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Posts Tagged ‘Tomas Kaberle’
The Blake Wheeler arbitration decision will come today. So we will find out how much money Wheeler got and if he will be a Boston Bruin for much longer. The Bruins have the option of keeping him, letting him go to free agency, or signing him and then trading him.
The main knock on Wheeler is that he does not use his size. That is not too big of a problem in my opinion because he is still young, he can still learn how to more effectively use his large body. Furthermore, I think he will gain say 15 more pounds and really be able to throw that weight around. In other words he will grow into his body.
This is one big domino because the Boston Bruins have very little cap space. Of course by putting Sturm on the LTIR his cap hit will not count and that will mean Boston should have plenty of space to sign him.
However, if the money is too much the Bruins may get rid of him to be fiscally prudent. Personally I expect him to get $2.4 million per year as he is not as good as Mason Raymond so a bit less is reasonable.
The reason this would be a domino is that the Bruins have been trying very hard to get Tomas Kaberle to pair him up with Zdeno Chara. I can see the attraction, but no cap space means Wheeler can be a big bargaining chip along with Mark Stuart as a starting point. It is interesting but I don’t see it happening, especially if the Leafs can get Ryan Clowe.
However if they start offering Wheeler the trade winds can start blowing as they have been quieter than usual this offseason (minus the dismantling of the Stanley Cup Champions). So will they? This becomes a question.
I think it more likely they offer Bergeron to free up the cap space. The reason I mention Bergeron is his cap hit this year is quite large at a bit over $5 million. This would allow them to sign some of the free agents still floating around.
Another reason is that they have a glut of centres but a lack of wing depth, so why deal Wheeler? Makes much more sense to deal the overpaid, underperforming centre for just cap space.
In the end though I expect the Bruins to just stand pat. They will do nothing, just accept the Wheeler arbitration. However once the number comes in the teams will know what to expect for their own arbitration eligible players and will adjust accordingly. This is the main domino that will fall.
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NHL Buzz: Tuesday, July 27th
27, Jul 2010A lot is going on in the NHL right now, here I will start with the news followed by the rumors.
NEWS
The New York Rangers have signed forward Alex Frolov to a one-year deal worth $3 million. Personally, I think this is a good signing by the Rangers. Frolov is one of the most talented players in the league but sometimes he has trouble getting going. Playing on a wing with Marion Gaborik and having John Tortorella as head coach should help out with that.
The New York Islanders avoided arbitration with Matt Moulson as he signed a one-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. The money is perfect in my opinion as he is getting the same amount of money as Mayson Raymond, who had only a few less goals.
According to Washington Capitals beat writer Tarik El-Bashir, Capitals GM George McPhee has said that the Capitals are likely heading to arbitration tomorrow with Tomas Fleischmann.
RUMORS
As we all know, the Kings went into the offseason looking for a big-name forward.
They tried to sign Ilya Kovalchuk and that didn’t work. After that, they tried to trade for Simon Gagne and that also didn’t work. Finally, they turned their attention back to trying to re-sign Alex Frolov and that didn’t work either.
The Kings’ No. 1 priority right now is to acquire a top-six forward. Rumor has it Marc Savard is still a possibility.
With the Rangers announcing the signing of Alex Frolov to a one-year deal worth $3 million, they find themselves still trying to re-sign RFA Marc Staal. The problem is they only have $1.5 million in cap space. Look for the Rangers to try and clear a bit of cap space fast as they do not want to lose Marc Staal to an offer sheet.
According to multiple media outlets, the Minnesota Wild are looking at defenseman Willie Mitchell.
Several sources have told me that Andy Sutton has narrowed his possible destinations to two or three teams. Multiple sources have informed me that the Anaheim Ducks are among them.
All signs point towards Teemu Selanne returning to the Ducks next season, and rumor has it, his old friend Paul Kariya would be interested in joining him.
According to Brian Burke, the offers are not good enough for Tomas Kaberle yet. He has stated to up the offers for Kaberle because he has no problem keeping him.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy.
This article and more can be found at MTRMedia.com
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Why A Tomas Kaberle Deal Is Taking So Long
26, Jul 2010According to TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to turn on the Tomas Kaberle pressure cooker on August 1. That is the day Brian Burke is expected to make calls to the teams that have made offers to acquire Tomas Kaberle and see if they will up the ante. It begs the question though, why is he waiting so long?
Last week he was on his annual fishing trip and, because he does not like it to be interrupted the delay made sense. However, now that the trip is over why is he still waiting. Perhaps he thinks people will start offering him more when he only has 2 weeks left to deal. As such he can get a bidding war going.
