LOS ANGELES (Aug. 16) – The mirage that was the Tomas Kabrele trade hysteria came to a merciful end Sunday night with a predictable result. The talented but low-impact defenseman – a middling factor on hockey’s second-worst team – is staying put… just as Brian Burke repeatedly insisted he would in the absence of a monumental overture. This is not a failing on Burke’s part, or the slightest betrayal of his word; only the hopes and dreams of countless Leaf supporters presupposed a colossal return for the Czech blue-liner.
As this corner pointed out several times, the market for Kaberle was never amenable to such a windfall – nor should it have been, given the decline in his performance, and the fact he’ll be seeking a lucrative new contract that will take him well beyond his “best-before” date as an NHLer.
During this Internet-driven fiasco, Burke could have “gotten rid” of Kaberle several times over, but he made it clear to anyone willing to listen that he wasn’t conducting an auction. Instead, it was routinely Burke’s contention that Kaberle would best serve the hockey club by playing out the final year of his current pact, thereby offering the 2010-11 Maple Leafs an improved chance of vying for a playoff spot. Remember, double-B wants to win now, not five years from now. He believes Kaberle offers him value and benefit in that pursuit, and it's largely why he retained the veteran Leaf past the summer trade window. Whether Kaberle can legitimize such confidence is clearly the prime argument here; not whether Burke should have dealt him to enliven the off-season.
The fact the Leafs may have a surplus of cap room tied up in defensemen right now is mildly troublesome, but will work itself out. Injuries look after such concerns.
Some followers of the Blue & White are woebegone over the possibility of Kaberle abandoning the club without return next July. It’s hard to fathom such a disaster. Clearly, it would mean the end of the franchise; perhaps even the world as we know it. The “lost opportunity” is irreparable, and will have an earth-shattering impact on the organization.
If this weren't so laughable, it would be heartrending.
Truth be known, Burke hasn’t lost his final chance to peddle Kaberle. Much can happen before the trade deadline next March, but let’s suppose the Leafs are in their usual predicament – well beyond legitimate playoff contention – and Kaberle remains a pending free agent.
At all prior trade deadlines, the defenseman upheld his no-movement privilege with the thought of finishing his career in Toronto. He had at least one more season left on his current pact. Now, he’d have one month of hockey remaining on the extension he signed in 2006, with virtually no chance of skating again for the Blue & White. Even a player as stubborn as Kaberle would understand the jig is finally up in Toronto, and would reasonably entertain the notion of joining a Stanley Cup contender. He could then either remain with that club, or seek alternatives on the open market several months later. Most assuredly, the impetus for staying put would no longer exist.
This circumstance would require Burke to abandon his position of refusing to ask players to waive contract privileges, but a third year out of the Cup chase under double-B would easily justify such an about-face.
The flip-side, of course, is that the Leafs show marked improvement this season and Kaberle plays a cardinal role in that ascent. Under such a circumstance, there will be no appetite to unload any integral component of the team at the March deadline, and the two sides will likely warm to the idea of prolonging their alliance. Should that be the case, those in mourning today will magically have a change of heart.
My advice to Leaf supporters is this: Turn your attention to the dates of July 7, 2009 and Jan. 31, 2010. On the former, Burke lured Jonas Gustavsson out of Sweden. On the latter, he traded for Jean-Sebastien Giguere. These moves offset the terrible management decision to entrust Vesa Toskala with the netminding chores at the beginning of last season, thereby prompting an historic lapse from the gate. If you want to criticize Burke, remind him of that colossal blunder. But, don’t fret over his unwillingness to trade Tomas Kaberle.
This summer’s sensation will have no impact on the long-term future of the hockey club.
Absolutely none.
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