| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Tiller33 |
Posted - 07/06/2010 : 12:47:02
It's July 6th and Tomas Kaberle has yet to be moved by the Toronto Maple Leafs. We've all heard the Toronto line put forth by Brian Burke & Co. that if they don't recieve what they want for Kaberle they have no trouble keeping him and working on a long term extension.
I like Tomas Kaberle and I especially like him at the price he's paid. That being said even with the aquisition of Versteeg and Armstrong the Leafs group of forwards is not yet where it needs to be in order to contend in the East (Mikhail Grabovski I'm looking in your direction).
Kaberle is a bargaining chip that Burke has used essentially since the March 3rd trade deadline. His posturing aside I believe Burke really want's to move him in order to better balance out his forwards.
My question is, has Brian Burke overplayed his hand when it comes to the Tomas Kaberle negotiations? |
| 40 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Leafs81 |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 17:06:42
I'm with Slozo about Ron Wilson. I don't respect him because the results are not there. Good players or not, it's still the NHL and the team should at least compete defensively. Since I watch the Leafs the past two seasons as been there worst (Maybe Mike Murphy did a worst job, but look where he end up) I mean they blew some big leads, had some aweful losing streak, no confidence, no heart, no powerplay, no pk. Yes Ron Wilson didn't have much to work with but he still failed miserably. The team wasn't buying his system not one bit, especially the forwards. If a team buy a good system even the worst team on paper can compete night in and night out.
I like the fact that Ron Wilson is calling out on players, and I don't care about his arrogance, as I don't pay attention on their personnalities. I'm waiting for results, and if this year they don't compete for a playoff spot well I will continue to dislike Ron Wilson.
I'm not just blaming the coach but if Wilson doesn't like Kaberle or vice versa I would much rather sign Kaberle for another 5 years and fire the coach, there's many other new coach with a new approach who could guide one of the youngest team in the nhl and give them confidence.
I think the main problem was firstly their goaltending, then the players not playing the coach system (where's the problem?) and then the forwards just playing aweful defensively. The rest of the blame was the product that was on the ice. |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 15:48:54
Beans i think you are absolutely right, kaberle will be traded ( if not before the season starts ) maybe 15 - 20 games in. yeah were off topic but an interesting conversation...who cares..lol. Wilsons calling out of players i have no problem with, its his attitude toward everything else, certain people, Canada itself, team canada, canadian hockey in general. The guy just can`t except the fact that we are the BEST !!! Even when we win in his eyes we didn`t deserve it. I think he is a real mammas ( sooky ) boy. As for Pat Qinn as a coach, he is too predictable, too easy for a good coach to read. He is so old school that his tactics don`t even come into play anymore. Same ole- Same-ole night in - night out, booorrring...yawnnnn. Same dumb comments to media every night, think its time to retire Pat. P.S...as for winning major tournaments, don`t forget these coaches have major players, They the best in the world at their fingertips, hard for any1 to screw that up. |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 13:05:49
Interesting, when Quinn was in TO I always disliked him because of this arrogance about him I felt was undeserved. When he was in Edmonton for the season, I found him very much to be the a-hole you spoke about. He maybe didn't call out specific players, but he sure didn't pull any punches.
Honestly, I would like to see a lot more of the "my way or the highway' attitudes from coaches, GM's, and owners. Honestly, many of these guys are multi-million dollar babies that get handled with kid gloves all the time. It's really a joke.
When a guy like Horcoff signs a deal like he did after being nearly a PPG player to scoring 36 points and being nearly dead last in the NHL in +/-, he should get called out. Really, that's one of the things I like about Wilson. He is an equal opportunity offender. He calls out who deserves it and doesn't apologize for it.
But I digress, sorry for going off topic. The NHL stories are a little dry these days. How about Tiger?????? |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 09:38:24
Well, although we are going off-topic here from Kaberle's worth, it is funny that you mention Quinn, one of the more successful Leaf coaches in the past 20 years. Sometimes, it is right place, right time, and the right players for your system/method of coaching.
Maybe Wilson shouldn't be coaching a young team with a fragile mental make-up in a media-brutal market like Toronto. I'd argue that Wilson on your Oilers would be just as ill a fit as Quinn is (I agree with you about him there - young team means you have to be a much more active coach).
