Burke’s Statement:

by on August 16, 2010 in Leafs News - 548 Comments

Share

As you all know, or may not know, Tomas Kaberle will remain a Toronto Maple Leafs. Whether he is still a Maple Leaf beyond this season is another question all together, and likely a long and awfully boring road. Regardless, here is Brian Burke‘s statement:

The hockey club confirms this evening that Tomas Kaberle remains a Leaf. While a number of Clubs made offers to trade for Tomas, none of them reflected Tomas’s value to our team. I understand a period like this is stressful to the player, and we are pleased that there is a resolution, and we can all continue to prepare for the coming season.

VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Print article

  • DefenseWinsChampionships
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Doorman
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • 2 Minutes for Looking so Guru
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • long_suffering_leaf_fan

    @ Doorman:
    Glad to hear you are enjoying some down time and survived a night of drinking with Tim!

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Leafs4life

    Burke screwed up in my eyes. We will no longer get any discounts if we try to resign him after all this Kaberle has gone through. The only way out of this is to trade him by the deadline but kabs will hold all cards.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Canada Cup

    How about we get a year’s worth of play out of him and let him walk when his contract is over – at what 33 or 34 after a series of declining years. I too am crushed that GMs across the league did not share our assessment of what Kaberle was worth and ruined all of our great line combos.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Doorman

    long_suffering_leaf_fan wrote:

    @ Doorman:
    Glad to hear you are enjoying some down time and survived a night of drinking with Tim!

    Yea! Ill Get A T shirt made up: I Survived a night atr Tims House! LOL.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Cameron
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Cactus

    1) Negotiate an extension with Kaberle
    2) Beauchemin for Fleischmann (starts on wing, can move to C if Kadri struggles)
    3) Grabovski to Phoenix for Hanzal (shutdown center)
    4) Give Torres tryout
     
    Fleischmann – Bozak – Kessel
    D’Amigo/Mueller/Caputi/Torres – Kadri – Versteeg
    Kulemin – Hanzal – Armstrong
    Sjostrom/Brown – Hanson/Mitchell – Orr
     
    Phaneuf, Kaberle, Komisarek, Schenn, Gunnarsson + Finger/Lebda alternating 6th spot

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Cameron

    Leafs4life wrote:

    Burke screwed up in my eyes. We will no longer get any discounts if we try to resign him after all this Kaberle has gone through. The only way out of this is to trade him by the deadline but kabs will hold all cards.

    -
    Kaberle brought it on himself. He agreed to put that clause in his contract. He knows it’s not Burke’s faul that he had to explore all his options. If he didn’t want to endure this all summer, he could have requested a trade earlier. It’s so ridiculous to think that Kaberle is going to be all angry now. He’s not 8 years old. This is a business, and as recently as Thursday he was saying he wanted to be a Leaf for life.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • grim

    Raffi’s agent has been in talks with Toronto for over a month. Probably waiting to see what deals came about for Kaberle before signing another of the lower level free agents. Now that Kaberle is staying put and we aren’t taking on a higher contract like Malone, we should be able to sign Torres to a one year deal

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Canada Cup
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Schenn-sational

    @ Cameron:

    I was just saying in terms of UFA and RFA, Fleischmann resigned, but I agree, Washington will definitely be looking to move him. In terms of those guys available, I just shuffled Reimer, Stefo, Rosehill and the pick under the prospects section. I think Beauchemin will only become marketably available towards the trade deadline. He has to have a strong season, as his playoff experience and leadership can only go so far in terms of value on the open market. If Burke knows he cant keep Kaberle past this year, why would he move Beauchemin though? I think he is looking to build around Beauchemin, Phaneuf, and Komisarek, leaving Schenn sort of as the guy looking in… as his role is far more improved through Komisarek’s game, and Aulie coming up. I’m a huge Gunnar fan, but his value and potential are high right now, whereas you have to think he will settle into a bottom pairing guy in the future. If we can move him now for some forward help, notably RFA’s that need contracts and teams are struggling to resign, I say pull the trigger.

    I agree with you in terms of the RFA’s you can pretty much cross off. Gagner returns, Brule is already back, Cogliano…. goes where?

