The Clock Ticks Down

Brian Burke's reputation as a manager who likes the big deal certainly hasn't been diminished in Toronto.

The Phil Kessel deal. The swap for Dion Phaneuf. The dealing off of Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake. The acquisition of Kris Versteeg. At least three of those deals - Phaneuf, Toskala, Versteeg - were transactions few believed Burke could pull off. 

Now he's got to move Tomas Kaberle by midnight Sunday, and it's remarkable how many seem to be wondering if he can get it done. Seems the man's track record emphatically suggests he knows how to make a trade in the NHL.

Hard to think he won't deal Kaberle in time, if only because he really needs to move this player. And while the market is surely a bit woozy these days after the stunning ruling on the Ilya Kovalchuk contract, there's good reasons to believe there's a 90 per cent chance Kaberle will in fact be dealt.

The top reason? The offers are starting to improve. Deadlines always focus the mind.

The second reason? Burke really doesn't need to hit a home run on this one. He'd like to, but he doesn't have to.

While Kaberle is respected in Toronto, he's hardly beloved, nor is he intimately associated with team success, nor is he regarded as one of the team's leaders. Moreover, he's viewed as a talented puck-mover, but also a flawed defender. In sum, no one's expecting Burke to move Kaberle for Steven Stamkos or Drew Doughty. No one believes Kaberle can fetch an 80-point centre, which is Toronto's most yawning need.

He can also go a couple of different ways on a deal. He can replace Kaberle's salary with those of incoming players -- David Backes, Ryan Malone? --  or he can acquire draft picks and inexpensive prospects, say a solid youngster like 23-year-old blueliner Derek Joslin of the Sharks. The Kings, meanwhile, have both kinds of commodities, young veterans and prospects, and could do a hybrid deal.

If Kaberle's salary isn't replaced in the deal, Burke could also use it on a free agent before training camp.  Or he can spend it on Boston's Marc Savard, assuming Savard's contract isn't disallowed by Gary Bettman anytime in the near future. Interesting - Burke has vowed not to sign one of these goofy front-loaded contracts, but does that mean he wouldn't trade for a player who owns one?

The important part is that Kaberle is moved - it's just time to turn the page - and that tangible assets are required, which might not be the case if he were allowed to stay a Leaf beyond Sunday. In the Kessel, Phaneuf and Versteeg deals, the Leafs were acquiring the most talented player (we'll see how the picks sent to Boston for Kessel turn out) who needed to be moved by the other team.

This time, it's Burke shedding a talented veteran, and probably not getting one. This time, he might be adding assets that might not be measurable in the short-term.  It's a different dynamic all around.

Comments

[holden_cox]

So you're telling us to expect the trade of Kaberle to happen just like how the Kovalchuk and Devils were expected to win that contract arbitration??
mmmmyep. you should be a weatherman Cox.

[Andrews]

Great read as always Mr. Cox.

Of all the options I have heard, the one that "fits" the best is Kaberle for Clowe. Clowe just seems like the atypical Burke type of a guy, and SJ is surely motivated to replace Blake. Take it to the bank folks!

I might also expect a swap of prospects in the mix (Hello Demers or Joslin? Good-bye Mitchel or Hanson?) as a means to re-balance each teams' depth at defence /forward.

[Ostrich Lover]

Ok I know this is ridiculous, but so would have been predicting the aquisition of Pheneuf beforhand for Stajan and White (I still cant beleive Burke did the Gilmour Trade Redux) but here me out: Bobby Ryan has no contract and could be signed for the equivelent of the total saleries for Finger and Grabovski; Anaheim has proven with Blake and Toskala that they are partially insane in the first place; Anaheim has 2 High impact forwards and also Selanne and Kariya (i think ) so Ryan might not seem such a huge loss to them; Burke drafted Ryan; Ryan clearly doesnt want to stay in Anaheim; Burke is a mad genious so I wouldnt put it past him to hit the grand slam and get Ryan. As absurd is it seems now, he did aquire Versteeg, Phaneuf and Kessel for collectivly , one third pairing defencemen and some draft picks.

[Steve C]

Kaberle needs to be moved for one reason only - his contract and skill level make him extremely valuable. To imply that he is expendable here because he is not beloved (debatable), a team leader, or a stalwart defenseman is only needlessly devaluing him. The fact is, no team needs ALL seven defense men to be the one dimensional stay-at-home type. But all teams do need someone to move the puck up the ice and quarterback a powerplay. There are few, if any, better than Kaberle at this. Kaberle is an extremely valuable asset that should - rather BETTER - get a large return, say a first-rounder and a 70 point man. Savard is a non-starter; Burke's reputation takes a nose-dive if he goes that direction.

