Toronto Maple Leafs: Kaberle May Stay a Leaf, Could Burke Re-Sign Him?

Many of the Leafs faithful thought Tomas Kaberle would be moved at the trade deadline and bring another top forward that they desperately need.

But it would not be the case.

Kaberle and his agent Rick Curran gave Leafs general manager Brian Burke a short list, consisting of three teams that Kaberle would be willing to waive his no-trade-clause for and be dealt to, but nothing came to fruition.

Burke obviously couldn’t get enough value for the star defenseman and now the question becomes will Burke move Kaberle during the 2010 NHL draft and try and recuperate a first round draft pick?

That’s what most were thinking would be the scenario.

Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Ulmer reported that Burke will open new contract talks with Kaberle.

With the return of a fully healed Mike Komisarek next season, the emergence of Carl “Uzi” Gunnarsson, the acquisition of Dion Phaneuf, along with the other D-men, Francios Beauchemin, Jeff Finger (way too much money), and young Luke Schenn, the Leafs D should be solid.

Why not keep Kaberle with that group, which on paper rivals any NHL backend in the league.

Sure the Leafs are thin up front, but Burke does have a lot of cap room to fill those roster spots, and Nazem Kadri and possibly Jerry D’Amigo could become full time players next year, and who knows who steps up in training camp.

Kaberle has mentioned that Toronto has become his second home and he loves playing here.  If Burke can re-sign him for a fair amount for both sides, as the Leafs have a lot of money tied up on the back-end, I would have no problem having him finish his career as a Leaf!