Kaberle, Kaberle, Kaberle!
Posted 6:23 PM ET | Comments 16
According to Howard Berger and Eklund, Kaberle is indeed on the block and the Canucks are sniffing around. A peek at some of the comments after Eklund’s blog presented some pretty far-fetched, ambitious –and ultimately delusional—propositions for the Czech’s services. Kaberle would no doubt improve the surprisingly fragile and porous Canucks D, but he is not worth a Hodgson, a Kesler or even a Burrows.
Let’s face the facts:
The Canucks do need some help on the back end, but there are plenty of options available. For strictly offense and the PP, Bergeron is still kicking and it sure would be nice to plug him in on the point and let him unleash bombs on Backstrom and Khabibulin, much like he has done to us in the past. The guy finds a way to score crucial goals and his point totals cannot be ignored.
Zubov would be a serviceable fit if not a gamble, and may be available for cheap. Derek Morris is around, Dmitri Kalinin can move the puck, Schneider has proven to be relatively ageless; and all these guys could probably be had without breaking the bank, maybe on a one year deal giving us that much needed flexibility for the impending cap-doom of 2010-2011. If Edler or Bieksa take another step, there is less of a need to really go out and pursue another high-end, middle echelon D-man (which, as Berger states, is all that Kaberle is)
With that being said, Kaberle would look good. But who is to go? If the market is Kessel (the 36 goal scorer), we are out of the stakes, done and done. We simply do not have anyone comparable to him, and the one person remotely close, Kesler, is pretty much untouchable. If it’s Kessel (the defensively weak, asking-for-too-much RFA), we may have something to provide Burkie. Granted, not of his sniper-pedigree or potential upside, but still there are some good, young, serviceable players with potential in the Canuck ranks.
Jannik Hansen is going to be a good 20- 20 guy, two or three years down the road, and Mason Raymond has some untapped potential. And I believe both are former Nonis draft picks. Either, plus a 2nd rounder next year, is closer to what the Canucks would be willing to give to obtain Kaberle. Ok, ok, I would concede even both of them for Kaberle, but that would be really pushing a limit, anything more would be drastically overpaying.
The other chips are on the farm, and they aren’t much better. Corey Schneider, sure, trade him along too, but it is wishful thinking that he can fetch a hefty price, let alone be more than a filler in a Kaberle deal, as there are plenty of goalies with his successes (Labarbera, Sabourin) in the league and no better than back-ups, and there are better goalies (exhibit A, Josh Harding) to be had. Grabner is no different than Raymond or Hansen, and it is still seriously doubtful whether or not he can or will do anything in the bigs.
Anyways, I ask you Toronto fans, put down the spiked Kool-Aid and tell me who you would want (and really think you could get from the Nucks), and all you long-suffering Vancouverites, who would you be willing to part with for Kaberle?
Let’s face the facts:
The Canucks do need some help on the back end, but there are plenty of options available. For strictly offense and the PP, Bergeron is still kicking and it sure would be nice to plug him in on the point and let him unleash bombs on Backstrom and Khabibulin, much like he has done to us in the past. The guy finds a way to score crucial goals and his point totals cannot be ignored.
Zubov would be a serviceable fit if not a gamble, and may be available for cheap. Derek Morris is around, Dmitri Kalinin can move the puck, Schneider has proven to be relatively ageless; and all these guys could probably be had without breaking the bank, maybe on a one year deal giving us that much needed flexibility for the impending cap-doom of 2010-2011. If Edler or Bieksa take another step, there is less of a need to really go out and pursue another high-end, middle echelon D-man (which, as Berger states, is all that Kaberle is)
With that being said, Kaberle would look good. But who is to go? If the market is Kessel (the 36 goal scorer), we are out of the stakes, done and done. We simply do not have anyone comparable to him, and the one person remotely close, Kesler, is pretty much untouchable. If it’s Kessel (the defensively weak, asking-for-too-much RFA), we may have something to provide Burkie. Granted, not of his sniper-pedigree or potential upside, but still there are some good, young, serviceable players with potential in the Canuck ranks.