The next issue would be the strange free agency we have had so far. Teams may sign a stud forward (ie. Kovalchuk) and then they would be free to deal their forwards for a defenceman. Since there are so many stud forwards left, okay only one, Brian Burke expects the offers to get better once he is signed.
Another reason might be that he has a trade to beat, but by not contacting the team that made the offer that team might be tricked into offering something better. This is a negotiating ploy that has been used many times. It normally works, and in this case it will work even better as there clearly is a deadline.
Another reason is that the best offer right now may come from the Sharks or maybe another Western Conference team. As such you do not expect Kaberle to sign an extension with them, so they should be offering less than Eastern Conference teams. So Burke may just be waiting for an offer from an eastern team, possibly Boston.
Another thing that can occur is the Blake Wheeler arbitration. If the Bruins decide to give him the arbitration money and then deal him it could work out in Burke’s favour. Also if they let him go as a UFA then Burke can just sign him outright cheaply while dealing Kaberle for a cheaper forward. Maybe he will just bury Finger in the minors and sign Kaberle to an extension.
Wheeler and Kovalchuk are the two main things stopping a deal now. Personally I think Burke will get a good shot at Wheeler. If he can deal Grabovski as well, the cap space really gets freed up, unfortunately Grabovski is a solid goal scorer, hence dealing him to create the cap space needed to get Wheeler and maybe Clowe seems like adding by subtraction.
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NHL Buzz: Monday, July 26
26, Jul 2010This sounds like it could be a busy week in the NHL. Here are the latest rumors that I have been hearing in the past few days.
Brian Burke is coming home from his fishing trip today, which means he will focus on moving Kaberle before August 15 when Kaberle’s NTC kicks in. Brian Burke will be looking for a top-six forward for sure, anything extra is just a bonus. Rumor has it up to 10 teams are interested in Kaberle.
According to Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo! Sports, the Rangers are very interested in Alex Frolov. He also stated that the Kings have some interest in bringing him back.
St. Petersburg of the KHL could become a big time player for some NHL free agents. Rumor has it that they have sent offers out to Maxim Afinogenov, Alex Frolov, and Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk’s goal is obviously to stay in New Jersey, and chances are that happens. However, if Frolov and Afinogenov don’t get the money they are asking for, they could find themselves in Russia next season.
Things with Blake Wheeler and the Bruins could get sour in a hurry since rumor has it they are not close to a deal. Wheeler’s arbitration hearing is coming up soon and it is expected he will get more money then the Bruins will pay. If that is the case he will become a UFA.
Even with Sami Salo’s injury, it is expected the Canucks will move Kevin Bieksa. As it sits right now, the Canucks are over the cap and still hope to acquire another forward. Bieksa is the guy to get them that.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy.
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The Clock is ticking. Tomas Kaberle’s no trade clause goes back into affect on August 15, 2010. So with just over three weeks remaining in the window allowing the Leafs to trade Kaberle, the question is what will Brian Burke do?
Just like a trade deadline, I’m sure Burke will be holding his cards close to his chest in hopes that the offers will get better in the 11th hour.
It would make sense that Burke (or in this case likely Dave Nonis or Dave Poulin) is in constant contact with Kaberle’s agent Rick Curran. For teams interested in Kaberle to give up maximum value for the puck-moving defensemen, teams would want to make sure they can sign him long-term prior to pulling the trigger.
The Leafs themselves are likely working with Curren and Kaberle, trying locked him up long term in case the market is too soft. They won’t have their longest-serving talent jump ship without getting something in return.
After Sundin left, I would hope the blue and white brain trust would make sure it won’t happen again. Kaberle does say he wants to be a Leaf.
I’ve read many articles throwing out numerous rumours or trade ideas; in most cases it’s pretending to be Burke. There are rarely any sources that can verify the speculation. I’m a fan and can understand the fun in trying to anticipate Burke’s next splash.
I wrote an article a couple weeks back going over what teams would have interest in our top bargaining chip. Judging by the comment I got back and the various other articles that I have read, it seems like Leaf nation has a clear wish list as Bobby Ryan and James Neal top the conversation. I personally don’t want to close my mind since there are so many options and possibilities.
The trades that have made the largest impact recently, such as Versteeg from Chicago, the Phaneuf package from Calgary, or Giguere swap from Anaheim, all caught me off guard. Even going back to Fletcher’s splashes in the ’90s with the Gilmour blockbuster with Calgary and Fuhr move from the Oilers, each of these were huge and yet I never saw them coming.
