It's official: Tomas Kaberle headed to Boston
The Tomas Kaberle era, after several scuttled past departures, is officially over in Toronto. And the Maple Leafs’ rebuild continues with yet another significant trade.
The Leafs today sent Kaberle — yes, he agreed to waive his no-trade deal — to Boston for prospect Joe Colborne, a 6-foot-5 centre with Boston’s AHL farm team at Providence, a 2011 first-round draft pick (but not the one Toronto sent to Boston in the Phil Kessel trade) and a conditional pick, thought to be a second-round pick in 2012 if Kaberle resigns with the Bruins or if Boston makes the Stanley Cup final this season.
Colborne was drafted in the first round by Boston, 16th overall, in the 2008 draft. Although he is a towering presence, the 21-year-old isn’t known to be particularly tough. In 55 games with Providence this season, he has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points along with 35 penalty minutes. It is believed that he could be ready to play in the NHL next season.
Kaberle, a sublime passer and terrific puck mover, will immediately help Boston’s power play teamed with Zdeno Chara on the point. Kaberle played 12 distinguished seasons in Toronto and had resisted previous attempts to deal him out of town.
However, he told Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos that “it was just time to move on” and he was “excited” to be going to Boston.
The soon-to-be 33-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
In just over a week, Toronto general manager Brian Burke has traded defenceman Francois Beauchemin, winger Kris Versteeg and now Kaberle. In those deals, he has acquired two late first round picks, a third-round pick, a potential second-round pick, two highly regarded prospects in defenceman Jake Gardiner and Colborne, and winger Joffrey Lupul.
While everyone thought this deal was coming — particularly after Kaberle opened the door to move to Boston on Tuesday — some of his teammates still had a little trouble digesting the move of a favourite teammate. Particularly 21-year-old Luke Schenn, who was Kaberle’s defensive partner and becomes the longest-serving Leaf along with Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski.
All three are finishing their third season in Toronto, Kulemin has played 208 games, Schenn has played 206.
Schenn called Kaberle a “rare” talent.
“The patience that he has, his passing ability and his vision on the ice, it is rare to find,” said Schenn. “I don’t know if you can necessarily say you’re going to replace a guy. I guess moving forward, management has a plan in place and that’s not for us to talk about. We’ve got a bunch of young guys and it seems like we are starting to come together a little bit and piece together. Hopefully our future is a little brighter.”
With Kaberle gone, defencemen such as Carl Gunnarsson and Brett Lebda will be asked to step up and do more. Both are, by reputation, good with the puck but both have struggled this season. Kaberle had 38 points, tops among Toronto blueliners. From there it drops to the 15 points of Dion Phaneuf and Schenn’s 13.
Gunnarsson said it would be “impossible” to replace Kaberle’s production.
“It’s tough,” he said. “I don’t even know how many points he’s got but it’s a lot if compare it to the next D-man. (He had) a lot of points and a lot of confidence on the point on the power play too. That’s probably the toughest thing to replace.”
“I’d like to (become more offensive),” said Gunnarsson, who has three goals and nine points. “But this year I’ve had to work on my defence too because that hasn’t been working for me. Once I get that going, my offence has been better. I will get better at it.”
Said Schenn: “It’s been a longtime coming. (The Kaberle) trade has been talked about since I’ve been here for three years ago. It’s obviously a tough decision to make for him. But, I guess, moving forward he wants to go to a contender. It’s tough for me. He’s been good for me.”
“Getting the chance to play alongside (Kaberle) has been great for me. He’s so calm out there. He never panics under pressure. In my opinion, he’s one of the best at making that outlet pass, that breakout pass. I’m very lucky to have played along side him. He’s been awesome to me. Great guy off the ice; always pulled me aside and talked to me. He’s always there for you.”
|