[James Jack]

I agree with this column in the sense that Burke doesn't have to hit a home run on trading Kabs. But Burke knows the value of a good player and insists as most hockey men know, you don't just give away a talented player without getting value in return. Sure Kaberle is not Burke's type of tough player, but he has identifiable skills, especially his smooth skating, passing and unselfish play. Just like Burke, I can live with this guy on the roster, he is surely as valuable as an established 30 goal winger or two decent prospects or a first round draft choice. I think Kaberle has already agreed to waive his no trade and so the deadline is not an issue.

[Kev]

Why the silence surrounding Belanger? I think the Leafs are up to a multi-player blockbuster that involves Kab, Grab, Finger, Fleishman, Belanger, and a prospect?

[leafsfan8]

I think that the preffered destination for Kaberle would be the L.A Kings they missed out on Paul Martin, Kovalchuk, and Simon Gagne so I think they will be desperate to add an impact player, they also have a great number of prospects to offer. I don't think we will be able to get Dustin Brown but that would be great, I think a more likely deal would be a high salary veteran such as Reasoner or Williams packaged together with one or more of Braden Schenn, Colton Teubert, Oscar Moller, or Thomas Hickey. I would love to see Dustin Brown with the Leafs but I don't think it'll happen.

[Blaine]

I'd also love to see Bobby Ryan or Dustin Brown, but don't bank on it. Those are 2 stud, young players that aren't going anywhere... Brown's the LA captain already...

The Clowe deal makes sense.

I can also see Burke surprising everyone and packaging Kaberle with more (potentially lots more) to get John Tavares from the NYI

[Ostrich Lover]

Oh no not Clowe. What a terrible trade that would be....were talking a decent guy but I doubt if Clowe is anything more than 20-25 goals and hes already 28...Ill take someone with more upside. Dont get me wrong, Clowe would be nice to have, but Ill take Kabs on the back end rather than a 20 goal grinder.

Also, please please please not Belanger. hes like a worse matt Stajan.

OH and if anyone wants a laugh the Globe has an article about how the Canucks would be better served if Bettmen voided Luongos contract so that they could sign Niemmi and use Schneider. Not sure why they let my Grandma write an article in their paper, but good times!!!

[Conn Smythe]

'Why the silence surrounding Belanger?' I think the Belanger to Leafs rumour has been effectively squashed in various other media outlets. I think a team that feels it is close to winning the cup should take a run at Kaberle for what he can bring - good offensive skills, great passing skills. On a play - off team, he is a great offensive asset - that said, I think the best time would have been last year to move him.

[Pat Vaughan]

Prediction ... a Kaberle trade will not happen. All his time here all we hear Burke barking about is how he is a man of his word. and the word from Burke all along has been he will not trade Kaberle just for the sake of trading him. there will be no deal and Kaberle will walk for nothing next July 1st. Burke right now is a desperate man and is all about making sure Boston does not get another top 10 pick in 2011. He needs Kaberle to help get the Leafs into the playoffs. Burke will save more face if he doesn't trade Kaberle and loses him for nothing as a UFA rather than making a deal for a bunch of stiffs in return over the next few days. This way if Burke is nice to Kaberle during 2010-11 and does a good job shining his shoes and doing his laundry maybe Kaberle will forgive Burke and sign an extension with the Leafs with a year-round no movement clause.

[Bo]

Kaberle will not get traded to save Burke the embarrassment of little return. Kaberle has limited appeal to limited teams. An old defenseman with a team worst plus minus on the last year of a no trade contract that will not resign with a team not located close to Toronto. A team not in the north east will not give much because he will not sign an extension. So you are limited to teams in the north east of Canada/US, then you are limited by the teams that have cap room and then limited by available roster spot and needs. Burke can claim he has more offers but there are not many teams that will give much for Kaberle. He will not resign with San Jose. LA or Tampa to far from Toronto so don't expect much back from them. Maybe Dallas wants to unload a bad contract and he can get Mike Ribeiro but unless it is about unloading bad contracts there won't be much offered for Kaberle.

[RyanC]

I'd like them to try and get wayne simmonds and like a 2nd round pick

[Leafs will win a cup soon]

I think Damien missed one other reason why Kaberle will be moved. Simply put, he is not one of Burke's guys. Burke has overhauled almost the entire team. Only Kaberle and Schenn were part of the Leaf Defence prior to Burke. Schenn may be a keeper due to the fact that he only predated Burke by a short while but Kaberle is from a few GMs ago. With the recent additions on defence Kaberle is expendable, however, having him in your lineup is not a bad thing. It does take ice time from young guys and a trade could get the Leafs a forward they so desparatley need.