That’s what I am on the edge of my seat waiting for. What am I not seeing?
Who’s looking for a Tomas Kaberle? Who has what Burke sees as fair value plus fits into his vision? Twenty-two days and it would seem that something has to give.
We presently have just over $1 million left below the cap. That isn’t including any movement such as Jeff Finger and his $3.5 million to the Marlies or even Kaberle’s $4.25 million heading out.
We can’t forget Christian Hanson is still unsigned and will cut into that pot. I would like to see Hanson continue to develop as a regular this season starting from the the first game at the ACC October 7 when we host the Habs.
Once the Kaberle drama concludes then the final pieces can be put into place. It may include small tinkering trades or UFA signing. It seems that Burke is in a holding pattern waiting to see what sticks to the wall.
The Maple Leaf front office, since John Ferguson Jr. was removed, apparently can read my mind (although, to this day I still don’t get the Jeff Finger signing by Fletcher). Sending Ponikarovsky, Antropov, Stajan, and Kubina amongst many others away for draft picks or new blood has re-energized me as a fan.
I’m not saying they weren’t decent players but they didn’t match my idea of a Maple Leaf. It bothered me enough that I actually had a list of players on my favourite team that I didn’t like.
I’m not proud of it, but I found myself watching games complaining and hating on them. I survived and yet consistently cheered for the Leafs during the Ballard ’80s and there I am whining about the JFJ Leafs. That’s just sad!
Now the pieces are falling nicely into place and I have one more name that MUST GO!
Grabovski!
Over the next 22 days I am watching and anticipating two things…
No. 1: The conclusion to the Tomas Kaberle saga!
No. 2: Find a way to send Mikhael Grabovski to anyone for anything!
Ray Sheppard was traded from Buffalo to the New York Rangers for $1. I think that sounds like fair market value, any takers? Okay fine, we should be able to get more then $1. Sheppard, however, had already collected over 100 career points at this stage in his career and was liked by more of his teammates (not by much) and fans, which is more then we can say about our Belarusian problem.
Grabovski is also in the way for Nazem Kadri taking his proper place in the Leafs lineup. Kadri should be a top-six forward on this year’s club and the second line centre spot is where I see him.
Mr. Burke, please, please relieve Leaf Nation of their Grabovski!
The offseason in Toronto has been less than glamorous so far. Burke has added nice pieces to the stable. For me to be happy heading into the season, I need to know the answers. I’m fine if they re-up Kabby long-term or move him for fair value—I just need closure. I believe this situation will sort itself out and Leaf Nation will be a buzz.
22 days and counting down…Get busy Mr. Burke!
GO LEAFS GO!
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Tomas Kaberle: Where Should He Punch His Ticket to?
23, Jul 2010Once this whole Ilya Kovalchuk storm blows over, Tomas Kaberle will become the most sought after player this off-season. GM Brian Burke has said there have been six teams that have given him an offer recently, but none of them were even worth considering. So where does that leave us? Exactly where we started.
With the six teams not known, I will give six new offers I believe are fair, and work for both teams.
Team 1: The Los Angeles Kings
Do they need Kaberle?: With their youth on defense, they need some one to mentor them and Kaberle can do that.
The Offer: To Los Angeles— D Tomas Kaberle & C Mikhail Grabovski
To Toronto— RW Justin Williams, RW Brandon Kozun, and a 2011 6th Round draft pick.
Why it works: LA gets a top defensemen and a forward who can replace Williams’ production. Toronto acquires a top forward in Williams who, though injury-prone, can play on our second line. Because Williams is injury-prone, I threw Kozun into the deal. Kozun has enjoyed a couple of good seasons playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
Team 2: The Columbus Blue Jackets
Do they need Kaberle? Short Answer is yes.
The Offer: To Columbus— D Tomas Kaberle
To Toronto— LW RJ Umberger & 2011 second round draft pick
Why it works: Toronto gets a serviceable second-liner who hasn’t missed a game in two years. Columbus gets what they desperately need in a top defensemen.
Team 3: The St. Louis Blues
Do they need Kaberle? Not necessarily but with only five NHL defensemen on their roster, it wouldn’t hurt acquiring Kaberle.
The Offer: To St. Louis— D Tomas Kaberle, RW Dale Mitchell & 2011 4th Round Draft Pick
To Toronto—RW Brad Boyes & 2011 5th Round Draft Pick
Why it works: Kaberle could help St. Louis finally break into the playoffs consistently if he signs a extension. Toronto gets back a player they should never have got rid of in the first place.
