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This is a question that many news reporters and Leafs fans are wondering when it comes to the Tomas Kaberle saga, is it possible for Leafs general manager Brian Burke to switch gears and move the younger Luke Schenn for a top forward instead of the veteran blueliner. The one thing that most NHL teams covet is a puck moving offensive defensemen and Tomas Kaberle more then fits the bill, Kaberle's pinpoint passes have sent many Maple Leaf players one on one with the opposition goaltender over his career in Toronto and is the type of defensemen that the club will need as it moves towards respectability.

Brian Burke could send Kaberle packing out of town but in a few years may require a player just like Kabby to bolster his roster, how is that for irony. Kaberle loves Toronto and would like nothing more then to retire as a Toronto Maple Leaf, there is no denying that the 32 year old Kaberle is a top 10 offensive defensemen in the NHL and is a bargain at $4.25 million for the season. Could then the Leafs general manager re-sign the veteran blueliner for a longer stay and set his sights on shipping the younger Luke Schenn out of town?

Luke Schenn had extended periods of poor play in his sophomore season and this by no means is a reason to get rid of him or give up hope that he blossoms into a steady defensemen, but a Tomas Kaberle he is not and the fact that Schenn is only going to turn 21 years old at the end of the year and with the Leafs having players named Dion Phaneuf and Mike Komisarek of similiar mold could this mean a short stay for Schenn and an extension for Kaberle? The fact that a club that acquires Schenn will have his rights until he is 25 years old before he would be eligible to be a UFA is five years away and this is a big boost for the Leafs who are looking to acquire a young top six forward for their club. Schenn also was not drafted by Brian Burke, so the Leafs general manager may have little attachment to the young blueliner.

Could a Luke Schenn trade give the Leafs an opportunity to acquire the likes of Anaheim's Bobby Ryan? Colorado's Chris Stewart? or Dallas' James Neal? all unsigned restricted free agents. The players mentioned above are all wingers and its possible that Burke may be looking to add a center with this kind of trade and could a change of scenery get the likes of Sam Gagner or Andrew Cogliano both from Edmonton going again? The Oilers do need to bolster their backend and are stocked up front, could a trade of Schenn really be out of the norm here? Leafs Nation awaits patiently (in most cases) to see which way Brian Burke goes and with Kaberle's no trade clause kicking back in on August 15th, will the Leafs GM change course and set his sights on moving the number two? Leafs fans want to know.

