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

[Paul from Wales,UK]

I'm quite happy with the squad of players assembled by Mr.Burke. If the Leafs make the playoffs this season then that will be good progress,IMO.

Personally, I will be sorry to see Kaberle go. He's been a great servant to the "Blue & White" over the years....but having said that the defense looks good to me.

[bill d]

I really don't see why Kaberle would want to remain a Leaf. He has been insulted enough by Leafs management by dangling him out as trade bait for at least two years. If Kaberle has any sense of pride, he would take the opportunity to screw the Leafs, should no trade materialize.

[Still running it]

Where is the loyalty - Kaberle is what every Maple Leaf should aspire too. Zero ego. For the pst five years it seems his name always comes up in trade rumors, must take a toll. All these rumors are nonsense. Look for Burke to trade for a high draft pick + a young forward. The Cup is coming Toronto in the next three to five seasons. Kadri is the real deal. Wait for his development with Kessel and keep developing young studs plus the POW right in the kisser mentality and you have a Philadelphia Flyers type squad that will be able to win playoff series. Don't think they'll make the playoffs this season but it will be close.

[NBBoy]

Ok Mr. Cox.. so you state Burke doesn't have to hit a homerun with a Kaberle deal.. but as sure as the sun rises in the east you'll be all over it like flies on roadkill if he doesn't belt it out of the park.

[Musclehead]

Damien, Your underestimating Kaberle's value here. He has produced points in the top 10 for D and on a lousy team. I agree it's not all about the points, but should this not account for something? A little more than a Clowe or Malone?
As you stated I agree on an 80 point center being more than just a wish and an immediate need for any post season play. Savard is damaged goods and not the right fit. That all being said what other options are there? At $4.5 million it is money well spent. I say cut the trade talk resign him and move on. All the speculation is not healthy for the team or the player.

[johnnyk]

Burke is the best GM in hockey... can't agree, sorry.
Tallon built a very good team. Yes he busted the cap but they got a cup.
The Leafs are overpaying for the likes of Jeff Finger and no cup in sight.
Holmgren has come up with a far better team in Philly and LL has kept the Devils a consistent cup threat for many years.

[Peter]

the only thing i don't understand is why Kovalchuk and Gagne has any impact on a deal involving the Kings and Kaberle? outside of money obviously, there is nothing in common in these players. if you can't sign a forward you will sign a d-man? you can't replace a forward with a d-man, it's two very different position, even if the d-man is a sort of offensive one... and Burke does not have to trade Kaberle. He can wait and even re-sign him to a new contract.

[snacker]

Some Leaf fans are out to lunch...by the time this team is completely overhauled in 3-4 years Kaberle will be 36-37 and in his twilight...not to mention he's very soft, a liability in his own end on a team that isn't going to score a ton of goals (which means they need to keep them out!!)...he's consistently put up points, but never done much to help his team get better...its a no brainer shipping this guy out for some talent that will help 3-4 years down the road...keeping him makes zero sense...get what you can get for him now!!

[Matt B]

Ostrich Lover is out to lunch if he thinks getting back Clowe from SJ for Kabs is a bad move. Can you imagine the room Clowe would make on Kadri's wing? Or what he could do with Bozak and Kessel? He is the perfect 2nd line winger: can bang, score 25-30 goals, and work as hard as anyone else. Backes plus a draft pick would be good from STL. I do like the suggestion of trying to fleece the NYI, but Snow is not giving up Johnny T.

[Thunder Blood]

It sad to see how biased Mr. Cox is regarding Brian Burke. Just imagine for a minute if Toronto's GM was a no name guy with a identical record Brian has since arriving in Hog town. Do you think for a second he would give this guy the same respect he's given BB? Just reading his column make me shudder. He talks about the Kessel deal, terrible deal and getting worse, the Dion Phaneuf deal, Calgary wanted to unload his big contract and his big attitude, and the Toskala and Jason Blake deal, not a huge augment there except Burke brought back a aging, expensive, and some say over the hill goaltender back. Damien states these transactions few believed Burke could pull off. If Mr.no name GM made these deals the fans would have run him out of town, especially after the Buds finished dead last in the east and had to forgo the second overall pick. Damien finishes his column by giving Burke a reprieve if the Kaberle trade doesn't immediately work out, surprise. Get a room with Burke already.

