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Buffalo, NY • United States • 23 Years Old • Male
On a Toronto radio station earlier this week, Leafs GM Brian Burke indicated that defenseman Tomas Kaberle is generating some interest throughout the league. Local Toronto radio is reporting that Buffalo was one of two teams that have contacted Brian Burke about acquiring defenseman Tomas Kaberle.

This is a move by the Sabres that makes a great deal of sense. Kaberle is an extremely gifted offensive defenseman and an established power play quarterback. He has one year remaining on his contract, with a cap hit of 4.25 million.

At the trade deadline, I advocated making an aggressive pitch to acquire Kaberle. He would have significantly improved our power play. As many suspected, our struggling power play proved to be our achilles heal in the playoffs.

Other than his keen offensive vision and skills, Kaberle brings some other interesting intangibles:

First, with him at the point, Vanek will instantly score 10+ more goals than last season. Kaberle is a skilled power play quarter back, and a great offensive dman. He'll get shots to the net. Vanek's bread and butter on the power play (tipping shots) was in effect not an option for him this season due to the Sabres sub par power play.

Second, Kaberle can mentor Myers and help hone his offensive skills. He's an elite passer and has great offensive vision. A pairing of Myers and Kaberle could be extremely effective (think of it as a lesser "Pronger/Niedermeyer" combo).

I'd be willing to surrender our 1st round pick to acquire Kaberle. A 1st Round Pick and a prospect not named Ennis or Kennedy.

