- Error
Guess what happened while you were sleeping last night?
Nothing :(
Been about as much activity out there as a dead guy in a cemetery.
That said still lots of chatter especially about Toronto dman Tomas Kaberle.
I won't rehash his situation as most of you out there have heard this Kaberle story beaten to death and then beaten again.
The one thing we all have to be aware of is when Kaberle's No Trade Clause kicks back in. By all accounts that deadline midnight on Sunday August the 15th.
Will Kaberle still be wearing a Maple Leaf or will it be another team's colors? Better yet is there a chance that Kaberle will be wearing CBJ colors?
My answer is yes and I feel stronger today about those possibilities than I did a few days ago.
Why?
Because my fellow blogger ePlagge pointed out on Twitter yesterday, Brian Burke via an interview on the Fan590 said he may be willing to part with Kaberle for "futures". By futures he means draft picks and prospects. He said his first priority is to trade Kaberle for immediate help - preferably a winger, but they may consider a "futures" deal.
That my friends puts the Jackets on the playing field as the one thing they can certainly sacrifice is some "future" for now. It's been 9 years of waiting for the future with just one short lived playoff appearance to show for it.
I'm not saying to sacrifice the world but if we have to give up a either a top pick or prospect to get Kaberle then sign me up. If I'm Howson I sweeten the offer with a contingency that kicks in if Kaberle resigns.
My guess is Burke isn't interested in any top 6 players the Jackets may be willing to part with (Huselius?) and Howson isn't interested in parting with any of the players Burke may be interested in (Nash, Voracek, Vermette, Brass, Umberger) so any deal for Kaberle with the Jackets would have to be a "futures" deal.
So what to offer?
I can see a top draft pick or a top prospect but not both. The draft pick is risky because let's not kid ourselves, we are the Columbus Blue Jackets -- the same organization who has picked in the top 8 in 9 of their 10 drafts. This pick could easily be a top 5 pick and if you're gonna move it, is has to be for more than a 1 year fix.
I don't think Howson would part his top 4 prospects of Filatov, Johanssen, Moore or Calvert straight up with Kaberle signed to only a 1 year deal.
So what then?
Howson will have to get creative.
He could trade Kaberle for 2nd round pick, Jan Hejda and Cam Atkinson -- the contingency being that the 2nd round pick becomes a 1st if one of two things happen:
1. The Jackets make the playoffs.
2. Kaberle signs an extension.
One would make that 1st rounder a later round pick and I'd gladly trade that 1st for a playoff season next year. Success may also help persuade Kaberle to resign with them.
The second would put the Jackets in the drivers seat. If they could convince Kaberle to resign then that is certainly worth a first round pick. If he doesn't then at least they keep that pick.
Atkinson is no throw away either. His 30 goals led the entire NCAA D1 hockey league last season in just his second season. That is very impressive.
I like Hejda, but I don't think he's in the cards to be resigned this season and his 2 million is movable. With Kaberle coming back the Jackets blueline get's very crowded and something has to give. If not Hejda perhaps a Stralman or Methot? Then again, would Toronto want another NHL dman back?
Another option would be to make it a bigger deal -- perhaps a Filatov (and his salary) is traded but in return a Kaberle+ comes back the Jackets way.
Would any of this be enough for Burke to trade Kaberle? That is anyone's guess.
The fact that he is now considering "futures" makes it apparent that he is not getting the offers he has hoped and it's either that or keep him.
Regardless of whether or not he becomes a Blue Jacket I cannot see any scenario where Burke keeps him. Not after he's been put on public display for as long as he has. Burke might as well change the name tag on the back of his jersey from 'Kaberle' to 'For Sale'.
This is Burke's window and he and every other GM knows it. Once that NTC kicks back in all the leverage shifts back to Kaberle and you can bet he will use it.
I'll end this post by saying what I've been saying all summer -- Kaberle would be a perfect fit for our defense. We desperately need what he brings. His addition could salvage what has been an extremely disappointing offseason.
All we can do now is wait.
UPDATE: I just read this twitter from TSN's Daren Dreger:
One team presented an interesting offer. A player and a pick IF Kaberle signs an ext. If Kaberle becomes a ufa, the Leafs send a pick back
He then goes on to say that offer was declined.
I would be shocked and disappointed if that offer didn't come from the CBJ.
-LTL