Difference between Quinn and Wilson though, is that Quinn never came across as an a-hole, in all the time he spent in Toronto. He seemed like a curmudgeonly old guy, grumpy at times, but certainly never once bashed a player in public, and was very respectful and thoughtful and kind at times, in a quiet way.
Wilson comes across as a hard-ass most of the time, with a "my way or the highway" attitude over things of little importance, and certainly has come across as an a-hole many times.
Hard to judge, but I'll say this: Kaberle would enjoy playing for Quinn and your Oilers! 
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 09:16:05
Well, to each their own. It's pretty hard to argue that the Leafs are among the worst in the NHL for the past 2 seasons in both Goals Against and PP%. That being said, it is also pretty hard to argue the players are as big a part if not a bigger part than the coach. I mean, can someone expect a team to be able to be effective on the PP with literally 2 players (Kessel and Kaberle)?? As much as the defensemen are responsible for their piece of the pie, the Leafs really don't have a single defensive stalward in their top 12 forwards either.
Not like I am defending the guy to the end of the earth, but if you looked at the team in Washington he took to the finals as the team in SJ he took to the West finals, neither were complete jugernauts.
I guy needs a few tools to make the system work. As I said, I think TO is the worst team in the NHL by a lot in the past 2 seasons without Wilson. Although it's virtually impossible to prove.
As I said, to either their own. I will tell you, after having Quinn in Edmonton for just one season, I would take Wilson over him every time. He did nothing but look angry on the bench after a goal and give a few comments to the media. |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/23/2010 : 08:07:18
Not sure if I would give Wilson that much respect, Beans . . . especially when basing my opinion on performance. Specifically, I point to the defence last year, that even without Komisarek most of the year was supposed to be much, much better with a new coach and a great system. And where was the pp that was supposed to improve with Wilson? No matter the lack of talent or key injuries, bottom line, Wilson failed horribly at the two things he was supposed to be really good at fixing - defence, and the power play . . . in fact, it happened to be the two biggest sorespots (besides goaltending) for the Leafs.
No, I have to say Wilson so far is a big disappointment for me, so no, I certainly do not have to give him any respect - he hasn't earned one iota of it from me.
We do agree on one thing though, Beans - I think he will be dealt before Christmas, for all the reasons you outline.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Guest4271 |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 22:22:07
Personally, I think Wilson is the problem, just look at Toskala, got out of San Jose to get rid of Wilson, then they end up together again. And we know how that turned out, can't blame the goalie when the Maple Buds have not had a defense in 20 years, lmao |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 19:59:33
If Kaberle is not interested in resigning, he will be dealt well before the trade deadline. If Burke is going to get any value for him, it will not be at the deadline. 20ish games in there will be a team or two that is not performing as they should or there will be an injury and a deal will be made.
Rarely if ever has a team picked a player over a coach. When that has happened, it was for players that were tops in the league. No one is going to pick Kaberle over their coach. Secondly, as arrogant and mouthy as Ron Wilson is, the guy can flat out coach. I think in many respects, the Leafs would have been worse than Edmonton last season. Wilson also held their head up the year before too. He made it to the Cup final with Washington, the Conference finals with San Jose, won the 96 World Cup and won a Silver in Vancouver. The guy is not the issue in TO. Not at all.