And if Darcy is willing to make this move, I am excited at other moves he may make in the off season.
Filed Under:   Kaberle   Sabres   Vanek   Myers   Burke  
June 3, 2010 7:54 PM ET | Delete
"He'll get shots to the net."??? You clearly don't watch the leafs. The guy refuses to shoot the puck.
June 3, 2010 8:04 PM ET | Delete
I agree with the second point and most of the first until you said "hell get shots to the net."insinuating that he is a shooter. in fact His a PASSER, even pressure by the maple leafs organization to shot the puck more only resulted in 158 shots which happened to be a career high in shots for thomas. He's not comfortable shooting the puck and it showed. His soon to be 33 years old and he wont change is game now. Expect 120 shots out of him this year, which is average for a third line d-men.
June 3, 2010 8:08 PM ET | Delete
Stafford stright up and Kaberle would need to be resigned so it's not just one and done. You don't trade for a player like that and let him walk.
June 3, 2010 9:54 PM ET | Delete
I think the comment of "gets shots to the net" was meant as in, "when he shoots, it gets to the net"... Kaberle has a very accurate, fairly hard shot from the point, and as has been pointed out, he is EXTREMELY selective of when he lets one go. If the OP is willing to part with a 1st and any prospect (except Ennis or Kennedy), I'm saying Kassian and their 1st and I'll start faxing the paperwork over immediately.
June 3, 2010 10:28 PM ET | Delete
Kassian and Ennis is a ....NO
June 3, 2010 10:52 PM ET | Delete
Stafford and a first as long as Kaberle can get resigned or no deal. To give up a first for a guy that has a year left and the Sabres bad track record, to risky.
June 4, 2010 12:30 AM ET | Delete
First and Gerbe, Kabs gets an extra 3 yrs. at 5mil. Let Hank
June 4, 2010 9:23 AM ET | Delete
hmmmm...kaberle, eh?...am of the opinion that myers will be able to qb the pp...last season he had 3g and 13a on the pp and showed exceptional poise with the puck while waiting for an open lane...i'd say roll with him and go in another direction........
June 4, 2010 9:34 AM ET | Delete
i agree that offense is important...but as i look at the finals, i see pronger doing a helluva job vs. big buff and in effect he has totally disrupted the chicago's top line...and stymied their pp as well...
June 4, 2010 9:37 AM ET | Delete
did tallinder make myers a better d-man?...or did myers make tallinder a better one?...early in the season, i'd take the former, but (and i think most would agree) in the end, the latter was more the case...imo, you put any #2/3 d-man who can log minutes next to myers and their game goes up a notch...
June 4, 2010 9:41 AM ET | Delete
i'm for pairing myers with a d-man with an edge who's more inclined to take care of the defensive zone...let myers crank it up out of the back-end and use his hockey-sense, reach and skill to pinch in whenever necessary...this, imo, is why myers was drafted by the sabres...
June 4, 2010 9:47 AM ET | Delete
a guy like volchenkov would be awesome, but because there are other holes to fill, the $5m he may be asking for could be a bit too much...willie mitchell would fit the bill well...he's a top-pair, shut-down d-man who wouldn't break the bank ($3.5-4m?) and who would only get better playing next to myers...another one may be shaone morrison ($2m?)
June 4, 2010 9:50 AM ET | Delete
sure, the pp may still be inconsistent, but, don't forget, the sabres still have major holes to fill up-front with the top-six and there are forwards out there who can run the pp from the point........."to all my friends!".........solid!!!
June 4, 2010 9:54 AM ET | Delete
I agree that Kabs helps get the PP shots to the net on the point. He is able to throw beautiful on time passes to his partner. Not having to stop the puck first before you shoot, helps your power pley get shots to the net.Kassian 1st round pick for kaberle
June 4, 2010 10:07 AM ET | Delete
a top prospect and a #1 seems like something a team would do at the deadline for a rental...kaberle has one year on his contract...not worth it...the sabres could make a deal with edm for souray...concievably, they could get him cheaper because he wants out...yeah, he costs a bit more, but he's signed for two years, is better offensively, is big and he's got an edge
June 4, 2010 11:47 AM ET | Delete
You would pay more for a month of a player than a year?Souray is not better offensively than Kaberle. Granted he's got a harder shot that he uncorks more often, but doesn't skate well and half the time handles the puck like its a hand grenade.
June 4, 2010 1:19 PM ET | Delete
Yeah this bosoo guy doesnt know what he is talking about. Kaberle is a good pucki moving defense men. I think Kassian and a 1st would be perfect. Why does it make sense to give up more for a rental opposed to a full year giving you more time to resign the player.
June 4, 2010 1:44 PM ET | Delete
leaf fans always overrate their players...if he's that good, why would burke, the omnipotent one, trade him?...especially with the 30th-ranked pp...remember what leaf nation thought kubina an mccabe were worth?...at least a couple of first-rounders and a top prospect or two (total)..."a good pucki moving d-man" is not worth a #1 and a former #1...kaberle=OVERRATED!...especially by leaf-nation
June 4, 2010 2:25 PM ET | Delete
Just as Leafs fans overrate their own, fans of other teams underrate the value that Leafs players hold. In his second consecutive "declining season" Kaberle was still in the top ten amongst defencemen in points and assists while playing for less of than anyone not on an entry-level deal (Doughty, Myers). Tell me how that doesn't hold value.
June 4, 2010 2:39 PM ET | Delete
id say the sabres 1st for kaberle with minor things being thrown in there ( 4th rounders and minor prospects going back and fourth) is fine.
