Tomas Kaberle Deadline Fast Approaching

Welcome Leafs Nation to Bleeding Blue and White.

Once again, it is that time of year. The time of year when Leafs Nation is waiting impatiently for the trade of Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle knows he is being talked about in trade scenarios and Leaf Nation knows it too; now, it's time to bring it to fruition.

Depending on who you talk to, a deal for Kaberle is either about to break through, about to be occur after the Ilya Kovalchuk situation, or is not going to happen because Brian Burke is asking for too much.

The fact that Kaberle has declined trades at the deadline in seasons past doesn't bode well for a deadline deal. 

There is a very real possibility that on August 15th, Tomas Kaberle will remain a Leaf until July 1st of next year.

This leaves the Leafs with essentially two options:

Trade him before the deadline for the best offer available, or keep him knowing they may lose the last member of the Muskoka Five for nothing, once again.

If the Leafs trade him, there is the possibility that the right top six forward may not be included in a deal. According to reports,  the Leafs were offered a package including a prospect/roster player and a first rounder for Kaberle.

At this point, as long as that player isn't an albatross in the dressing room or with regards to the cap, I say take it. If something else thats's better is available, take that.  If Keith Ballard can net a first rounder and a great prospect Kaberle should too.

The last thing you want to do is keep a player that knows you were "listening to offers" for him on your team. Regardless of his statistics for the year, it creates an awkward team dynamic for the other players involved.

On August 15th, Leaf Nation will find out whether waiting till the last second creates a great deal or erases them as teams lock-in their rosters for training camp. Personally. I hope for another huge surprise, but it may end up being another false hope.