Team 4: The Dallas Stars
Do they need Kaberle? When the biggest name on your team’s defense is Stephane Robidas, there’s a problem.
The Offer: To Dallas— D Tomas Kaberle & 2011 4th Round Draft Pick
To Toronto— LW James Neal
Why it works: If Dallas’ ownership wants to have a winning team, they must realize they need a better defense corps than what they have now. James Neal is a player that has been placed in rumors before and he’s the only player in Dallas that Toronto might want.
Team 5: The San Jose Sharks
Do they need Kaberle? With Rob Blake’s retirement, he needs a proper replacement now and not down the road.
The Offer: To San Jose— D Tomas Kaberle & 2011 fifth round draft pick
To Toronto— LW Ryane Clowe, C Freddie Hamilton & 2011 sixth round draft pick.
Why it works: San Jose gets the replacement for Blake, while Toronto gets a second-liner now and a local kid who can actually play.
Team 6: The Buffalo Sabres
Do they need Kaberle? Buffalo could use a player of Kaberle’s caliber after losing both Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman to free agency.
The Offer: To Buffalo— D Tomas Kaberle & C Mikhail Grabovski
To Toronto— RW Jason Pominville & 2011 5th Round Draft Pick
Why it works: Kaberle goes to a team he might sign with long-term and Grabovski gets the change of scenery, which he desperately needs.
I think these trades are better than any offer Burke has gotten so far and I would be happy if any of the players coming to Toronto actually did.
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NHL Buzz: Monday, July 19
19, Jul 2010For today’s edition of NHL Buzz, I am answering fans’ questions about rumors they want to hear about.
Q: MuSigma45 @ToddNHL any news on Paul Kariya?
A: Hearing he has not made his decision if he wants to return or not but if he does, Pittsburgh and Anaheim are possible destinations.
Q: Cayley77 @ToddNHL Any news on Marc Savard…What’s the asking price?
A: Bruins are still shopping him, sounds like the asking price is not very high, maybe a cheap roster player and a pick/prospect.
Q: RonnieTheStar @ToddNHL -Any news on the Leaf front? Trade Rumors Etc….
A: Now that Kovalchuk has signed, more teams are interested in Tomas Kaberle. It is believed six teams are interested at this point with that number expected to grow.
Q: andyveilleux @ToddNHL any idea if Colorado is poised to make any big moves? They have an insane amount of salary cap space. What will Mueller re-sign for?
A: I don’t see any big moves coming, their main goals right now are to sign a depth player or two and re-sign their RFA’s.
Q: MVikes88 @ToddNHL Anything on the Sharks?
A: They are looking for a top-four defenseman, Kevin Bieksa and Tomas Kaberle are names that have come up.
Q: DCSHOCKER @ToddNHL Anything out of Oil Country?
A: Still looking for a depth player or two, but aside from that not much.
Q: RaihanH @ToddNHL so who are the Leafs targeting for Kaberle, players not teams?
A: They are not targeting anyone, they are taking offers not sending offers out.
Q: SensDew19 @ToddNHL anything new on Savard or Price?
A: On Savard, they are trying to get rid of his salary and may deal him for a cheap roster player and a pick/prospect. As for Price, he is believed to be asking for $3.5-4 million per season.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy!
This article and more can also be found at MTRmedia.com
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There seems to be a bit of a log jam in the free agent market. It is almost as if one man is controlling the fate of the entire NHL, and it isn’t Gary Bettman.
Ilya Kovalchuk is pulling the string of more than one GM in the NHL right now as well as thousands of fans the world over.
When I say world, I mean world. It’s easy to forget that there are more than a few fans over in Europe right now who would love the chance to see the NHL’s most potent scoring threat since the lockout in ‘04-’05 up close and personal.
This quote from the Leafs Blogger Mike Ulmer sums it up almost perfectly, “what Kovalchuk is doing, aside from nothing, is choking off the vital flow of hockey news. I know it’s summer, but a bear’s heart doesn’t stop beating just because he’s hibernating.”
The trouble it seem is that almost every other free agent after draft day has been sitting at home wondering where they will be playing next year.
The question isn’t really whether the likes of Ruslan Salie, Andy Sutton, Freddy Modin, and Le Stempniak will play next year.
There is still an awful lot of talent left in the 2010 NHL agent pool to pick from.
