Kaberle Remains a Leaf

If you’re watching for National Hockey League news, you’ll find today is like most summer days; inactive and void of good, relevant reading. But if you’re a Toronto fan, today is the day that defenseman Tomas Kaberle remains a Maple Leaf and you’ve at least something to ponder over your morning cup of coffee.

But is this non-blip on the NHL newswire really relevant? The fact Kaberle’s no-trade clause remains unexercised after opening for a brief period during the off-season sounds like pretty immaterial stuff. But at the very least, Leafs fans should care, and here’s why:

In Kaberle, the Leafs keep hold of an all-star, power-play quarterback for a relatively cheap cap hit of $4,250,000 per year. And at only 32, Kaberle is in the prime of his career, providing good bang for Toronto’s buck.

But despite Kaberle’s assets, notably being a top-notch offensive defenseman, who actually tied for eighth place among defensemen in points last year, there’s a consensus amongst the droves of Torontians navigating their way into this evening. Many are undoubtedly grumbling Kaberle is a selfish millionaire who’s been unwilling to waive his no-trade clause much to the detriment of the Leafs.

All the while, there’s a general lack of understanding that despite his being in the prime of his career, he’s not as attractive as a 25-year-old player of equal caliber whose value will only go up. As a result Burke asking for a top-six forward, presumably a young one, in exchange for Kaberle is an iced up pipe dream, a waste of time and something that’s just not going to happen.

Fortunately, these bellyachers can take comfort in the fact Kaberle’s contract expires next year and that he’ll likely be packing come next summer because there’s little reason for him to stay in a city that doesn’t want him... unless or course it’s to nix another potential Jeff Carter and a first-round pick trade as one final parting shot.

So it’s clear Leafs fans have a lot to be divided over.

1) There are those who are disappointed but resigned to keep Kaberle, aware that there wasn’t much of a chance for general manager Brian Burke to trade for what he was looking for: a top-six forward and a prospect or high draft pick.

2) And those calling for Burke’s head skewered snugly atop the CN Tower – and that of Kaberle as well - who don’t realize there wasn’t a chance in hell Burke was going to fish out the trade he was looking for.

Regardless, Monday morning Kaberle remains a Leaf for another year. But Toronto could certainly be in a worse position: barring any changes, they boast one of the deepest defensive corps in the league. And Leafs fans seem to have overlooked the fact that previous Burke winners, like the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, have been built from the defence out.

Burke is asking for trust and patience from Toronto fans. Instead he’s getting insults from the Leaf nation, members of which, despite their hearted efforts, speak first, ask questions later, and according to the Montrealer I met at the bar last night, don’t even think at all.

So, a word of advice to Leafs fans: let Burke do his job. No one likes a Monday morning quarterback... or in this case a Monday morning post-Kaberle-trade-watch gm.