Boston Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle: 10 Reasons They're The Stanley Cup Favorite

Earlier today, a surprising amount of deals went down, in what some are thinking has made the trade deadline almost irrelevant.

The Boston Bruins were the most active, acquiring Tomas Kaberle from the Toronto Maple Leafs, in exchange for Joe Colborne, the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft and a conditional second-round pick in 2012.

The second-round pick will go to the Leafs if the Bruins either re-sign Kaberle after this season, or make the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Bruins also sent Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart to the Atlanta Thrashers for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.

The Bruins were already leading the Northeast Division, and were considered Stanley Cup contenders by most people around the league.

The moves made today have not only solidified the Bruins as contenders, but have elevated them to be the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season.

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No. 10: Youth

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 11: Nick Foligno #71 of the Ottawa Senators tries to steal the puck from Tyler Seguin #19 of the Boston Bruins on January 11, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

There's very little risk of the Bruins being tired out come playoffs this year.

Core players Patrice Bergeron, Nathan Horton, Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, Tyler Seguin and Tuukka Rask are all 25 or younger.

The Bruins also own the Leafs' first-round pick this summer, which should be a top-10 pick.

The future is bright in Boston.

No. 9: Milan Lucic

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 11: Milan Lucic #17 of the Boston Bruins tries to get one past Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings on February 11, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Milan Lucic is exactly what playoff hockey is all about. He's big, fast, tough, mean and, most of all, he's clutch.

Lucic hits harder than almost anyone in the league, and is having a breakout season. He's already set a new career high with 24 goals, and sometime this week he should break his career-best of 42 points.

Lucic is a proven winner and clutch performer, as evidenced by his Memorial Cup-winning MVP performance for the WHL's Vancouver Giants in 2007.

Also, his career playoff points-per-game is 0.16 better than his regular season career.

No. 8: Powerplay

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OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 19: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins fires a slap shot from the point during a powerplay against the Ottawa Senators in the second period of a game on December 19, 2006 at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada. The Bruins

The Bruins' 14th-ranked powerplay will get a much needed boost with the addition of Kaberle.

In the playoffs, powerplay efficiency can often be the deciding factor in a series, and the Bruins' should be amongst the best in the league.

They can ice a top unit of Kaberle feeding Chara one-timers, with Lucic crashing the net, and Bergeron and Krejci manning the half-boards.

Can you say scary?

No. 7: Playoff Heartbreak

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BOSTON - MAY 14: The Boston Bruins sit near their bench as the Philadelphia Flyers celebrate the win in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 14, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. The F

No one who played for the Bruins during the playoffs last year will ever forget the heartbreak that ensued when they became just the third team in NHL history (and fourth in all of professional sports) to blow a 3-0 series lead.

Further adding to that pain is the fact that the Bruins had a three-goal lead in Game 7.

It's widely considered the worst collapse in sports history, and you can bet the Bruins haven't forgotten it.

No player on the Bruins wants to feel that agony again, and they will have that extra motivation in the back of their minds throughout the playoffs this year.

No. 6: Patrice Bergeron

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 26: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins tries to keep the puck from Cory Stillman #61 of Florida Panthers on January 26, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Gett

Patrice Bergeron is quickly emerging as the next Pavel Datsyuk. This year, he should be a Selke Trophy finalist, and might also be a Lady Byng Trophy finalist.

Bergeron always plays against the opposition's top line, and not only shuts them down, but puts up a lot of points himself.

This year, Bergeron has 20 goals and 27 assists, but perhaps his most impressive stat is his plus-19 ranking, which is a testament to his two-way talent.

Bergeron also has winning experience after being part of Canada's gold medal-winning Olympic team in 2010, and being a key player for Canada's World Junior Champion teams in 2005 and 2006.

No. 5: Offense From The Defense

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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 08: Tomas Kaberle #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs starts a rush against the New York Islanders on February 8, 2011 at Nassau Colsium in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Lou Capozzola/Getty Images)

The Bruins' primary weakness, before today, has been very well addressed. The Bruins struggled with activating their defensemen into the offense.

Tomas Kaberle is one of the best in the league at that aspect of the game.

His speed and phenomenal passing ability will help the Bruins' defensemen get the puck to their forwards in full flight, which will create an almost unstoppable transition game.

Also, Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara has the hardest shot in the league, and having Kaberle setting him up for one-timers should scare every goalie in the league.

No. 4: Depth At Center

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DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 13: David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins controls heads up ice in front of Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the of the Detroit Red Wings on February 13, 2011 at Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 4-2. (Photo by Gre

With David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Rich Peverley, Tyler Seguin, Chris Kelly, Brad Marchand and Gregory Campell, the Bruins are well stocked at center ice, even without perennial All-Star Marc Savard.

The Bruins depth at center will be crucial when matching up in the playoffs, and having so many centers in the lineup will also help the Bruins on faceoffs late in games.

Likely, Bergeron will go against the opposition's top line, Krejci will draw the opponent's checking line and Campbell will center the energy line.

The Bruins will spend the rest of the regular season figuring out who will center the third line, and who will make the move to the wing.

No. 3: Zdeno Chara

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BOSTON - OCTOBER 23: Ryan Callahan #24 of the New York Rangers is hit by Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden on October 23, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Zdeno Chara brings almost everything a manager/coach/teammate could possibly want.

The Bruins' captain is 6'9", 255 pounds, has the hardest shot and is the best shutdown defenseman in the league.

Chara brings leadership, toughness, physicality, offense and a nasty mean streak.

Chara will be key to the Bruins knocking out Steven Stamkos, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby (if he comes back).

No. 2: Superb Goaltending

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MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 8: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins makes a glove save on the puck in front of Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 8, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Ri

The Boston Bruins have the best goaltending in the league.

Unless Tim Thomas completely falls apart the rest of the season, he will definitely win his second Vezina Trophy for best goaltender (he also won in 2008).

In addition to Thomas, the Bruins have the best "backup" in the league in Tuukka Rask.

Rask led the league in goals against average and save percentage last season, and it was assumed that he would take over as the Bruins starter this year.

However, Thomas has bounced back, and leads the league in goals against average and save percentage this year.

Both goalies have the ability to steal a series, and with the team in front of them, they shouldn't even have to.

No. 1: All Around Excellence

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DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 13: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates a first period goal with Michael Ryder #73 and Gregory Campbell #11 while playing the Detroit Red Wings on February 13, 2011 at Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by

The No. 1 reason the Boston Bruins are the current Stanley Cup favorite is their all around excellence, which is unmatched by any other team in the league.

The Bruins have nine players with at least 30 points (Canucks–eight, Flyers–six), and Michael Ryder is the only player on the entire roster with a negative plus/minus rating (excluding new acquisitions).

The Bruins defense core is outstanding offensively and defensively, and possesses the best shutdown defender in the league.

The Bruins have two of the best goalies in the league, including the near certain Vezina Trophy winner.

The Bruins are poised to win the Stanley Cup this season, and they have the makings of a dynasty for years to come.

Follow Erik on Twitter: @ekpaul87