Dislike him for his mouth and his arrogance, but give the respect where it is due. |
| Pasty7 |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 15:48:05
this may sound weird,,,, but say the Leafs are looking deal Kabby at the deadline,,(obviously this is only if the buds are not gonna make the playoffs) if say by chance the habs are not gonna make the playoffs this could seriously hurt the Leafs because if the habs by the deadline are not a playoff team that could put Markov on the market and deffinetly puts Hammirlik on the market,, and even could put Gill on the market,,,,, obviously only Markov of these three is a better d man than kabby,, but if Markov is available i could see kabbies value dropping depending on how many team are looking for a point producing d man, ,,, obviously they would go after markov first and may even go after Gill or Hammirlik before depending on the teams needs or how much the team is willing to give up to pad their d for a the playoffs
Pasty |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/22/2010 : 09:17:52
yes nuxfan, you are right. i don`t know what burke is at with this poor guy, just trade him and let him move on with his life. |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 18:23:46
Honestly Duke, this fiasco is all Burke's fault. He's been letting this "we may trade Kaberle" thing drag on for 2 years now, its ludicrous to treat one of your best players this way in the public eye. If you're gonna trade him, then just do it and be done -he's had 2 summers to "get fair value", and now it looks like he may lose him this summer for next to nothing. |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 18:20:51
quote:
nuxfan, if they want him for 11/12 and going forward, they'd almost certainly have to get him now to be sure? He may get traded and play out his contract to hit FA but what if the team who trades for him, gets him signed long term? I know there's prob others available in the same mold as Kaberle next year (and that may be why they pass on him) but if he's their target, surely they have to go after him now don't you think?
You would think. But looking at their squad, they look pretty set for the upcoming year - everyone is signed, they look well balanced, 13 forwards and 8 dmen. I'm not sure what they would be forced to give up to get Kaberle at this moment - they would have to shed the equivalent of Kaberle's salary going the other way because they're right up against the cap, and mess up what otherwise looks like a very good team already. |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/21/2010 : 15:24:52
Guess kaberles dad is pissed...can`t blame him i suppose seeing his son dangling like this every year, burke should have moved him for the best offer he had ( if it was reasonable ). I`d say his days in TO are numbered now for sure, how is he going to feel walking into the dressing room facing Ron the jerk Wilson. Yes, i can`t stand Ron Wilson and his personality, i think he is an arrogant bast...d. The only thing i do like about him is that it seems like his players do work hard. I guess the knocks i mentioned earlier against kaberle, ( lack of physical play ) are maybe playing a part in all of this between kab & wilson. Seems like wilson is riding him to get more physical and kaberle wants no part of that style of play.....too bad. |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 22:48:16
quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
I would agree, now is not the perfect time for DET to get Kaberle, they don't need him in 2010/11, but would probably go for him in time for 11/12
Lidstrom will almost certainly retire after this year, however Rafalski will be UFA and 38 the year after that. Getting Kaberle signed to a 4-5 year deal would be a good hedge in case they lose them both.
nuxfan, if they want him for 11/12 and going forward, they'd almost certainly have to get him now to be sure? He may get traded and play out his contract to hit FA but what if the team who trades for him, gets him signed long term? I know there's prob others available in the same mold as Kaberle next year (and that may be why they pass on him) but if he's their target, surely they have to go after him now don't you think? |
| Deaner |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 18:29:45
my prediction....kabby plays with leafs all next season we will all start talking about trades again by deadline day but nothing will happen...he wont re-sign and we will get nothing for him. he will go to the bruins or somewhere toronto hates and he will sign for 5.5 a year. i say burke should have traded him and taken the best offer he got....its a damn shame we have let our last two longest lasting leafs (Sundin, Kabby) get away for nothing, other than the years of good service that is.. |
| Leafs81 |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 12:23:44
or Burke could just fire Ron Wilson ;) |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 11:47:23
I would agree, now is not the perfect time for DET to get Kaberle, they don't need him in 2010/11, but would probably go for him in time for 11/12
Lidstrom will almost certainly retire after this year, however Rafalski will be UFA and 38 the year after that. Getting Kaberle signed to a 4-5 year deal would be a good hedge in case they lose them both.
|
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 10:22:48
Yes, Pittsburgh. I think that in the first 15-20 games they are going to realize how much Gonchar impacted that team, specifically on the PP. If Pitt tanks early, I would not be surprised to see them pitch hard for Kaberle.
Detroit I don't see. Maybe with Lidstrom possibly leaving next season. But with Rafalski and Kronwall able to fill those shoe at least a little....... |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 09:12:47
Interesting article indeed. I'd have to say at this point, that this changes things for me, and I have to think that the rumour of a rift between Wilson and Kaberle is real, which I didn't think before.
Well, we all know by now that a "no-trade clause" doesn't mean that much, and we had heard earlier about a list of about ten teams - that was before the trade deadline. So, perhaps that will be the direction they head towards.
