Posts tagged Eager
Can the Leafs Fleece the Blackhawks?
Jun 12th
As we all know by now, the Chicago Blackhawks are the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions. As we also all know by now, the Chicago Blackhawks are neck-deep in cap hell. If by some strange twist of fate you have no idea what I’m talking about, this article should give you a pretty good idea of just how much trouble they’re in for next season.
Okay, good job, by now you really should be officially informed of the Blackhawks improbable chances at competing hard for a dynasty next season. But hey, they’re the defending Stanley Cup Champs, they’ve gotta make another run. That’s where in a perfect world, the Leafs jump right into play.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in pretty clear need of offensive help, especially considering the barren offense core currently set in place for next season, and especially considering that if they repeat the 29th-place performance of this season next year, well, let’s just say it might be pretty hard to forgive Brian Burke for trading away three great picks for one great player. But Kessel controversy aside, the Blackhawks are full of offensive depth, and full of guys that they will be forced to deal this off-season due to, as stated earlier, unbelievable salary cap issues.
The problem with poaching pieces of the defending Champs and bringing them to T-dot, however, is that the Leafs quite frankly don’t have much to give. What the Blackhawks are looking for is cheap players who can contribute immediately, and for the most part those players have to be forwards. The Leafs do however possess an asset here or there that hypothetically Chi-town would be interested in and able to fit into their line-up, so conceivably a deal could be done. More >
Where Can Kabby Go?
Jun 4th
So, its June and the year is 2008 or later. You guys all know the drill. Tomas Kaberle probably used his no trade clause at the trade deadline, and speculation runs wild that the Leafs will trade him at the draft, particularly this year where the pick cupboard is particularly low. The particular opinion is that the Leafs want a top six forward and secondary toughness in return, in an effort to shore up a particularly ailing forward system on a team filled to the brim with defencemen and goaltending for the first time since the birth of Chris Chelios (273 BC).
At this point, everyone agrees that no matter how much we respect Kaberle for being one of the top all time defencemen on this team in terms of contribution, for being far and away the longest serving Leaf left (he’s the only player that was on the roster before October 2008. Yes, you read that right), for being classy as can be during his tenure, for consistantly being an awesome defenceman, and about a thousand things great about him, its his time to go. Dion Phaneuf has come in and declared the team his, essentially making it clear that anyone who disagrees can jump off a bridge. Francois Beauchemin had a solid year. Komisarek, when healthy, was very good after the first few weeks. Luke Schenn had a weak start to the year, but has been evolving at hyperspeed since Dion came in. Carl Gunnarsson has shown amazing strides in his play. And the Leafs have a million and one defensive prospects willing to force Jeff Finger into the AHL. Kaberle is just simply the odd one out.
There is a question that concerns many though – and that’s who would be wanting a player like Kaberle? As great as he is, there are definite concerns in such a trade.
1. How does the other team look for salary?
1a. Do they have a lot of players to sign already? High cap space may not be as good as appears.
2. Do they have enough forward depth to be able to trade someone solid away?
3. Would Kaberle be a first pairing defenceman on the team?
4. Would Kaberle be the #1 puck moving defenceman on the team?
5. Is the team in a position where they’d want to be acquiring a Kaberle to win?
6. How badly would they require Kaberle to sign an extension? And
7. Would Kaberle want to sign an extension there?
I took these 8 categories, and put them in to a chart, to see if it gives a reasonably accurate portrayal of who I thought could aquire Tomas. This is what came out of it.
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