Is it possible that one man can wield that much power in professional sport? I certainly hope not, it would be a very dangerous precedent to set.
If I were the NHL GMs, I would just say “the hell with you Kovi, I’m taking my Scooby Doo lunch box and I’m going the hell home”!
Tomas Kaberle may be another victim of this debacle with Kovalchuk.
While there is no way I could say for certain, it is within the realm of possibility that Burke is holding, or being forced to hold on to Kaberle because other teams are so uncertain of what they will do depending on where Kovi lands.
One problem that Kovi will have is that he’s going to have to get a contract bigger than the $101 million, 12-year deal that he was offered in Atlanta or he’ll look more than a little silly.
LA’s GM Dean Lombardi has said that the two sides are unable to come to an agreement and consequently the Kings are out.
Lou Lameriello of the Devils has said from the start that if he wanted to stay in New Jersey, Kovalchuck would be welcome and ‘Lucky Lou’ would find a way to make it happen.
There was a rumor that the Islanders had made an offer for the highly touted winger but Devils beat writer Tom Gulitti says although Islanders GM Garth Snow did make contact with Camp Kovi with questions regarding money and length of contract desired, there was never a formal offer made.
So what does all of this mean? I wish I had an answer for you, but I don’t. I know this much: Kovi or no Kovi, Brian Burke won’t sit on his laurels for much longer simply because he can’t.
The window for trading Kaberle will officially close on Aug. 15.
Speaking of Lee Stempniak. I wonder if he wouldn’t look a little better this time around with the Leafs given the influx of youth the team has experienced.
Although his 18 points in 18 games for the Coyotes at the end of last season was possibly a fluke…what if?
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Would Ryane Clowe Satisfy Leafs Nation?
18, Jul 2010Due to the recent speculation that Brian Burke is interested in Ryane Clowe as the return piece in a potential Tomas Kaberle trade, I figured I would ask Toronto Maple Leafs fans if they would be happy with a swap involving these players.
The movement of Kaberle has been tied to the free agent signing of Ilya Kovalchuk, which looks to be coming to an end in the near future. Rumor has it that San Jose, New Jersey and Los Angeles are the teams most interested in acquiring the services of Mr. Kaberle. The losers of the Kovalchuk sweepstakes most likely will up the ante.
When trying to appraise the worth of Tomas Kaberle from the point of view of other General Managers in the NHL, we must take into account that Kaberle has only one year left on his contract. One year may be all another franchise would get from Kaberle if he dislikes the new city or doesn’t think he can win with his new team.
Also, it is unrealistic to think that Kaberle would sign an extension with another team before playing a single game with them. So, there is a good chance he is considered a rental player by the other GM’s in the NHL.
Taking these assumptions into consideration, would Toronto Maple Leafs fans be satisfied with Ryane Clowe as the return for Tomas Kaberle? Let’s take a look at Clowe’s career with the San Jose Sharks.
Clowe is a 27 year old power forward who is 6 foot 2 inches and weighs in at around 230 pounds. He has played five seasons in the NHL, although two of these seasons consisted of 15 and 18 games. His career NHL stats are currently:
Games Played: 244, Goals: 60, Assists: 93, Points: 153
Clowe also has 27 career points in 46 playoff games, which is pretty decent production from a guy who floats between the second and third lines of the Sharks.
Other than consistently producing around the 0.7 points per game mark, Clowe brings a game that includes physicality and toughness; a direction which the Leafs are taking with their roster reconstruction. Clowe has learned how to use his big body to his advantage. Subsequently, he has become a perennial 20 goal scorer who hits, fights and controls play around the net.
As you are all well aware, the Leafs are very weak at the left wing position. Although, that may depend on the development of newly acquired power forward Marcel Mueller. If Clowe can be added from the Tomas Kaberle trade, the Leafs left wing position could be full of power forwards in addition to Kulemin and Mueller. Whom would provide grit for all three top lines.
These players would make more room for the smaller and more talented players at centre and right wing (Kadri, Bozak, Versteeg, etc.), and allow them the best opportunity to reach their full potential.
But again the question remains, is Ryane Clowe enough in a straight up trade for Tomas Kaberle? Most Leafs fans agree that Kaberle is one of the top offensive defenseman in the league. Although with only one year left on his contract, GM’s must be hesitant to give Brian Burke exactly what he wants in return for the talented Czech.
In my opinion, Clowe is a good player, but he alone would not be enough for Kaberle. There is always the chance that Kaberle does sign an extension before the next free agency period, especially since San Jose is close to winning a cup and he has said that he wants to go to a contender if traded.