Can anyone say . . . Detroit? Pittsburgh? I am guessing that both these teams would satisfy Kaberle, although Detroit's travel schedule is a minus.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 08/20/2010 : 08:42:39
Wow, interesting article. Now that he's worth nothing, maybe we can do a sign and trade and give them Wellwood back for him? Lol....
All kidding aside, i'm not so sure this diminishes his value. Even if Kaberle were to sit out, i don't see Burke as rushing into dealing him. His stubborness will take over and he'd sooner "sit on him" till a deal comes along he likes! Teams which were offering on him a week ago now have more time (if the rumour is true) to possibly tweak their deals to try to close something? There's even a slight possibility that Burke gets more now than a week ago as a team may just throw in an extra pick (likely a lower one) to try to get a deal done?
Speaking of Wellwood, i'm surprised no team has signed him, though admittedly, i don't know what he's after and whether or not there's been any interest to date? |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 08/19/2010 : 22:28:31
So apparently Kaberle's dad has stepped into things, and has claimed that Kaberle will be traded because of his "strained" relationship with Wilson. Article here:
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2010/08/19/15081591.html
I'm not really sure where this will end, but if enough things like this get said, Kaberle will exit TO fast. If he asks for a trade now, Burke is likely to get next to nothing for him. |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/18/2010 : 16:23:36
anyway Beans i love debating hockey, YES i agree with your last comments, kaberle would be a plus player on the Capitals. Again i`m not kicking kaberle, i like kaberle to a point, i just would rather more physical D-men on my team. Washington has a great team because they have great players....like i said great players make great teams. TO has had a lot of lousy players over the past few seasons, therefore a lousy team is the end result. Kaberle was not one of those lousy players though. chat again later.. |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 17:26:11
Well Duke, it's obvious that you missed the point I was trying to make. I was not comparing Gretzky or Howe to Kaberle in the least. My point was that Kaberle plays his style and he is good at it and changing that style would not be a wise decision. Much like telling Gretzky to dig in the corners or Howe to stop play physical hockey would not be a wise decision.
And you are correct, Nick Lidstrom has never been a (-)player. Again, I was comparing the physical play which was also missed.
And don't even start doing that 'great players make great teams' nonsense when talking about +/-. Do you think it's a fluke that 19 of the 25 Leaf skaters who played last season were (-) players?? On the flip side, do you think it's a fluke that that 20 of the 30 players on the President's Trophy winning Capitals were (+) players??
9 of the 15 worst +/- players in the NHL last season played for Edmonton or NYI and 10 of the 15 best +/- players last year played for either Washington or Vancouver.
The team has a bigger impact on +/- than the player. Do you think for one second that Jeff Schultz is +50 playing for the Leafs and that Kaberle is not a + player if he is with Washington???
|
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/17/2010 : 17:03:47
Yes Beans i agree N.Lidstrom has always been and still is a great defenseman...what year was he Minus - 16 though ?? Never maybe. Automatically people will say, Yeah but he played on Detroit...great players make great teams - not the other way around. If your going to bring up fowards in comparing player characteristics to kaberle, use M. Savard or M. Cammerelli maybe, not Gretzky or Howe for gods-sake. Like i said before, i`m not a kaberle Hater, ( i am a leaf fan by the way ) but i think more physical well rounded defenseman are more valuable to a hockey team than a one demensional hockey player. If a defenseman doesn`t hit, doesn`t another D-man have to do that job for him ? |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 22:40:07
I'm not so sure the SJ offer was just a rumour. It's possible, but i could see them offering that package up as they have been shopping Clowe with the number of forwards they have. They also might see him as a piece to put them over the top in their cup quest which as far as "windows of opportunity" go, is closing fast!
At the same time, i know Burke is stubborn and quite possibly in his mind, the package wasn't enough? |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 21:13:04
Who cares if Kaberle don't knock people around. I don't recall Nick Lidstrom ever leaning on anyone let alone lay anyone out and he was an alright defensemen, right??
And tell me any NHL fan of any team who doesn't yell at the TV for their PP quarterback to shoot the puck. Truth is, when you are as talented and productive as Kaberle, no one should judge when you are shooting and when you are not unless you are crusty old man with either Wilson or Burke as your last name.
