Kaberle on the Move

All signs are pointing to Tomas Kaberle becoming a Boston Bruin today.

This could change, either in a league trade call that has yet to take place between the Leafs and Bruins, or if the teams miscommunicate in the way they did back in June, 2009 when a deal involving Kaberle for Phil Kessel literally fell apart on the draft floor because Brian Burke and Peter Chiarelli believed they were talking about different deals.

Or, of course, the B's might feel better about their prospects after pounding the Islanders last night.

But right now, it's believed the Leafs would get Boston's first round pick this June  (not the second of two first rounders sent to the Bruins in the Kessel deal) and a prospect. Winger Blake Wheeler is apparently not in play, but the Leafs might be zeroing in on one of two good Boston prospects, Ontario junior Ryan Spooner or Providence centre Joe Colborne.

For Leaf fans, Colborne might be the prospect they'd be happiest with, given that he's 6-foot-5 and was Boston's first rounder back in 2008. Spooner has been a more prolific offensive player, particularly this year with Doug Gilmour's Kingston Frontenacs, but he's not as big as Colborne.

If this deal comes together, and again, all bets are off until Burke and Chiarelli actually agree on what they're trading, it's likely to happen early this afternoon. Back in '09, the two men believed they had agreed on a Kaberle-Kessel deal, but it fell apart at the very last second when Chiarelli believed he was getting the seventh pick overall, which the Leafs used to pick Nazem Kadri, as part of the package.

If the Leafs can make this deal work, they theoretically might be able to put together two first round picks - they got Philly's in the Kris Versteeg trade - and move up much higher in the June draft. Otherwise, they would have picked up defence prospect Jake Gardiner, two firsts and another good prospect from Boston in the past two weeks.

On the goalie front, Ben Scrivens is expected to start for the Marlies tonight, and then back up James Reimer when the Leafs play Ottawa tomorrow night.  

 

Comments

[John]

I sincerely hope that Ryan Spooner is not in this deal. The way he quit on Peterborough this year screams whiny prima donna. When things are bad, he cries and wants out. Will he really want to stay in a Leafs organization that has more bad years coming before there are any good?

[Jani7]

If your details are accurate Damien, I think this is a great move. I find it amusing lately listening to the various 'hockey experts' on the various sports radio shows talking about Kaberle like he's Bobby Orr. The fact is he's the 'powerplay QB' on one of the weakest pps in the league for years, and is a softy in his own zone.
It's time he left.

[Vince]

I wish this read Kaberle 'Potentially' on the Move -- found this a a little deceitful.

[Leaf Fan In San Diego]

That would be a trade too good to be true.

[JR]

Burke is such a fool. Almost two years after getting Kessel and there's still no #1 center to feed him the puck. And no team leader. Teams are built around #1 centers who play two way hockey, have unquestioned work ethics, and lead by example. Burke is clueless.

[ValleyRed]

So who gets Kaberle's minutes? Brett Lebda? I can see Schenn, Aulie, and Phaneuf each playing close to 30 minutes a game.

[leefan]

I hate to see Kaberle go, not many can move the puck the way he does. I think he was mis-handled by Burke. He can't feel too wanted in Toronto after being so publicly shopped around ever since Burke got there. Stripping him of the "A" was a public humiliation for him and where's the guy they gave it to now? Just another example of poor treatment of a good player by Leaf management. Kaberle is in good company here, Keon, Mahovlich, McDonald, Sittler, the list goes on. Some things never change.

[Keith Moriyama]

So the Leafs have abandoned plan "C" by reverting back to plan "A"...stocking up on the draft. This is BB's way of saving face. Sour puss can't admit he has made a terrible blunder and put the Buds back another two years. Problem is, this is not the draft year he gave up.

[Bill Roach]

Mr. Cox, I have a question or two and figure since you pay attention to hockey as most here it is. How do the Leafs plan on replacing Kaberle's offensive skill set? Who on the D is going to get the puck to the forwards as Kaberle does? His stats when playing with offensively gifted forwards, shows he's the guy that consistently does so. Will Burke rue the day he didn't take his own advice when he realized he'd spend years looking for a Kaberle type D-man if he traded him away.