I would like to see Clowe, along with a 3rd round pick in 2011, and a mid-tier prospect coming back for Kaberle. Many fans may still think this isn’t enough, but I personally like Clowe and think he could help the Leafs while playing on any of the top 3 lines. He would also provide the much needed big body on the power play to stand in front of the net and clean up the garbage.
I would like to hear your opinion on a player like Clowe coming back for Kaberle. Are you looking for more skill, or do you agree with Brian Burke’s hunt for the perfect power forward?
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NHL Buzz: Saturday, July 17th
17, Jul 2010With training camps getting closer and closer, teams are trying to finish their business up as soon as they can. Here is the latest:
Canucks GM Mike Gillis has made it very clear that he is open to trading one of his defensemen (Kevin Bieksa) but knows he does have some time and won’t rush a trade if he doesn’t get what he wants.
Rumor has it the Canucks want a top six forward or a couple of line 2/3 forwards as well as prospects/picks. As of right now it appears the Sabres are very interested in Bieksa’s services.
Sticking with the Canucks now it is believed Mayson Raymond is asking in the two/two and a half million per season range, causing a problem for the Canucks as they don’t want to pay him that kind of money.
Personally I think a player with Mayson Raymond’s speed, skill and potential is well worth the money.
It is believed the Kings and Ilya Kovalchuk are getting “closer” to an agreement but I still think that he stays in New Jersey.
Like I suggested yesterday if the Sharks can’t acquire Kevin Bieksa, or Tomas Kaberle they could turn their attention to Denis Grebeshkov.
It is believed the Penguins will put Malkin up on the wing with Crosby or Staal but if it doesn’t work out Staal could be moved to the wing or they could go back to all three of them playing center.
Red Wings head coach believes that Mike Modano will sign in Detroit and play two years there.
According to multiple reports the Bruins are trying very hard to shed some salary (Savard and Thomas). Rumor has it if they lower their asking price for Marc Savard the Leafs could jump in.
Multiple sources have said the Devils are done shopping for players via free agency (aside from Kovalchuk). My sources have said that the Devils will look to prospects like Adam Henrique, Jacob Josefson and Mattias Tedenby to fill out the available forward positions and look to players like Alex Urbom and Harry Young to fill out the defense.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy!
This article and more can also be found at MTRmedia.com
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NHL Buzz: Friday, July 16th
16, Jul 2010There are a lot of rumors flying around right now; here is what I am hearing.
The Canadiens and Carey Price are in talks but aren’t close yet. It is believed that Price is looking for $3.5-$4 million a year. In my opinion, I think Price is asking a bit much as he is asking Jaroslav Halak-type money, when simply he is not as good.
Mike Modano’s three options are Minnesota, Detroit, and San Jose. I think he would be a good fit in all three places, but if he wants to win he shouldn’t go to Minnesota.
Denis Grebeshkov is generating some interest from several teams; it is believed the Sabres, Blue Jackets, and Sharks are among them. I personally think he would be a great fit in the high-tempo Sabres offense.
Rumor has it the Ducks are among the teams interested in Kevin Bieksa. It makes sense as they need some help on defense, and Bieksa is good on both sides of the ice.
According to the Boston Herald Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli admitted the trade market has dried up a bit but suggests once Kovalchuk signs it will pick up.
As of right now the Sharks, Sabres, and Blue Jackets appear to have the most interest in Tomas Kaberle.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy!
Feel free to comment with any thoughts you may have.
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Tomas Kaberle: Is Brian Burke Overvaluing Him?
14, Jul 2010Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke is on record as stating that he would have to be “blown away” by an offer for veteran defenseman Tomas Kaberle if he was to consider moving his prized possession.
Ever since Kaberle’s no trade clause expired, numerous rumors have surfaced regarding Kaberle’s future, including Burke’s comments that suggested at least five NHL clubs had shown some interest in acquiring the Czech native.
Kaberle, 32, is thought to be a bargain at $4,250,000, especially when you consider what a good player he is on and off the ice and the offensive skill that he could bring to an NHL club.
Still, after months of speculation and weeks with which to trade Kaberle, there has been no movement.
So, what gives? Could it be that Burke has overvalued Kaberle?
While Burke may entertain an offer that includes draft picks, he is said to be seeking a top six forward for Kaberle.
Through 820 career regular season NHL games (all with the Leafs) Kaberle has registered a total of 80 goals and 402 assists, for a total of 482 points, good enough to be considered an All-Star level talent in today’s NHL.