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • flappypaddle

    @ Schenn-sational:
    As far as players off your list goes I would be going after the following:
    Cogliano – I think either him or Gagner are available I would offer up Gunneson as I think they need a couple of good young defenders.
    Mueller – Same thing I think either Muller or Stewart are moving and I think Mueller will cost you less trade wise because of his injuries for the Av’s I would offer Finger + Reimer, I think they need another young goalie prospect although with this deal I think we take another player on aswell…
    Downie – there is alot of hate for this guy some warranted but I seen his game reach the level expected of him when he was drafted in the 1st round. I think we could actually do Beauchemin for Downie and a pick.
    Bergfors – this guy looked like a tank last year and I think their is a ton of potentail that NJ didnt realize was there. Atlanta though would be tough to trade with because I think they would be looking for a young player or two back. Maybe offer Hanson + Sjostrom?
    Lastly one that dosnt involve a trade I would look into MacArthur I think if he brings down his asking price he could slot into the 3rd line LW spot and give Kules and Caputi/others a run for a higher spot.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Jordan

    I see our lineup right now as…….
    Versteeg-Bozak-Kessel (legit 1st line IMO)
    Kulemin-Grabovski-Kadri (I’m expecting a lot of good things this year from all 3)
    Sjostrom-????-Armstrong
    Brown-Mitchell-Orr
    We just need a 3rd line center

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • flappypaddle
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • 50 Mission Cap
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Nazem.K-savzri

    Lollll, i hate how ppl keep talkin about what “Kaberles been through”. The guy is in Europe right now with his family, he’s listening in for Burkes word, hes not reading mapleleafshotstove, or listening to Toronto radio. Im sure hes aware of the buzz in regards to a return, but honestly thats expected out of almost any player with a contract in Toronto. He’ll get over it, just like he did last year and bleed the same color we all do when that blue sweater hangs over our shoulders.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • Nazem.K-savzri

    ps: its sunk in, im happy that tomas is still a leaf..i was kind of worried about a PP with Dion as QB..no offense to him, but it eventually wouldve had to be Kadri or Guns bringin the puck up.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • DefenseWinsChampionships

    I don’t know what it was in the second half of last season that caused Kaberle to take such a huge drop in his production, (there are rumors that he didn’t like Wilson), but I’m thinking that it would probably have something to do with how uncertain he was about his future. It seems like the most logical thing to do here would be to extend him ASAP, so he knows he’ll stay a Leaf after this season and can focus entirely on his play.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • http://MapleleafHotstove Beathoven

    @ DefenseWinsChampionships:
    I think the Leafs starting lineup will end up something like this with Raffi Torres added as a free agent signing.The Leafs will also trade one of either Beauchemin or Schenn for a forward eventually and I believe Hanson and Mitchell will be moved.
    Kulemin-Bozak-Kessel
    D’Amigo-Kadri-Versteeg
    Torres-Grabovski-Armstrong
    Caputi-Sjostrom-Orr
    Extras-Brown,Mueller
    Defense
    Phaneuf-Beauchemin
    Komisarek-Kaberle
    Schenn-Gunarsson
    Finger-Lebda

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  • HHT

    It’ll be interesting to hear what the offers on the table were. (Garret?)

    TK a good offensive D, that is pretty timid everywhere else and happy to occupy a losing team year after year.

    And of course, never shoots. That is a pretty glaringly poor fundamental right there.

    So all-star is not a label we need ever worry about being applied to him. His value is going to depreciate over the next couple of years and that’s why many wanted him moved. Only one year of him wasn’t enticement enough, and in the end proved BB waited a year too long.

    That said, it won’t kill us. This team will be much better as Toskala has hiked up her skirt, cut off her pony-tails and left in disgrace. That alone should be worth 40 points.

    There is more compete on the team – hell, Blake and Stajan are gone!

    Even though Kabs is like a cat with 9 lives who will probably end up screwing us in some way (cap, walking away, or forcing us to deal a real hockey player), there is no pressure to win this year or next.

    Hopefully some more college free agents can be lured into Burke’s trap, and alleviate some of the forward depth concerns.

    The draft will be fun – again no 1st rounder. Then again, our scouting staff is good – so we should try to pick up some 2nds or 3rds this year to swing for the fences.

    However, if there’s one thing we’ve learned and learned well – it’s that Burke facing any kind of deadline is like a virgin on prom night.

    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)