Where will Tomas Kaberle end up?
The rumours that the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to move Kaberle have been around since general manager Brian Burke came to Toronto a year and a half ago. Kaberle is a skilled defenceman whose contract comes up at the end of the year. The Leafs would love to move the underrated defenceman for a top-six forward. Early in the summer this looked impossible, as Burke was not getting the offers he desired. However, late in the off-season teams that have not gotten what they have wanted thus far, are interested in getting the next best thing, which right now looks to be Kaberle.
Kaberle has a no trade clause, with a window, which allows Burke to trade the veteran up until 16 August to any team in the league, after which point Kaberle would have to agree to the trade. For this reason trade talk has been heating up around the defender. The most promising offers have been coming from the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, and there is word that the San Jose Sharks are interested.
Los Angeles
The Kings are in need of another puck moving defenceman if they wish to get beyond the first round of the Western Conference play-offs.
Los Angeles has two superb young defencemen in Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty, who was nominated for the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenceman at the end of this season.
The quality of these two young defenders has left many to ask, why they would want Kaberle?
The answer is that Kaberle is only signed to a one-year contract, and the Kings would have the upper hand in singing the veteran to a long term deal next season. In addition, the Kings defence falls off a great deal after the talented youngsters, lacking a true puck moving defenceman.
Kaberle scored 49 points last year with a subpar Toronto club, and would be able to quarterback the power play with Doughty. Adding that kind of depth to an already skilled young squad could make the Kings an even more formidable opponent to their Western Conference rivals.
Boston
The Bruins have been involved in the Kaberle rumours for as long as they have been around, and this off-season nothing has changed.
Boston is still trying to move veteran centre Marc Savard, who has named Toronto as one of the two destinations in which he would play. What is unclear is whether or not the Leafs want Savard. Burke has expressed that he is satisfied with his position at centre, but it is not apparent whether or not he actually is, or if he is simply posturing in case he cannot get a deal done.
Regardless, it appears as though Boston is interested, and with a plethora of big, strong wingers the Leafs could be in business. The only thing that may be weighing on Burkes mind is trading a competent defenceman like Kaberle inside the division.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have some money, and GM Doug Wilson has made it clear that he is still looking for a defenseman to replace the retired Rob Blake. In addition, the Sharks have signed unproven goaltender Antero Niittymaki as their starter, and can use all the defensive help they can get.
It has been noted that the Sharks would be willing to part ways with winger Ryane Clowe, who fits the bill in terms of Burke’s preferred type of winger.
The Clowe contract is similar to that of Kaberle’s but with a couple more years, leaving the Sharks to take on slightly more money this season, but leaving the Leafs with a longer term.
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