Outside-the-Box Deals For Kaberle

Possible Deals for Kaberle not currently talked about

 

Tomas Kaberle’s time in Toronto is just about over. His return will likely bring in some young pieces for the maple Leafs to move forward with.  The reason he’s the guy that will be moved - and he might not be the only guy - is that his (reasonable) salary still cap-tilts the Leafs south of the blue line.  That and the fact that he’s highly sought after AND he’s outside the “politics” of last summer’s signings.  Make no mistake though – Burke will not just give him away. 

 

He’ll get value-for-value or he will keep him.

 

What I can't believe are all the people who think that Kaberle is worth a Horton/Malone/Stafford/Clarkson straight up!  There are even those out there who would suggest he's worth only a second or third rounder.  Nonsense I say!  Mind you there are others out there who think he's going to land the Leafs a Ryan/Carter/Staal.  This will not happen unless Burke fills the basket with other assets to give. Otherwise equally absurd!

 

Kaberle is an elite defenseman who will get you 40-60 points a season, quarterback your power play, eat up 20 minutes/game and he’s got another 4-6 years of good productivity. Let’s face it, finesse-style defensemen like Kaberle typically have longer careers.

In this age of the NHL more factors will be at play than the player themselves.  The cap hit, the actual salary hit, the term, the internal cap hit…and on & on…so speculation of value for value gets distorted.  For example, maybe a Kaberle/Campbell straight up swap sounds reasonable. Similar type players right? Then factor in Campbell’s hefty contract and onerous term and you’ll have to agree that Chicago needs to add something significant to make it worth Burke’s while.

Here is a short compilation of outside-the-box trade scenarios with teams not typically discussed by bloggers – for the most part anyways.  With all these, let’s assume that Kaberle has agreed to sign an extension with the team, as well as with any other throw-in player I’ve added to balance the trade scenario.

 

Trade Scenario 1

 

Carolina – Tuomo Ruutu, Zac Dalpe, 2^{nd (the 37th pick)}, & 3^{rd (the 85th pick)}

Toronto – Kaberle & Grabovski

 

I don’t really like this deal and I only put it out there because Kaberle’s brother played (and won a cup) with the Canes and he might sign with them.  I don’t think Burke’s getting his type of “top six” forward though.

 

Trade Scenario 2

 

Boston – Wheeler & Joe Colborne

Toronto – Kaberle & Grabovski

 

I know Boston has been mentioned early on as a trade partner for Kaberle – but I really like Colborne.  If he’s not in the deal then I don’t do it.  Boston is deep in center, and if they draft Seguin they’ll be very deep! Wheeler is up for at least a qualifying raise and that may be too much for Boston being tight against the cap (4.3 mil with 5 to sign yet.)

 

Trade Scenario 3

 

New York Rangers – Drury, 1^st & Chris Krieder

Toronto – Kaberle

 

This is a pure salary dump for New York, allowing them to seriously get into the Kovalchuk bidding. Two years with a 3^rd line center getting paid over 7 million will cost Sather though. Not that they couldn’t use the passing skills of Kaberle – he’d work magic with Gaborik (and Kovalchuk if they were to get him!)

 

Trade Scenario 4

 

Minnesota – Mikko Koivu

Toronto – Kaberle & Grabovski

 

This is a deal that would likely need to be expanded where Toronto would need to throw something else of mid-tier value into the pot.  Minny’s Captain Mikko will be unrestricted next year and will be in for a significant raise that Minnesota may not afford and won’t want to see walk ala Gaborik.  They may not even want the impending headache of the hockey paparazzi ala Bouwmeester distracting them all season. Maybe Cliff & Chuck can do some father-son talking? Kaberle can easily be sold into the idea of Minnesota, after playing there a year.  It’s one of the cleanest, nicest States I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.

 

Trade Scenario 5

 

Edmonton – Horcoff, both 2^nd’s, & Riley Nash

Toronto – Kaberle & Mitchell or Hanson

 

Kaberle may want to play for Quinn again, and taking on Horcoff’s contract is worth at least another 2^nd rounder (they have two.) A change of scenery may just be what Horcoff needs to spark his career.  This may have to be reworked as the possibility of Spezza coming to Edmonton may take these picks/prospects out of the loop.

 

There you have it.  I’m not a GM and neither are any of you, so let’s have some fun with this, and please don’t eat me alive on my first article….cheers J