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Filed Under:   hockey   maple leafs   burke   schenn   kaberle   nhl   ryan  
July 10, 2010 6:14 PM ET | Delete
i think cogliano would be a huge fan favorite in T.O. It's clear a change of scenery would do wonders for him sorta like benoit pouliot, latandresse, mueller, etc.
July 10, 2010 6:35 PM ET | Delete
Schenn was drafted by Burke. Do a little research first.
July 10, 2010 7:49 PM ET | Delete
Schenn was drafted by Cliff Fletcher. Do a little research first.
July 10, 2010 7:59 PM ET | Delete
see what you do is trade kabrele resign him after his year is up easy as that you do not trade the franchise's futur top 2 d for a scorer when you can get a 32 old d for almost the same price. Don't give up on this kid yet got plenty of potential especially when playing with dion.
July 10, 2010 8:04 PM ET | Delete
plus id trade beauchemin and gunnarson over schenn
July 10, 2010 9:02 PM ET
itd take more than gagner and cogliano...schenn is a beast not some player who bb trades for bs
July 10, 2010 9:47 PM ET | Delete
Owned @ OlympicChamps
July 10, 2010 9:55 PM ET | Delete
July 10, 2010 10:15 PM ET | Delete
@mapleleaforeve that was pure ownage.
July 10, 2010 10:17 PM ET | Delete
The uncertainty of what Burke wants to do is driving me bonkers. I mean we have Bozak who can be a #1 or #2 center. If we aquire a #1 center via a trade, than Bozak becomes the #2 center. If not than Bozak is the #1 C. But what's the plan? Is it to make Bozak #1 C
July 11, 2010 12:19 AM ET | Delete
Bozak n Kadri will be the number 1 n 2 centres, book it
July 11, 2010 1:02 PM ET | Delete
if bozak n kadri are gunna be our 1-2 were in trouble they will both get tossed around. If LA wants kaberle, Lombardi, I think, will overpay for him because of the kovy situation if he doen't go to LA. The onle big centers we have are hanson and maybe primeau which is pretty sad. Trade schenn and get a big center
July 12, 2010 5:52 AM ET | Delete
Primeau is UFA and was not resigned, as for Hanson he will be lucky to see any ice time with Grabovski, Mitchell, Bozak, and Kadri playing up the middle he will eith be on the Marlies or moved to the wing.
July 12, 2010 12:30 PM ET | Delete
@ OlympicChamps: You're an idiot
July 12, 2010 3:58 PM ET | Delete
O I forgot about grabovski who's brutal, and john mitchell who is invisible on the ice and has been ever since he has been playing. for blue stfx you are the fucking idiot if you think that is a good line up down the center
July 13, 2010 2:42 PM ET | Delete
If Schenn goes it better be for a young Center with same upside potential as Luke. Maybe Schenn fo Brandon Sutter of Canes? Maybe for Logan Couture of Sharks? Or to Blue Jackets for Voracek?Don't give up Schenn unless you are getting a young talented top six forward calibre player in return.If you are trading a future top 4 D-man then you better get back a future )or currently capable) top 6 forward.Otherwise it is a lateral move at best.
July 13, 2010 3:47 PM ET | Delete
If Burke is getting premium offers for Schenn than he has to consider trading him. I don't like the idea personaly but our forward situation is so weak right now, it has to be considerd.
July 13, 2010 4:04 PM ET | Delete
July 14, 2010 10:00 AM ET | Delete
July 15, 2010 10:39 PM ET | Delete
July 19, 2010 8:29 PM ET | Delete
July 19, 2010 8:55 PM ET | Delete
Trade Kaberle to Dallas with Versteeg (Dallas wants/needs a right-handed forward) for Brad Richards and Jamie Benn (extremely talented, can play any forward position, size, skill, 22 goals as a rookie, led AHL playoffs in scoring - I think?) Richards no. 1 center, Bozak no.2
July 19, 2010 8:56 PM ET | Delete
Trade Kessel to Los Angeles (may sound bad, but it makes sense) LA needs a sniper, lost out on Kovy, Kessel has tons of potential and is an exciting playerToronto gets Brayden Schenn (future all-star no.2 center like Mike Richards) and prospect Kyle Clifford (big winger with scoring potential) And a pick or two. Schenn is ready in a couple years and gets to play with his bro Luke.
July 19, 2010 8:57 PM ET | Delete
This trade would only happen if Toronto wants a big time no.1 centerTrade Kulemin, picks, possibly Clifford, Hanson, or Caputi for C Joe Colborne6 ft 5 center topping out at 225 or 230, with toms of scoring upside. Currently at Denver college adding muscle and refining his game, a few years away, but is most likely a late-bloomer, Joe Thornton kind of player. A tower of power, if nothing else. Boston has way too many centers and Colborne is buried on their depth chart. Huge potential
July 19, 2010 8:57 PM ET | Delete
Lastly, dump Grabovski to a team like Florida or the Isles for a couple picks. Or maybe Sutter in Calgary would want him.I doubt Burke would trade Kessel but that's the best option. He is not a franchise player. Better to build a solid team than build around Kessel.
July 19, 2010 8:58 PM ET | Delete
Also, sign Ryan Johnson, (4th line shot-blocker extraordinare), Eric Belanger (solid 3rd line center, great on faceoffs) Aaron Asham (big 3rd liner, decent depth scoring, fighting, hitting) and Max Afinigenov (fast with good scoring ability).
July 19, 2010 8:58 PM ET | Delete
Lines would be:Benn-Richards-AfinogenovKadri-Bozak-ArmstrongSjostrom-Belanger-AshamMitchell-Johnson-Brown/OrrPhaneuf-SchennGunner-KomiserakLebda-BeaucheminGustavssonGiguere... Or something like that
July 19, 2010 8:59 PM ET | Delete
And for the record, Colby Armstrong can easily put up 50 points, he nearly did in ATLANTA two years ago, he hits hard, frees up space for smaller guys like Kadri, he has tons of energy, battles hard, goes to the net hard, he is a total winner with a great attitude.Get busy Burke, we want a Stanley Cup!
July 19, 2010 8:59 PM ET | Delete
Tell me what you think.
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