While Kaberle’s overall numbers are good, his lack of physical presence and declining defensive play may have NHL teams second guessing his worth.
Combine that with the fact that Kaberle has just six career playoff goals and 28 points through 77 career playoff games and you can see why some NHL general managers may be approaching a Kaberle deal with caution.
Needless to say, Kaberle is a genuine talent, a player that, on most NHL rosters, would still be considered a top two defenseman.
Make no mistake about it; Kaberle is no Chris Pronger, Nik Lidstrom, Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty or even a Dan Boyle. Kaberle does not bring the skill-set that any of those top-tier NHL defensemen do, players that can have a much bigger impact on their teams’ success.
Kaberle posted a total of seven goals (three of which came on the power play) and 49 points through 82 games with the Leafs in 2009-10; good enough for 10th overall amongst NHL defensemen.
That said, there are plenty of defensemen who posted lesser offensive totals that outclass Kaberle at this juncture, including the likes of Shea Weber (43 points), Zdeno Chara (44 points), Brian Rafalski (42 points) and Alexander Edler (42 points), amongst others.
Kaberle posted a plus/minus rating of -16 last season, albeit on a very porous Toronto Maple Leafs team. His -16 rating was the 30th worst in the league and worst amongst Leaf defensemen (teammate Francois Beauchemin was the closest at -13).
The question that remains to be asked is: Are there any NHL teams out there that will part with a top-six forward for the likes of Kaberle?
As the calendar moves closer and closer to September, it appears as if NHL general managers have cooled their jets on Kaberle, opting instead to look to free agency and/or pass on Kaberle altogether.
When you consider Kaberle’s possible suitors numerous Stanley Cup contending teams come to mind, the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes come to mind.
Of those teams, which one would part with a top-six forward? Of those teams, which one can afford to bring in Kaberle’s $4,250,000 contract?
It’s a tough sell and, given where most of those teams are in terms of salary commitments and restraints, a tough fit, even at Kaberle’s dollars.
Burke is a determined general manager, one that usually gets what he wants. Time will tell if he gets the desired return for Kaberle, but it’s not looking good right now.
For more NHL news and notes check out The Slap Shot website at www.theslapshot.com
Until next time,
Peace!
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Is James Neal a Target for the Toronto Maple Leafs?
14, Jul 2010Brian Burke still hasn’t been presented with what he deems to be a “fair” trade offer for Tomas Kaberle, but he may have found a dancing partner.
According to reporter Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News, the Stars have offered restricted free-agent forward James Neal a two-year contract worth $2.5 million per season. Neal apparently wants a “longer term deal for more money.”
Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk would like to re-sign the two-time 20 goal scorer to a multi-year contract, although his hands are tied because Stars Owner Tom Hicks has the team in bankruptcy, while attempting to sell them.
The Leafs have the luxury of spending to the cap limit and may capitalize on the Stars situation by trading for James Neal or signing him to an offer sheet. Neal would ultimately fill the Leafs need for another top-six forward to compliment Phil Kessel. The 22-year old scored 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points in 78 games last season. He is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, so has the size and skill to project as a power forward.
Such a tantalizing package of skill is a coveted asset in today’s NHL, although the Stars already have a glut of wingers—including Brenden Morrow, Loui Eriksson, Jamie Benn, and eventually Scott Glennie—that make Neal expendable.
Dallas needs to fill a void on the blueline, as they are without an experienced puck-moving defenseman to quarterback the powerplay. The name that continues to swirl in trade rumors is Tomas Kaberle, who would add another element to a thin Stars defence. Joe Nieuwendyk is also very familiar with Kaberle and what he brings to a team from his days in Toronto.
It remains to be seen what the Leafs could include in a package for James Neal. In the event that Tomas Kaberle and his agent refuse to sign an extension upon arriving in Dallas, Brian Burke may focus his attention towards sending an offer sheet to Neal.
The compensation for signing a player to an offer sheet between $1,545,981 and $3,091,963 million is a second-round draft choice in 2011.
The Leafs would have the ability to make this offer because they own their own second rounder next year. Only Toronto’s 2010 second rounder went to Boston, in the Phil Kessel trade.
Theoretically, if the Leafs offer a four-year contract worth $3.5 million per season, the Stars wouldn’t be able to match the offer sheet because it would put them over their internal budget. A second rounder is a reasonable loss when you are acquiring a future 30-goal scorer in exchange.
