TK the only time BB actually acknowledged what TK was worth?
Anyone have ideas on why TK chose Boston as the only team he'd like to go to?
I've had a trip to Boston in late April planned since early January. I'm pretty sure playoff tickets would throw off my budget, but geez, it's a bit more tempting...
We didn't beat the Sens... that's not a good thing.
Posted by: emma | 02/20/2011 at 01:52 AM
this was beautiful vinay.. thanks for writing such a lovely tribute..
not gonna lie, i'm with alecia, there were tears.. he was my favourite leaf and it's gonna take me a long time to get over this.. i never understood the hate towards him and never will.. it shouldn't have gotten to this point, but we have ron wilson to thank for that.. i'm really done with seeing my favourites always leaving..
anyway, i'm gutted to see you go tomas.. thanks for all that you did for this club, nothing but the best to you and hopefully you get to hoist the cup in boston..
Posted by: Dee13 | 02/20/2011 at 01:52 AM
2 things nugent. 1st, VM is right, you are hilarious. You're last comment caused me to have an extended LOL moment. 2nd, if your name is based on the Motor City Madman, do you have any suggestions for any pregame songs to pump us up? TG77 provided us with pretty decent lineup prior to the game last night and I know Nugent has done some toe tappers in his time.
Posted by: hoofheartz | 02/20/2011 at 08:21 AM
So Vinay.Apparently it is OK to put the slurs on DeVry but I get censored for mentioning another Ontario learning establishment?Also what's with your colleague,"Kevin McGran" saying "Battle of Ontario featuring two non-playoff teams"?
VM Replies: TimB! When were you censored? Impossible!
Posted by: TimB | 02/20/2011 at 08:47 AM
What about McGran?What's his deal?
VM Replies: He's a nice fellow!
Posted by: TimB | 02/20/2011 at 08:56 AM
McGran aside, I get the feeling there are some people creeping around Leafs Nation that want us to fail so they can blame it on the Post Dated Czech deal.
VM Replies: Interesting theory.
Posted by: TimB | 02/20/2011 at 09:00 AM
Hey Hoof! If you are still out there,going from Stevie Ray to Nugent is,in my opinion,a huge step backwards.
Posted by: TimB | 02/20/2011 at 09:09 AM
Hey Vinay, are we not doing the post-game blog?
Would actually not be a bad idea. This is one of those games you want to pretend never happened, and never want to hear or talk about.
VM Replies: Huh? It's already up!
Posted by: Alecia | 02/20/2011 at 11:59 AM
TimB, didn't say I was going from SRV to Nugent. Notice I asked nugentmania to come up with some songs cause I can't really remember any. As for nugent's comment about Devry, its clear to me that (O)bvious (L)oser is working on his Ph.d through the same match book cover that taught him to draw that cute little skunk.
Posted by: hoofheartz | 02/20/2011 at 12:50 PM