Tomas Kaberle: What Are Brian Burke's Options If He Stays?

With just under six hours to go before Tomas Kaberle’s no-trade clause goes back into effect, there seems to be a growing feeling amongst fans and media types that Kaberle may, in fact, remain a Toronto Maple Leaf.

While holding on to Kaberle would not be a disaster for Leafs' general manager Brian Burke, it would make getting that coveted top-six forward all the more complicated.

The Leafs defense currently features the likes of Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Mike Komisarek, Luke Schenn, Brett Lebda, Jeff Finger, and Kaberle.

Free agent signee Brett Lebda was seemingly brought into the Leafs fold in an effort to off-set the loss of Kaberle, if and when he was traded. Phaneuf, elected as team captain over the summer, is not likely to be traded, nor is Mike Komisarek—who has a no-trade/no-movement clause.

Gunnarsson may be available, but with a decent upside and a very reasonable contract ($800,000), that scenario is unlikely at best.

Scheduled to make $3.5 million this season, Finger is all but untradeable, which leaves the likes of Luke Schenn, who many Leafs fans see as the Leafs shutdown defenseman of the future or Francois Beauchemin as trade bait.

Beauchemin is slated to make $3.8 million this season. While he has never really been a top-flight offensive contributor, he does bring a veteran presence and ability to log heavy minutes as well as a Stanley Cup ring and experience to any teams looking for that kind of thing.

Outside of Kaberle, Schenn may be the Leafs' most attractive asset to trade. Coming off a decent rookie season, Schenn struggled at the beginning of last season before rounding out into his former self once Phaneuf arrived via trade from the Calgary Flames.

While trading Schenn would not be popular, Burke could expect a top-six forward in return or perhaps a blue-chip forward prospect that could step in as early as this season.

Burke could also elect to scour the free agent market for a stop-gap solution in the form of Raffi Torres, Bill Guerin, or (God forbid) bringing Lee Stempniak back to Toronto, but none of those moves would help the Leafs out long-term, which is what Burke is trying to do here.

Other moves may include Burke himself putting together an attractive package of youngsters in hopes of landing a top-flight forward, but that scenario would seem both suicidal and very unlikely.

As it stands right now, the Leafs will start the season with Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri (if he makes the team) and Mikail Grabovski down the middle—hardly an intimidating threesome.

If Burke fails to land that coveted top-six forward, one can conclude that the Leafs will still be competitive, but it says here the Leafs will struggle to make the playoffs.

One of the looming questions Leaf fans have is “will Kaberle be willing to play for the Leafs after all the hogwash he’s been through over the past 18 months or so?”

In a word, “Yes”. Kaberle is owed $4.25 million, he’s not going to retire, hold out, demand a trade or anything like that, it’s just not in his demeanor.

What Kaberle may elect to do is to pull a “Mats Sundin” and refuse to be moved at the deadline, which is why Leaf fans and Brian Burke hope Kaberle is playing in another city by Sunday morning.

If the Kaberle deal does fall through, it would appear as if Burke will have to pull another rabbit out of a hat—landing a top-flight player in return for what amounts to parts or by trading Schenn, Beauchemin or both.

For Burke and Kaberle’s sake, we are all holding onto hope that Kaberle will be moved soon. The alternatives, just aren’t that great...

Until next time,

Peace!