[Leaf Fan In San Diego]

we got nowhere with him. time to see where w go without him.

[mike]

He wasn't publicly shopped around at any point.

You are drinking the toronto media kool-aid with that one.

[MikeInHanover]

@Jani7 - The Leafs PP is horrible (16.7%), and yet Kaberle is tied for sixth in the league among defensemen in PP points with 22. I think that says quite the opposite of what you're trying to imply.

[Leaf Fan]

leefan hit it right on the head. Kaberle's game changed when he was continually shopped around & stripped of the 'A'. He has always wanted to be a Toronto Maple Leaf, and has a no trade clause. Burke has said that he would never ask a player to waive his no-trade clause....so how does this deal get done? Obviously Burke must ask the player to waive it.
Why do some many teams want a puck moving Dman like Kabby...but the Leafs don't? Will Burke be paying to get one next year?

[Bill]

What's the rush in dealing Kaberle? I find it hard to believe he'll only waive his NTC for BOS. In some ways I love how Burke is so principles, but in other ways, such as his preference to make deals well before the deadline, I hate his principles. Kaberle's price will only go up leading up to Feb. 28 (trade deadline) so why make a trade with the team that most fans feel shellacked us in the Kessel trade? It doesn't make any sense.

Get off your high horse Mr. Burke and wait til the deadline!

[wantstobelieve]

lovely......first round pics in a mediocre draft year....sigh.....

[MK]

The fact remains that Kaberle has only gotten older and slower over the past 2-3 years, while his point production and offensive ability has at best flatlined. Being the "puck-moving QB" of a perennially aweful power play isn't exactly something to be overly proud about. I am glad Burkie was able to move Kaberle before the deadline hit, at which point he would've played out the year and then walked for absolutely nothing. Let's face it the Leafs have missed the playoffs for the better part of a decade ... is Kaberle really worth keeping THAT much?!?

[Martin]

Although I think Kaberle is a great D Man, if this trade goes through, it will make the loss of 2 1st rounders in the Kessel trade a little easier to stomach.

[Leigh-Ann]

In a league with no shortage of asshats and spoiled brats, Kaberle is a decent man and a good role model. Maybe he doesn't exude the toughness that so many fans admire in a player, but when looking at stats, I'd rather see hundreds of assists than hundreds of penalty minutes. I'll never be the owner of a Bruins jersey, but if this trade goes through I'll cheer them on in the playoffs, for Kaberle's sake.

[Sanjay]

good to see the buds building for the future. However, I hope bb can trade up with those two 1st rounders as this years draft is not projected to be terribly deep. I've heard the drop off this year to be around the 15th pick.

[Ken Baumgartner]

Hey what are you talking about ? He did admit to a blunder when he traded Versteeg, and when the team showed it was failing he started changing things. Not admitting it is doing nothing.

It is probably a good deal trading Kaberle but he will be missed for sure.

[me.yahoo.com/a/BLmkEfgaof6S1eGInVEFX1f_3KkQGQQ-]

a good deal for Burkie...kaberle should be respected for his talent and service to the leafs...to me he was always good with the puck but was always too soft in his own end...that the Leafs are getting a low 1st plus a prospect is all you could expect...I get the impression that Burke is getting over his own bout of "Blue & White Disease" and starting to build this team the way he should have from the start

[Gibby]

1) Misleading headline; 2) Would have been done by now if it were just draft picks.

[Anne O'Brien]

I am very sad to hear that Tomas Kaberle may be traded. He has been handled badly by Toronto Maple Leafs management. Let's hope that one of these deals actually results in a better performance by the Leafs.

[Ostrich Lover]

I think this is a way higher return that most experts where predicting. I have seen people say that a second round pick would probable. I would have like to see Wheeler, Seguin or the Leafs own pick, but I guess that is a too much? Either way, Kaberle is an old favorite, be he is in decline, over rated and he is horrible in his own end. Not that much of a loss. This also makes Phaneuf the number one offensive D man and I think that is a good thing. I beleive being the main QB will improve Phaneuf's game.

[John Blaze]

Why do the leafs keep making deals with divisional rivals? Especially considering our poor track record with the Bruins in the past... I just can't figure out what Burke's fascination with dealing with Boston is.