There is a true possibility that Neal becomes the Leafs next target if he doesn’t re-sign with Dallas. Just food for thought.
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NHL Buzz: Wednesday, July 14th
14, Jul 2010There are a lot of rumors flying around the NHL right now. Here is what I have heard.
One source has told me that the New York Islanders are considering sending an offer sheet to Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi. I can’t confirm this, but it makes sense as the Islanders would get a very good young goaltender for the future and add a pretty big name to the team which would help sell tickets. Like I said, I can’t confirm this, but it makes sense.
UPDATE: If a player files for arbitration an offer sheet can not be placed on the player and Niemi has done that so an offer sheet is no longer possible.
The Sharks and Stars are also very interested in Tomas Kaberle. Like I have said several times the Devils or Kings will be interested once Kovalchuk signs, however, if Kovalchuk were to sign with the Devils they would not have the cap space to acquire him so the Kings would be a more likely candidate.
Nothing new to report on Kovalchuk, Kings and Devils are still the main teams interested. However, the Ducks could make a play for him on a short term contract as they have a ton of cap space.
According to the Washington Post, the Capitals’ 2009 first round draft pick Marcus Johansson believes he can make the team as the Capitals second line center.
I continue to hear that the Rangers, Penguins, and Sabres are interested in Alex Frolov, but they are all scared off by Frolov’s asking price.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz, enjoy!
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This article and more can also be found at MTRmedia.com
For the latest news and rumors follow me on twitter @ToddNHL
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NHL Buzz: Tuesday, July 13th
13, Jul 2010There is a lot of talk in the NHL right now. Here is the latest.
As you know, the Chicago Blackhawks matched the offer sheet the Sharks put on defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Blackhawks now have $100,000 in cap for six players, which means someone is on the move. It is believed they are shopping defenseman Brian Campbell and forward Patrick Sharp.
Rumor has it the Toronto Maple Leafs are very interested in Sharp.
The San Jose Sharks are looking to add a top-four defenseman; Tomas Kaberle is a target.
Now that the Oilers have re-signed goaltender Devan Dubnyk to a two-year, one-way deal, Jeff Deslauriers is expendable.
The Vancouver Canucks are shopping defenseman Kevin Bieksa; rumor has it the Sabres, Sharks, and Blue Jackets are very interested.
This concludes today’s edition of NHL Buzz. Enjoy!
This article and more can also be found at MTRmedia.com
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Someone asked me an interesting question recently. They asked what I thought of Brian Burke as a GM and my immediate response was “so far, so good.”
My friend responded by telling me that that summation wasn’t fair because it left the door open for me to change my mind if Burke screwed anything up. He was right, it does.
It got me thinking though. I understand Brian Burke has won a cup, I also understand that he helped build what was in most hockey circles considered a heavy contender in Vancouver, but I wonder if Toronto Maple Leaf fans aren’t enamored with him for all the wrong reasons.
He hasn’t done or won anything here yet.
I wonder if Leafs fans judgments aren’t so clouded by their collective overwhelming desire for a GM with any amount of experience or credibility after the whole Pat Quinn and John Fergusson JR experience.
Before you jump all over me about Quinn, towards the end of his tenure in Toronto, he simply wasn’t effective at his job. Whether as a GM or as a coach. End of story.
As I said, I wonder if it’s because of Toronto fans desperation that Brian Burke has been placed on such a high pedestal.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Burke and have spoken very highly of him in previous articles, but I’m also very careful of placing people on pedestals.
All that being said, Brian Burke and his family finally took some much needed time off. For his part though, according to the National Post , Burke says he is not done.
There are still several free agents out there that intrigue him and there are still offers out there for Tomas Kaberle.
For now though, he just wants to put his feet up and loosen his tie.
Trade Rumors
Look for Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers to be on the move sooner rather than later. The Leafs could work a straight swap with Philly for Kaberle though Flyer fans would argue that they aren’t getting equal value in return.
A major issue with this scenario is Gagne has a no trade clause; however, if he refuses to waive it, he will likely end up on waivers so this is one of those rumors that just isn’t going to go away.
Tomas Kaberle has of course been the focal point of most Leafs rumors.
- Kaberle to the Washington Capitals for Alexander Semin
- Kaberle to the Boston Bruins for Marc Savard
- Kaberle to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan (Ducks GM Murray says he won’t be trading Ryan)
- Kaberle to the Philadelphia Flyers for Simon Gagne
If Tomas Kaberle doesn’t get traded, there are several fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs who will likely have a meltdown.
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