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REPORT: KABERLE WILL NOT RE-SIGN WITH TORONTO IF WILSON REMAINS |
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Per TSN.ca ( http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=331099 )
Maple Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle would welcome a trade and reportedly won't return to Toronto when his contract ends next season as long as Ron Wilson is the coach, according to Kaberle's own father.
According to the Toronto Sun, Frantisek Kaberle Sr., Tomas' father, told Czech hockey magazine Hokej this week that despite the fact that his son has a no-trade clause that kicked in earlier in the week, he doesn't see his son playing for the Leafs for the entire season.
"I think that during the course of the year he will be traded to another club," Karberle said. "There is only one chance for Toronto to get something back in return for Tomas now. In my opinion, I can't see Tomas entering a new contract with Toronto. Not if Ron Wilson continues to be employed there."
For a deal to happen, the defenceman would have to tell the team which clubs he would allow a trade to. In the meantime, Kaberle's father expects his son to remain quiet on all the potential trade talk.
"I think that Tomas won't even comment on (trade possibilities) anymore.", the elder Kaberle said. "He is content in Toronto with both the club and the city.
"I still think though that some change would be welcomed."
Kaberle Sr., also weighed in on how the Maple Leafs rebuilding efforts might be hampered by the passion and expectations of 'Leafs Nation'.
"I have been following Toronto for a long time," he said. “I didn't believe it much in the beginning, but it seems that the best players don't want to go to this club.
"The reason is because of the huge pressure from the fans, and especially the media. Not every hockey player is able to deal with it."
This article from the Czech Republic has been circulating around the blogosphere the last few days, to the point of spending a decent amount of time pasting sections of it into an online Czech to English translator.
The revelation of Kaberle’s father that Wilson and Kaberle do not get along is not exactly a state secret. Wilson has critiqued Kaberle(and other players) by name in post-game press conferences since he was hired in Toronto. He also began reducing Kaberle’s usual 20+ minutes of ice time in the second half of the season, giving more shifts to youngsters Luke Schenn and power play time to Carl Gunnarsson, Dion Phaneuf and Francois Beauchemin.
If the assertions of Frantisek Kaberle are correct, that his son will not sign a contract extension as long as Ron Wilson remains and the stances of Rick Curran and GM Brian Burke stay status quo, then the Mats Sundin-like scenario will be fully realized. #15 will play out his last year in Toronto and leave for greener pa$tures and Toronto will let another valuable asset leave and have nothing to show for it.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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