Tomas Kaberle Still a Leaf: Three Deals That Can Change That

With just over a month left until training camps begin across the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs' roster appears to be set. With 21 players signed and about two million in cap space, the Maple Leafs appear to have a firm hold of their roster.

With that said, there still remains a lot of unanswered questions with the roster they currently have right now.

Will this Tomas Kaberle Trade Rumor Mill ever end?

When will the Leafs outright Jeff Finger to the AHL?

Will anyone take Mikhail Grabovski for a bag of pucks and a spray can of "Febreze"?

Those are the three main pieces remaining on the Leafs' roster that need to be addressed before the season begins. If they can manage to move them, they will not only open up roster spots, but they will be shedding nearly $11 million a year in contracts. 

I'm not going to speculate on trades and whatever for Grabovski and Finger, but rather focus on Kaberle, the most attractive trade chip on teams' radar. 

Here are three deals to hopefully end the Kaberle madness

Trade 1 

TOR/DAL

Tomas Kaberle and Mikhail Grabovski for Brad Richards

Why Does This Move Make Sense ?

The Stars still have three pretty decent RFA's to resign in James Neal, Matt Niskanen, and Nicklas Grossman, all of whom played regular minutes on the team last year. 

The Stars defence isn't the greatest and could really use the shot in the arm on their power play that Kaberle would provide. Grabovski evens out salaries and provides the Stars with a second or third line center. 

The Leafs currently have six defenders with a cap hit of close to or more than $3 million. This move easily addresses the Leafs' need for a playmaking first-line center. This will allow Nazem Kadri to develop at a slower pace.

Trade 2

TOR/LAK

Tomas Kaberle for Wayne Simmonds and Colten Teubert

Why Does This Move Make Sense ?

With the Kings, Simmonds would again be dismissed to the third line with Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth making up the first line, and Alexei Ponikarovsky along with Michal Handzus and Dustin Brown comprising the second line. This move allows for Simmonds to play a first or second line role with the Leafs.

Adding Teubert gives the Leafs a rock solid presence on the back end once again. It allows them to move Francois Beauchemin in hopes that he can land a first line center. If not, the Leafs will sweat out another year before adding their first line center. 

For the Kings, they add a top 10 defenseman to the team that is hurting for veteran defenders following an injury to Matt Greene. 

Again, this move would be predicated on the Kovalchuk decision.

Trade 3

TOR/BUF

Tomas Kaberle for Tim Connolly and Zack Kassian

Why Does This Move Make Sense ?

For the Sabres, having lost two top four defenders in Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman (to the Devils and Ducks respectively), Buffalo could desperately use the help on the back end.

Connolly is moved to make room for prospects Tyler Ennis and Nate Gerbe, who could be just as good one day, but comes with a lower price tag and less injury concerns.

For the Leafs, they gain a good prospect and a one-year rental center in Tim Connolly. Connolly when healthy is a very good player, but that's a big if. 

The Leafs would be taking a chance on Connolly, but if things don't work out, his $4-5 million contract expires at the end of the year, so all is not lost.