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Kaberle Staying / A Legend Forever

by on August 15, 2009 in Uncategorized - 574 Comments

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Today was the deadline for Tomas Kaberle’s NTC lift, and he is still a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. While some fans were demanding for an immediate rebuild with some youth in return for a trade for Kaberle, others notice how strong the current Leafs defense core has the potential to be and are curious to see how Kaberle can perform with a physical presence around him. Brian Burke is among those who are interested. “I look forth to seeing what Tomas can do with a little more size and toughness around him when he’s not picking his teeth out of the glass all night.”

Tomas Kaberle has spent his entire career in Toronto, and at 32 years of age and only a $4.25M cap hit, he still has many strong years ahead of him at a small dollar figure. He is now surrounded on the back end by free agent acquisition Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin, as well as rookie sensation Luke Schenn, the hard hitting Jeff Finger, stay at home defenseman Jonas Frogren, and powerplay shooter Mike Van Ryn. The Leafs have plenty of talented defenseman to get a seperate deal done if they so choose to do so.

In other Leafs news, Ted (Teeder) Kennedy has passed away today due to congestive heart failure at his nursing home in Port Colborne, Ontario. The 83 year old was the former Maple Leafs captain who lead the Leafs to 5 Stanley Cup Championships in 7 years. When talking about his father, his son Mark had this to say: “I was totally hopeless against him,” he said. “When he was in his 70s, things got a little more even. He was a natural athlete, any sport he picked up and gave a try to, he did really well.”

Ted (Teeder) Kennedy will be remembered as a legend of hockey.

Micheal A. Aldred

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  • The King

    So hh you are saying he will be the 3rd line center? You must admit we have a log jam. I’d say our 4th line is pretty tough and has lots of heart. But I do hear you. Just see too many 3rd and 4th line players. Something will have to give. Those 3rd and 4th line role players are hard to move as there are so many in the league. Late round picks are the return. I still say Calgary told BB he had to take Primeau’s contract in order to get the 2nd

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  • honesthockey

    I’m saying he will be penned in as the 4th line center will wear a letter and along with Wallin will form the top pairing of an improved PK. Wallin will be the 3rd line middleman.

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  • The King
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  • The King

    Here are the options hh
    .
    J Blake
    T Bozak
    N Hagman
    M Grabovski
    L Stempniak
    A Ponikarovski
    M Stajan
    N Kulemin
    W Primeau
    J Mayers
    C Orr
    R Wallin
    J Mitchell
    J Tlusty
    N Kadri
    C Hanson

    Possibly
    I White
    V Stalburg
    M Stefanovich
    C DiDomenico
    .
    hh put those into lines or the minors, Remember Kadri can be a Leaf or back to jr. At this point we have to assume White is a winger do we not ( too many NHL D )?

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  • honesthockey

    Not sure Mitchell is a good centerman. He would be the first to move I would think. I like Grabovski, Bozak, Wallin, Primeau up the middle. Burke will be looking at role players for every position and I think up the middle that group gives him his best option.
    I think bottom six will be role players and veterans with the top six being real young and energenic. I honestly think 2 or 3 vets will get moved, bought out or sent down.

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  • The King

    OK , were back on the same page. I am leaning towards agreeing with you on Primeau if we move 2-3 vets. Like I said, I didnt like the move to get Primeau as we have to many 3rd-4th line players. But if we move 2-3 then I agree with you. If you use the list of forwards I included above we have at least 4 too many ( One can be in the press box )

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  • honesthockey

    I think the vets we have are the wrong vets in the wrong roles so Burke seems to be addressing this. I think you’ll find 2 vets in the top 6 this year.
    .
    I get confused when posters suggest that this is a Quinn mentality. Burke hasn’t given away draft picks. He has been aquiring. He hasn’t given away a player who hasn’t spent time any substantial time in the Leaf program (Pogge and Stralman are yes young but have not moved their careers forward in this organization). It’s no where near the same as Quinn suggesting we are a player or two away from Lord Stanley and mortagaging the farm. FJF did for survival reasons and how did that work out.

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  • honesthockey

    Who’s FJF? I mean’t JFJ.

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  • The King

    hh I agree. I have not said BB is like Quinn. I think Alec is worried that BB will/is thinking like Quinn with respect to stopping short of a rebuild and starts moving forward too soon ( due to his need to win ). I dont want to put words in Alec’s mouth but thats what I got from his newest blog.

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  • honesthockey

    Yeah me too although I think Alec is passing on the content from somewhere else inside. And I’m not suggesting you said the Quinn comment I’m just pointing out what I percieve as the differences between what Quinn and JFJ did compared to what Burke is doing.
    .
    Wilson suggested 5 or 6 rookies may be in the lineup. That is IMO forward thinking and part of a good rebuilding plan. Rebuilding can take many forms.

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  • The King

    Well said hh

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  • Grahamzky

    @Atomic Wedge – When I say that Toskala was considered “the real deal” this time last year, I mean most Leaf fans considered him “solid” in goal, not a problem. He might have had inflated stats but that was because of the team play early in the 2007-08 season – late in the year he appeared to be the solution to our previous goal-tending problems, as in Andrew Raycroft!
    Us Leaf fans optimistically looked forward to a huge season from Tosks, unfortunately, due to injuries, poor team and personal play, it didn’t happen! Look for Toskala to bounce back to the goalie we saw late in 2008! That goalie was a solid NHL goalie!
    No, Gustavsson starring in the SEL does not guarantee greatness in the NHL! You are right! However, he certainly comes with great qualifications. Whether those qualifications result in a long, successful NHL career, remains to be seen. However says thatpossibility exists so far! Having the current Leaf defense clearing the front should help!
    Would you have more hope for immediate success for a goalie that stars in the Swedish Elite League or a goalie coming out of major Junior?
    Whether he develops into a star or not is unclear, but Gustavsson IS a blue-chip prospect!

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  • keon

    @Andrew R

    I have adopted it, stop painting me. Stralman had his time, he showed next to nothing and doesn’t have a place anymore, he’s gone, it’s over. Honestly, the trade was made 3 weeks ago, it boggles my mind that you are still “debating” someone as inconsequential as Stralman.

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  • http://cartika.com Andrew R

    @Keon – I am not debating anything – I have done nothing but state facts..

    @Burn – you are incorrect

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  • http://cartika.com Andrew R

    @Keon and Burn – I strongly suggest you read this post from Alec – and then re-examine your positions – or dont – whatever is fine

    http://mapleleafshotstove.com/index.php/2009/08/17/an-insiders-opinion-on-keeping-kaberle/

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  • Burn

    @ Andrew, I’m incorrect?? Thanks for the insight.

    Also, I’ve read that blog as well. Nowhere does it say that Stralman would play if Kaberle was moved.

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