Kaberle is the kind if player he is and like any other player has his strengths and weaknesses. No one was asking Gretzky to dig in the corners or Howe to lay off the elbows a little bit were they??
Kaberle does exactly what he gets paid to do and does it well. A debate is 2 sided. This argument is not. |
| Guest4803 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 20:29:29
the rumor from tampa bay was that malone was actually the player offfered but there was no pick involved so burke didnt want any part of it. According to Andy Stickland. |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 17:46:32
P.S...yes the Clowe deal would have been good but i think that was just a rumor. S.J think a lot over him and i don`t think he was offered to the leafs or burke would have pulled the trigger. |
| The Duke |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 17:41:07
Anyway i started a good debate ( kaberle`s value ), every1 jumped in, thats good. I`m not a kaberle hater...i just see more value in a defenseman who will knock the opposing forward ( in front of his own net ) on his a$$ more often instead of engaging in a group hug. No doubt kaberle can handle the puck...but i`m sure as a leaf fan you have cursed as i have watching him hold the puck at the blueline shouting to yourself SHOOOOOOT the F - ing puck...lol. I think that Carl Gunn. will be better than what half the leafs defenseman are right now. Leafs only had 3 D-men above water last year in the plus-minus dept...Phaneuf @ plus 1,,, Shenn @ plus 2,,,Gunnar @ plus 8....Mr. Kaberle @ MINUS..16 SCARY...don`t forget they ALL played for the same team...its nice to make a pretty pass which leads to a goal BUT when you don`t lean on guys in your end YOU JUST GIVE THAT GOAL BACK....therefore the lousy plus/minus. |
| leafsfan_101 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 13:20:04
From what I know, any player in the AHL does not have his salary count against the cap. Also, unless the player is on a 2 - way contract or is under a specified age (which I think is 23) than they can be sent down without clearing waivers, otherwise the player needs to clear waivers before being sent down.
As Tiller said, not many teams can afford to pay an AHL scrub 3.5 mil. The Leafs can, and they most likely will with Finger. |
| Leafs81 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 12:23:57
We already talked about this Patsy. Yes according to capgeek they have 2.2 but according to nhl numbers they have around 3.8. The 1.5 million or so of difference is just the result of calculating the bonus differently. I think cap geek goes by saying if all the bonuses are paid this would be the cap space they have. And where nhl numbers are calculating the cap space before the bonuses. Anyway they have roughly around 3 millions in cap space right now.
Also I don't know much about burying contracts but I thought you could put a player in the AHL for a whole season, that player would get paid his full contract but since he didn't play any game in the NHL the salary wont go against the cap. The reason for not many teams doing it with the big contracts players, its because the team just can't afford to pay a guy 3 or 4 millions to play in the AHL. Some teams can and Toronto is one of them.
I don't think you need to go through all the waivers before putting a player in the AHL. But I could very well be wrong, and if somebody knows please share... |
| Pasty7 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 09:44:52
quote:
Originally posted by leafsfan_101
Agree 100% with Leafs81. Finger is the smart guy to move out and clear up the 3.5 mil due to him next season, giving the Leafs about 7 mil leeway on the cap.
They still need another top 6 forward, but things sure do look more promising than last season.
according to Capgeek the Leafs have just over 2 million in cap space now,, correct me if i'm wrong but you can't bury contracts in the minors without consequences,, i mean why do teams not do this if it was as easy as... "oh we'll just bury his contract in the minors" it seems to me and again i could be wrong but to send a guy like finger down he has to clear waviers,, (i assume he will because noone will pick up the who 3.5 million contract he is getting) then once in the minors part of his salary still counts against the cap, in order to bring him back to the big leagues he has to pass through re entry waviers and then some other team can pick him up for half his contract and the other half still counts against the leafs cap,,, somebody do correct me if i'm wrong,,, and if the leafs buy him out it clears the leafs up 2.33 million in cap space putting the leafs cap space at rougly 4.35 million not 7
Pasty |
| leafsfan_101 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 09:14:38
Agree 100% with Leafs81. Finger is the smart guy to move out and clear up the 3.5 mil due to him next season, giving the Leafs about 7 mil leeway on the cap.