[Ostrich Lover]

Hey Pat Vaughn, why are you posting in the comments section when you clearly know Kaberle and are privy to his thinking and also to the type of trades being offered? Clearly you should be paid to drop such knowledge on us................ As for Burke "saving face", come on! The guy has done nothing but enhance his reputation as the best GM in hockey in his time in Toronto, I dont know if you guys have recently viewed the rosters of the teams in the east, but Toronto is basically a shoe in for the playoffs,-as their team is now- the only question is can they get top four by adding a top notch forward, such as Backes, Ryan, B. Schenn, or Neal??? BTW the the Calder has been pre-etched with the name Kadri.

[Chris]

Bo!, 32 is not old for an NHL defenseman. His plus/minus means nothing as he was on a brutal team. 3-4 years ago Tom Priessing led the league in that category nd now plays in the ahl. Kaberle tied for 8th among ALL NHL defensemen last year. You don't think a good team could use him? They won't get a top line centre but they will get a young player with top line potential who will fit in with what is the youngest Leafs core I have ever seen.

[dv]

IMHO - Put together a package now and sign him for the home town discount. If you can't get anything worth while back you might as well sign him now before he's a free agent next summer and we loose him for nothing. Why would he sign now and not next summer? Think about how much more ugly the media will be at the 2011 deadline...

[Starvan]

I agree with Damien that Kab's is going to be traded, unless Burke gets a bad case of cold feet on Saturday evening. Burke has made some trades (Versteed, Phaneuf) that were more, or less, outright thefts with mediocre players. He has a real asset to move (a guy who will fit into the #2 spot of the defense on most contenders) who he has talked up, and dangled in front of other gm's for at least the past 4 months. He has built up demand, and he is waiting for someone to make the offer that Burke just can't refuse. At worst, Burke will get a guy who will be equivalent to Kab's. Most likely he will score a prospect or first round pick, and a young forward who is on the upside of his career, to balance out the team and add needed scoring depth. He has to make this trade to ensure the Leafs can make the playoffs (7th or 8th spot in the east) and to ensure the Bruins don't get another franchise player in the draft. Kab's will be missed, but it's time to move forward and keep the rebuild going...

[Adam]

Look at what Florida got for Keith Ballard, a player who makes about as much money as Kaberle and is nowhere near as good. Kaberle is a perennial all-star and an olympian, he's an exceptionally gifted playmaker and passer, and he's a good team-mate. I'm pretty confident that Kaberle will be traded, and Burke will get a good deal for him. If he was on any team other than the Leafs, no one would have any doubt that he'd be bringing a good deal in return.

[Bo]

Adam- Keith Ballard is much better than Kaberle. He is younger with a good contract who plays with grit and leadership.

[Hockey fans from the rest of Canada.]

One more time. You little leader here censored it, and probably will this as well. Don't know why, did not use any threats, cursing, or anything other than facts to tell you guys that the R.O.C is getting a little sick of hearing how wonderful the Leafs will be after they trade Kaberle for the next big thing.

He is a -16. That is on the last page of the list...267th in the league or something!!! That is not all just playing on a bad team. ( his points, with 1st line time he won't get elsewhere on a better team...are only ordinary for a guy that is supposed to be offensive!

Whatever. Know that most of us are just shaking our heads at you guys. And Cox. I guess you deserve one another in your little angst fest.

Can't wait to come back to read the column about how Burke didn't get enough...because Kaberle is NOT the best defenseman available in trade.

Bieksa is. As many team interested, better stats, younger, cheaper contract, can do more at both ends....tougher, fights, same skills on the PP...

[BRS]

If Kaberle ia traded it will in all likelihood end up being for a good young prostpect(25-30 goals) and MAYBE a couple of mid range second rounders. If a deal like this could be pulled off, it should be considered a preatty good package and no harm should come to Burkie's reputation. Just as a little reminder, if we as "leaf nation etc..." don't stop degrading Kabie's attributes, it will become even more difficult foe a good deal to happen.

[Randy]

Where the heck did you pull David Backes from. Burke would do that in an instant as would every other GM in the league. There is no way St Lou would trade him fo Kaberle.

[Nuckledog]

Could this be yet another example of Leaf fans overrating their players? Getting more than a bag of pucks for Kaberle? He proved to be a liability last year on defence and the limited offense he supplies is not enough of an offset to his liabilities. Kaberle will be a Leaf next year!

[Conn Smythe]

'Burke right now is a desperate man and is all about making sure Boston does not get another top 10 pick in 2011.' How is Burke a desperate man, Pat? He feels the trade for Kessel was worth the 2 first rounders, so I'm not sure where you come up with the statement. If Burke can come up with a top 6 forward from the Kaberle trade, look out.