TORONTO (July 1) — More than 47 years after refusing to add him to their negotiating list, the Maple Leafs have finally signed Orr… but not the 61-year-old hall of fame defenseman that may have been the best player to ever lace it up in the National Hockey League. It’s very likely that Bobby Orr, at his age, has more of a skill set than brawler Colton Orr, who the Leafs inked to a four year, $4 million deal today. Back in 1962, the Leafs were urged, in a letter, to visit the 14-year-old wunderkind at his home in Parry Sound, Ont., but politely refused. Not long afterward, the Boston Bruins paid that call and won two Stanley Cups as a result.

Colton Orr will fight for the Leafs on nights when there is nothing else to cheer for.

Which could be often.

But, Brian Burke isn’t finished today… stay tuned. Chris Neil is still on his radar.

There is now word that Pavel Kubina could be on his way to Atlanta for rugged forward Colby Armstrong, another player that fits Burke's mold.

Richmond Hill's Mike Cammalleri is also in the mix, but he'll have offers from teams further ahead in development than the Leafs. Only a blow-away financial overture from Burke, or an insatiable desire to play in his home town, will prompt Cammalleri to sign here. He'd be a nice first step for Burke, but is not the type of player you build a team around.

Among defensemen on the market, Michael Komisarek is getting lots of action and has to be the favorite of Burke for his physical edge. But, there's plenty of competition to sign him.

Sportsnet.ca is reporting an issue I've heard a fair amount about in the past hour: That the Tomas Kaberle-to-Boston scenario is far from dead. Remember, the Bruins are looking to trade Phil Kessel before they have to re-sign him, because they won't have room under the cap for all of their young players. I mentioned last Friday in Montreal that a one-off deal, Kaberle for Kessel, is a smart, fair and logical move for both sides. I believe Burke and Peter Chiarelli are using that as a basis to continue negotiations.

And, though the Kubina-to-Atlanta talks have quieted for the moment, it would be a major bonus for the Leafs to deal the defenseman's $5 million contract. That extra cap room could come in very handy this summer, or at the trade deadline next March.

E-mail howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

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