They still need another top 6 forward, but things sure do look more promising than last season. |
| Leafs81 |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 08:14:01
I'm glad that Kaberle stays, I am looking forward to a season of him playing on the point with Phaneuf. This should help the powerplay greatly. Now Burke just needs to work on extending his contract. If he can't that's where we lose.
The only thing is like Slozo said we now have 8 starting defenseman. So the obvious good thing to do is to bury Finger's contract in the AHL, and then split the time between Gunnarson and Lebda when every defenseman are healthy. If injuries hit Toronto defense then I think Aullie could step up. |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/16/2010 : 06:00:21
Well, first off, these deals are purely heresay, and we must remember that the Clowe deal is brought to us by the ridiculous Ekland.
That being said, I agree with Beans, and this is as a LEafs fan looking for the best value back - Downie, I wouldn't have taken either, as Beans said we also don't need Ranger and his headaches. The Ribeiro thing . . . . I don't know, I wouldn't have been unhappy at all with Ribeiro, but I see where Burke is coming from by not getting him.
Clowe, however, I would have jumped at . . . and I would scratch my head at why Burke wouldn't have grabbed that as well.
Which is why I give that rumour no credence whatsoever. 
I am surprised that Kaberle is still here, I will say that much. The Lebda signing looks very, very odd now . . . and we have 8 starting defencemen, so a trade has to happen in the future you'd think.
In the end though, I like our defence, but will not crow about how great it is or about how happy I am with it until December, when they have a good amount of games under their belt. Once bitten, twice as shy (after the horrid start last year) . . .
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 23:21:37
Is Burke really an idiot?? Ranger didn't play at all last season, He is an headcase of some kind or there are some other issues involved. So, the deal was ultimately Downie, which is not the player Burke is looking for, and a pick but not an asssured 1st round pick.
The Clowe deal is significantly better than that!! Downie for Kaberle?? Not in this lifetime. |
| Guest4803 |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 22:34:29
oh well the best part now is that the leafs will get absouletly nothing for kaberle, i hope he denies any future trade request pulling a sundin on the leafs after the way they have treated him over the past year and a half. If TB actually offered that package for kaberle burke is an idiot for not accepting it. |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 21:04:03
That TB deal looks pretty sweet IMO, if it is fact. If that is not enough for Burke, then I'm pretty sure Kaberle is staying put and Burke is asking too much.
Even Clowe and a pick, if its true....man, what is Burke looking for in return here? |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 20:57:53
Here is some stuff that I have read:
- Tampa Bay offered Downie, Ranger, and a 1st rounder. Burke wanted a completely unprotected 1st round pick which Yzerman was not willing to give up.
-San Jose offered Clowe and a pick. Apparently Ekland said a deal was done, so obviously there is not hope that Kaberle is going to the Sharks
-Dallas offered a player and a pick if Kaberle resigned and if Kaberle didn't resign, TO sent a pick to Dallas. I am thinking it was Riberio as he has been offered to every team in the league (literally)
-The Kings want him but don't want to give up what Burke wants. Apparently LA has offered Willie Mitchell a 2 year deal.
|
| Beans15 |
Posted - 08/15/2010 : 20:47:31
I think one has to be specific when they say, 'move the puck." If my skating the puck through the neutral zone, absolutely Kaberle is one of the elite in the league. Passing it through?? Not the best. Well above average, but when you have guys like Pronger, Lidstrom, et al, Kaberle is not elite in that department.
However, that is not intended to slag the guy in any way. I would emphatically disagree with the opinion that most GM's don't want him because they did not trade for him. They all want him, but none can afford him. The asking price is simply too much for a player who is potentially a 1 year investment. Burke would have been better suited to look at signing him to a 4ish year deal for a reasonable number and then trade him. No one wants a 1 year Kaberle and without some kind of assurance he is staying, no one will give up a big scoring forward and a draft pick like Burke was apparently asking for.
Don't kid yourself about Kaberle, every GM would like him on their team. Including Burke. Unfortunately, wanting a player and being able to have a player is rarely the same.
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