Rumours continue to persist regarding trade possibilities involving the Toronto Maple Leafs’ longest tenured player, Tomas Kaberle. Demand for the Czech defenceman is high, but according to Leafs general manager Brian Burke, no deal involving Kaberle is truly imminent.
As Burke stated during the National Hockey League Board of Governors meeting: "This is not a transaction that is draft-specific. This is just as likely to happen after the draft, or not happen at all as it might happen here."
He added: “"We're not even close. I hate saying that because that can change with one phone call. But right now, nothing is imminent."
While no trade may be imminent, it is evident that during the tumultuous 2010 off-season Kaberle is in high demand. "It's double digits," Burke said of the interest from other teams in the Leafs’ most valuable player. "We've had four hard offers, like concrete offers, and we expect two more today from teams that have said they are going to step up. Whether that happens or not, I don't know."
As teams present legitimate finalized offers to Burke, demand for Kaberle seems to only increase. Burke has stated that none of the deals have been worth accepting, and described his policy regarding trading Kaberle: He will only consider offers that can give the Maple Leafs immediate results. Burke’s main focus would be to obtain a star forward who can instantly affect play.
That's our top priority, to find a forward that can score," Burke said. "If he comes with some size all the better. If draft picks come as part of another deal, that's fine. It's not a priority. I think people should figure out with the (Phil) Kessel deal, we are trying to get better right now. Draft picks don't help me now."
At this point in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ history, Burke’s call for immediate results is more a necessity than an opinion. Toronto’s beloved franchise has finished below .500 the last five seasons, with a worse record each season. Since the 2004-05 lockout, the Maple Leafs have yet to make the playoffs. Simply speaking, they do not have the time to develop young talent. They need current players to help remedy their stagnant situation in the Northeast Division.
This is not the first time Burke and the Leafs have exhibited a tendency for the immediate over the future. Last year, Burke traded the Leafs’ first two picks to Boston in exchange for star scorer Phil Kessel. The Leafs would have had the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, but Burke has no problem with his action.
When asked about the deal, Burke said: "That's right, it could have been my pick and I could have played all year without a 30-goal scorer. We made this deal and we'd make it again. It bothers you guys a lot more than it bothers me. I'd do it again. We talked about this when we made the deal. We said, 'All right, what if it is Taylor Hall?' We had this conversation. We said, 'All right we have a 21-year-old that scored 36 goals last year and we are doing it anyway.'"
The 22-year-old Kessel had solid 30-goal season, and should improve if the Maple Leafs are able to provide him with a better offensive supporting cast. However, Burke’s decision is a bit of a gamble. Last year’s rankings place the Maple Leafs 18th in offence but 29th in defence. Trading away their most dominant defender will do little to bolster their struggling backline, but perhaps a more dominant offence will lighten the pressure on the defence through longer puck control.
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