[Reid]

@ Andrews: White is no 3rd pair defenceman. If you think he is, then clearly, you are a typical Leafs fan (which I guess you are if you think Kaberle will get you Ryan). Also, Hagman and Stajan are workable 3rd liners. They don't just fall off trees, so there was definitely some value there as well (although Sutter is crazy for signing stajan for what he did... awful deal). You make it sound like the Leafs paid absolutely nothing for Phaneuf and Kessel, but wait a year... You'll see Dion fully blossom into McCabe v-2.0, and Seguin become the best player coming out of the 2010 draft (this coming from an Oilers fan. We picked wrong IMO). Burke has effectively turned Toronto back into the 8-9th place team they were 4 years ago, instead of doing a proper rebuild. Enjoy another 10 years of mediocrity.

[Dave]

Brown for Kaberle + bank on it

[James Jack]

Why is Andre Deveaux not showing up on Leaf depth chart?

[finbar589]

Let's not forget that Kaberle at 32 is physically in top shape for a defenseman, as he hasn't bothered to lay on the body once in the last 12 years, nor bothered to go into a corner to get the puck. On power plays, his point shot probably is as strong as my grand-daughter's, but that's a matter of some debate.

So Burke is basically shopping an excellent puck-handler who has a few years left in him, and some savvy GM might well grab Kaberle because his team lacks puck mobility from the D, and already has forwards who can back-check, unlike the Leafs.

I'm a Leaf fan until I die, but all I can do is cross my fingers that Burke can pull off another miracle trade and get more than a box of cereal for Kaberle.

[Regg Struyk]

What exactly is it about Kaberle's defensive play that is questionable? Hear this from Damien often and yet there is never any real evidence as to why. Every team needs a puck moving defenceman so who would replace him on the Leaf roster with that role? Another question, why exactly is it the Leaf's must trade Kaberle? It seems that anyone that isn't boisterous with the media in Toronto gets a goodbye handshake by them. How many teams do you know that one single player makes game changing impact? Lets see both Washington and Pittsburgh got bounced last year in the playoffs even though the supposedly have so called game changing players.

[Habs4eva]

@Andrews - I think you need to look up the definition of 'atypical'.

[Andy Frank]

No way Burke's getting Backes, but frankly, anything, including a 2011 1st rounder, would be great, addition by subtraction

[Bill]

If Burkie is content with a draft pick and a prospect, he might get this done. A quality top six, however, will only happen if Kaberle signs an extension and there is no reason to think that he will.

[Stephen B]

Bill at 5:17 pm has it about right, I think. Kaberle is a quality player but there is only a year left on his contract. A 1st round pick and a decent prospect is probably the most we can expect in return for him.

[Crazy Leaf fan]

Obviously Kaberle doesnt care about winning, if he did he would have accepted a deal to phildelphia for carter and a 1st, but since no one from the muskoka 5 accepted a trade neither did he... European players dont care about the stanley cup they care more about olympics or world championships, point in case when leafs are on a powerplay kaberle never shoots , has so many great chances and even if he doesnt score on a shot maybe we can get a rebound goal or something..in the olympics this guy was shooting from everywhere and im like is this the same guy, he was playing his heart out for his home town team..
Trade the guy, he looks like a tomatoe with those red cheeks on the ice, he cant play Defense, but he is a great puck moving D,...i still dont understand why the leafs dont ask him to move to left wing, can u imagine him feeding kessel or versteeg..If Wendel Clark can move from defense to wing i think anyone can.. just my 2 cents.. sorry for the spelling mistakes..

[jimmy]

Maybe its silly, but how about Kaberle for Brayden Schenn? I'm sure there's going to need to be some fine tuning on both sides, but Schenn would be a great fit with his brother in Toronto and looks to be at the least a solid 2nd line player.

[Gordo]

It's time Kabby moved on. Take the futures, take a player who will help now but Kabby must go. He's been part of a losing team for too long.

[othermark]

I totally disagree with the premise that Kaberle must be traded (and it turns out as of today, I am in the same camp as Burke). And, Damien, your rationale for this 'must trade' statement is what? That he's not 'beloved'? That a window is closing (never mind that Kaberle has already agreed to waive that 'window' for a group of teams). Burke has said it time and again. This isn't a salary dump, nor is it a 'must trade' situation. He won't make a deal unless it makes the Leafs a better team (and by that I assume he means 'immediately'). And, I ask you this Damien.... who would you have taking those minutes on the team? And, please don't say Bouchevin or Phaneuf. Those guys are not in the same calibre.

[Toronto Dentist]

I have a good feeling about the Leafs this year. Perhaps I'm just delusional again. Hope springs eternal for those boys in blue.

[Dan]

Phaneuf Already
Did he join the leafs or the WWF with all those stupid photos.
I imagine the rest of the league is really terrified.
The leafs have had great promoters the last 44 years and they are getting worse.
So sad. What a joke.