With the Tomas Kaberle sweepstakes appearing to be approaching their bitter, internet riot-like conclusion, there is still one key part that has passed us all, and its really the most pressing – the issue of which team will be the one that obtains him before the Sunday night deadline. We know there are a bazillion (well, double digits, thought to be 11-12), teams interested, and we know that the offers expected are high. But who exactly is left to make the best offers? The landscape has changed from the time of our least two articles. Here’s my breakdown. No KaberleMeter this time, rather a throwback to the ties of youth, a game of Guess Who.

1. Does your team have the cap space? Teams close to the max generally aren’t looking at players that go for 4.25 million a year, even if they’re shipping something similar back.  This is where we cut out most of the fat.

2. Would Kaberle be clear cut (aka, by a fairly decent margin) a first pair defenceman? Example of a case where he isn’t, that’s been eliminated – Hamhuis – Ballard in Vancouver. One could argue him over Ballard, but its not an easy choice. Same goes for, say Pittsbugh with Martin and Michalek. Without spoilers, more cuts.

3. Would Kaberle be the definitive #1 puck mover? Everyone knows that’s the biggest part of acquiring him, so he has to be ahead by a considerable margin.

4. Does the team have expendable forwards? If their depth isn’t of a high caliber, then there’s probably reason to assume weariness to trade anybody.

5. And lastly, does the team appear to be in a potential playoff position?  No point in picking up someone who’s contract can expire on you before you have a chance to use him.

This leaves us with…

Now that we have ourselves down to a healthy eight teams, that all are in the realm of possiblity, lets break it down.

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards Potentially Available: Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford. Not all of them, but possibly one, maybe two, at once.
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Needs an impact offensive defenceman, can help mentor Tyler Myers into offensive game.

Boston Bruins

Forwards Potentially Available: Marc Savard, Michael Ryder, Blake Wheeler
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Would be absolutely deadly on a powerplay with Zdeno Chara.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards Potentially Available: Ryan Malone, Vincent Lecavalier (if more is added on Leafs end)
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Mentoring Hedman With Offence, Mentoring Hedman With Offence, Mentoring Hedman With Offence, Mentoring Hedman With Offence, could be top tier defenceman team needs to make playoffs

Columbus Blue Jackets

Forwards Potentially Available: Derek Brassard, Kristain Huselius, Nikita Filatov (if previous issues aren’t in the past)
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: May just be best defenceman in team history if he is acquired, no major defensive prospects in system.

Dallas Stars

Forwards Potentially Available: Mike Ribeiro
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Helps them shed salary – team is in financial crisis of sorts. Lets Niskanen further improve his game.

St. Louis Blues

Forwards Potentially Available: Brad Boyes, Andy McDonald,
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Offensive element to go with shutdown-centric lineup.

New Jersey Devils

Forwards Potentially Available: Brian Rolston, Jamie Langenbrunner, Dainus Zubrus
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Mindblowing pair with Kovalchuk on PP1, saving money for upcoming Kovalchuk contract.

Contract Extension With The Leafs

Forwards Potentially Available: Whatever’s left on free agency?
Reasoning for Wanting Kaberle: Been here forever, would be great on the PP with Phaneuf, will likely stay here and extend, probably better than the potential return.

In the end, we have no clue what’s going to go down tommorrow. Hopefully, it’ll be interesting. All I know, is I’ll be sitting back, waiting for the first legitimate person to report the story, and not holding my breath until then.