Tomas Kaberle isn't likely to go anywhere.
While Kaberle has provided the Leafs with a list of 10 teams he'd prefer to be dealt to in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, Leafs GM Brian Burke sounds as if he'd rather keep the skilled, puck-moving defenceman.
"I like this guy. Bet on him staying," Burke told the Star yesterday.
Kaberle – who remains on the injured reserve list with a broken right hand – says he'd rather stay.
"My main focus is being a Leaf," said Kaberle. "I love being a Leaf. That's how it stands. I want to do my best here."
Kaberle, who had his cast removed and skated prior to the main Leafs practice, was clearly uncomfortable talking about the prospect of being traded. Those who know him socially say he loves playing hockey in this city.
Kaberle refused to waive his no-trade clause last season, when interim GM Cliff Fletcher had worked out a deal to send him to Philadelphia for Jeff Carter and a first-round pick. Kaberle was taking his cues then from Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe, Darcy Tucker and Pavel Kubina – all of whom refused to waive their no-trade clauses.
This year, with a new regime in place, things have changed. Only Kubina and Kaberle remain from that five. Both have softened their stances on waiving their clause.
"If I'm not a part of the future, I won't mind to waive my no-trade clause," said Kaberle, echoing Kubina's comments from Sunday. "You don't want to do anything (to stand in the way) if you're not part of the team in the future.
"I want to play for the Leafs and win the Stanley Cup. If it's not going to happen, then I have to move on."
If the Leafs fail to make the playoffs – a likely scenario this year – there are clauses in both Kubina's and Kaberle's contracts that will allow Burke to trade them this summer without their consent. In that case, they'd have no control over their destiny.
By providing a list of 10 teams – mandated by Burke – they maintain some control.
"Two keys," Burke wrote in an email. "One, Kaberle wants to stay. He could not be clearer. Two, (it's) hard to believe I will get what I need to move this guy. (He's a) quality person, great stats, good salary.
"I did not ask him to waive no-trade. (His) agent suggested looking at this vehicle because it allows him and Tomas to retain some level of control over where he goes. If we miss the playoffs, he has no control over where he goes."
The Leafs don't have another defenceman with Kaberle's skill set – a strong ability to pass or carry the puck and to anchor the power play. The power play – rated 12th in the league – is one of the team's rare bright spots. In addition, Kaberle is only 30 and under contract for another two seasons after this one at the cap-friendly price of $4.25 million (U.S.).
It promises to be a bumpy ride for this team that is closer to the bottom than the playoffs. Burke is likely to be among the busiest general managers heading into the March 4 trade deadline. In addition to Kubina and Kaberle in the trade speculation, it's widely believed pending unrestricted free agents Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore could be on the move.
In any deal, the Leafs will be looking to restock some of the 2009 and 2010 draft picks they've traded away. They've already parted with a second-rounder (part of the deal to land Luke Schenn), a fourth-rounder (part of the Vesa Toskala deal) and a fifth-rounder (Ryan Hollweg) this year and a second-rounder (the Mikhail Grabovski deal) and fourth-rounder (the Mike Van Ryn deal) in 2010.
"All I can really foresee in this is (acquiring) draft picks," coach Ron Wilson said. "We have to build this team through the draft."
While Kaberle has provided the Leafs with a list of 10 teams he'd prefer to be dealt to in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause, Leafs GM Brian Burke sounds as if he'd rather keep the skilled, puck-moving defenceman.
"I like this guy. Bet on him staying," Burke told the Star yesterday.
Kaberle – who remains on the injured reserve list with a broken right hand – says he'd rather stay.
"My main focus is being a Leaf," said Kaberle. "I love being a Leaf. That's how it stands. I want to do my best here."
Kaberle, who had his cast removed and skated prior to the main Leafs practice, was clearly uncomfortable talking about the prospect of being traded. Those who know him socially say he loves playing hockey in this city.
Kaberle refused to waive his no-trade clause last season, when interim GM Cliff Fletcher had worked out a deal to send him to Philadelphia for Jeff Carter and a first-round pick. Kaberle was taking his cues then from Mats Sundin, Bryan McCabe, Darcy Tucker and Pavel Kubina – all of whom refused to waive their no-trade clauses.
This year, with a new regime in place, things have changed. Only Kubina and Kaberle remain from that five. Both have softened their stances on waiving their clause.
"If I'm not a part of the future, I won't mind to waive my no-trade clause," said Kaberle, echoing Kubina's comments from Sunday. "You don't want to do anything (to stand in the way) if you're not part of the team in the future.
"I want to play for the Leafs and win the Stanley Cup. If it's not going to happen, then I have to move on."
If the Leafs fail to make the playoffs – a likely scenario this year – there are clauses in both Kubina's and Kaberle's contracts that will allow Burke to trade them this summer without their consent. In that case, they'd have no control over their destiny.
By providing a list of 10 teams – mandated by Burke – they maintain some control.
"Two keys," Burke wrote in an email. "One, Kaberle wants to stay. He could not be clearer. Two, (it's) hard to believe I will get what I need to move this guy. (He's a) quality person, great stats, good salary.
"I did not ask him to waive no-trade. (His) agent suggested looking at this vehicle because it allows him and Tomas to retain some level of control over where he goes. If we miss the playoffs, he has no control over where he goes."
The Leafs don't have another defenceman with Kaberle's skill set – a strong ability to pass or carry the puck and to anchor the power play. The power play – rated 12th in the league – is one of the team's rare bright spots. In addition, Kaberle is only 30 and under contract for another two seasons after this one at the cap-friendly price of $4.25 million (U.S.).
It promises to be a bumpy ride for this team that is closer to the bottom than the playoffs. Burke is likely to be among the busiest general managers heading into the March 4 trade deadline. In addition to Kubina and Kaberle in the trade speculation, it's widely believed pending unrestricted free agents Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore could be on the move.
In any deal, the Leafs will be looking to restock some of the 2009 and 2010 draft picks they've traded away. They've already parted with a second-rounder (part of the deal to land Luke Schenn), a fourth-rounder (part of the Vesa Toskala deal) and a fifth-rounder (Ryan Hollweg) this year and a second-rounder (the Mikhail Grabovski deal) and fourth-rounder (the Mike Van Ryn deal) in 2010.
"All I can really foresee in this is (acquiring) draft picks," coach Ron Wilson said. "We have to build this team through the draft."
No comments:
Post a Comment