Jannik Hansen is going to be a good 20- 20 guy, two or three years down the road, and Mason Raymond has some untapped potential. And I believe both are former Nonis draft picks. Either, plus a 2nd rounder next year, is closer to what the Canucks would be willing to give to obtain Kaberle. Ok, ok, I would concede even both of them for Kaberle, but that would be really pushing a limit, anything more would be drastically overpaying.
The other chips are on the farm, and they aren’t much better. Corey Schneider, sure, trade him along too, but it is wishful thinking that he can fetch a hefty price, let alone be more than a filler in a Kaberle deal, as there are plenty of goalies with his successes (Labarbera, Sabourin) in the league and no better than back-ups, and there are better goalies (exhibit A, Josh Harding) to be had. Grabner is no different than Raymond or Hansen, and it is still seriously doubtful whether or not he can or will do anything in the bigs.
Anyways, I ask you Toronto fans, put down the spiked Kool-Aid and tell me who you would want (and really think you could get from the Nucks), and all you long-suffering Vancouverites, who would you be willing to part with for Kaberle?
Leafs: Kaberle, Ponikarovski, Stajan, 1st rounder 2011, 2nd and 3rd 2010 to the Canucks: Hodgson, Grabner and 1st 2010
that seems to work on multiple levels... speeds up leafs rebuild, gives canucks forward depth, gives leafs blue chip prospect, adds 2 picks to canucks draft next year, gives canucks top pairing power play puck moving d-man... if the canucks needed a salary dump ... sending someone else our way and putting white back wouldn't be outta the question ... i know its big and far-fetched ... but i would be trying for this type of multi-player swing if i were double b
The fact that you don't think Kaberle is worth anyone of those three players shows you have NO clue as to what you're talking about.ZERO clue and I mean NONE.Worthless blog.
Kesler and a second
Quite obviously the Canucks are in a win now mode, Luongo and the Sedins are both in the prime's of their career and require the support to win now. With that being said, an expanded trade to Vancouver involving more players does make sense. I like the trade proposed above or...
Leafs: Stajan, Kaberle, Ponikarovsky and a 2nd and a 3rd forCanucks: Hodgson, Schroeder
Erm... Kaberle Ponikarovsky 2nd <-> Kesler Schreoder 1stSwing Van Ryn for TO and Raymond for Van to up the deal a bit. But TO isn't getting Hodgeson, as much as we'd want him.
To Toronto: D Alex Edler, F Mayson Raymond, Mikael Grabner, 2nd in 2010To Vancouver: D Tomas Kaberle, F Alexei Ponikarovsky, 3rd and a 5th in 2011
If the Canucks aren't willing to give up anything of worth for a top-end defencemen... then I don't deal with them. You can't offer guys like Jannik Hansen or Mason Raymond and tell me its a good move. You have to give something to get something. If the Canucks want Kaberle, they are going to part with Hodgson or Schroeder plus.
and if you are saying that Bergeron, Zubov, Morris or Kalinin (KHL) are at a level even remotely comparable to Kaberle... then you need to reassess your eye for talent.
Leafs: Kaberle, Ponikarovski, Stajan, 1st rounder 2011, 2nd and 3rd 2010 to the Canucks: Hodgson, Grabner and 1st 2010.I don't think so. If you ever made that trade you would loose your job the same day my friend. Never Never ever gonna happen!!!
ya this trade is not gonna happenvan wont give up hodgson and i get that but thats what it would takenot like toronto Has to trade kabs we are much better with him maybe like a MVR for a Hansen or raymond seems reasonable
Hansen and Raymond do not fill a need for the Toronto Maple Leafs... they are not high-end forwards and frankly are not an upgrade on a Ponikarovsky, Hagman or Stempniak.
i would take raymond over stempniak