June 4, 2010 2:47 PM ET | Delete
i get what you're saying, a-mar...i've no problem with that...if some other team wants to cough up a 1st and a former 1st-round pick, that's their problem...the sabres have an excellent offensive threat in tyler myers and, as stated earlier, i think he'll be their pp qb...they don't need is another one-dimensional, soft-but-skilled player like kaberle...
June 4, 2010 4:10 PM ET | Delete
What the Sabres DO need is another top pairing blueliner. It seemed that until Myers came along the Sabres had a defense-by-committee approach. Nothing wrong with that, but with the imminent departures of Tallinder and Lydman, they could use another minutes-muncher at the top of the depth chart and a second powerplay weapon to compliment Myers. Kaberle fills both those needs from my perspective.
June 4, 2010 4:26 PM ET | Delete
yes, i do believe the sabres need another top-pairing blueliner...they have miller in net and myers as their #1 d-man...their "build from the goal out" philosophy is taking shape rather nicely (you're right, they did have d by committee)...i'd rather see them take the next step by plunking down some cash on a volchenkov or mitchell...or even the aforementioned souray...they've all got a serious edge (something tallinder doesn't)...kaberle, to me, seems like a cross between campbell and tallinder
June 4, 2010 6:24 PM ET | Delete
Kaberle is available because the Leafs are suddenly very deep on the defense side, but seek another skilled forward and a little more effective size on the wing. His $4.25 M would be better put towards comparable forward right now.
June 4, 2010 6:26 PM ET | Delete
I can see Buffalo's number 1 pick being movable - as it is in the "crap-shoot" range, Kassian would interest Burke too, though his recent troubles might have put a taint on his value.
June 4, 2010 7:00 PM ET | Delete
Volchenkov and Mitchell are both very solid defensemen, but they both run into health issues and don't add the puckmoving ability that the current Sabres blueliners lack. Looking over the existing roster, I just can't see anyone outside of Myers putting up more than 25 points next season... and to improve you've got to have more than just one guy who can man the point on the power play.
June 4, 2010 7:01 PM ET | Delete
Why not go with an all ex-Leafs off-season, grab Kaberle for the skill you need and Exelby for the nasty you're craving. :-D
June 4, 2010 9:20 PM ET | Delete
Stafford and a first for Kaberle, for the third time. No Kassien, the first should work because you can't trade for him and not know if they can sign him to an extention.
June 5, 2010 11:53 AM ET | Delete
I'm fine with Stafford and a 1st. I'd obviously prefer Kassian in the sense that he seems to be a real Burke-type guy... but Stafford is a guy about the be forced out of Buffalo's top six with enough untapped offensive potential to be interesting.
June 5, 2010 12:24 PM ET | Delete
Zack Kassian would be a pipe dream that Burke won't get. I can see Stafford and a high draft pick along with their AHL goaltender. The pick and goaltender will then get swapped to move up in the draft since the Leafs already have too many goaltending prospects. The Sabres won't give up their first rounder AND their prospect goaltender.
June 5, 2010 12:46 PM ET | Delete
buffalo should trade derek roy, and stafford and a 1st for kaberle, kulemin and a 3rd
June 5, 2010 1:22 PM ET | Delete
Flames have some solid Dmen avail
June 5, 2010 1:22 PM ET | Delete
June 5, 2010 1:23 PM ET | Delete
the only flames defence that could suit the sabres are probably jbo and gio. but they arnt goin no where
June 5, 2010 1:25 PM ET | Delete
their ahl goltender?...you mean jonas enroth?...the one who's no more than a year away from getting his shot in the nhl?.......why would the sabres trade stafford (a former #1,) their #1 this year, and enroth for kaberle, who'll be ufa next season and costs $4.5m?...ummmm...i don't think so
June 5, 2010 1:27 PM ET | Delete
jordan are you nuts Roy has way more value then kaberle and kuleminI don't want Kaberle bc he's a major liability defensively I would rather let Grangani or Crawford have their chance I do think Roy and Staff will be traded though
June 5, 2010 1:27 PM ET | Delete
and desperate for a #1 D
June 5, 2010 1:34 PM ET | Delete
leaf fans are wacky with their trade scenarios...always have been, always will be...sabres give you stafford, then throw in quite possibly their #1 prospect (enroth) and their #1 so toronto can trade it to move up in the first round?--cuckoo!!!...the sabres could just do that themselves...as for j-bow?...you can have him...twice
June 5, 2010 1:38 PM ET | Delete
easy buffalo is arguably the worst team in the league on paper. kaberle and kulemin would boost them a little. and roy sucks d*ck compared to kaberle. kaberle had 49 pts this year and roy had 69. u guys also want to gwt rid of stafford, well we'll take mr. roy and you guys can have kulemin to top it off. SUCK IT, B*TCH
June 5, 2010 1:39 PM ET | Delete
Thanks for all the feed back. I'm not advocating that Kaberle is a shooting machine (as many Leafs fans were quick to point out), but rather he is a smart PPQB and knows when he can get a shot through to the net. I should have been more careful with my wording. Thank you for the feedback though.
June 5, 2010 1:39 PM ET | Delete
^KABS IS D AND ROY IS NO. 1 CENTER! ^
June 5, 2010 1:39 PM ET | Delete
Message Posted
June 5, 2010 1:41 PM ET | Delete
you're right, warpath, grags is ready...although i believe crawford's at least a year away...tj brenan should get a call this season and i'd pencil in weber as part of the sabres this season...the sabres right side is pretty much set--myers, rivet, and monty...the left side is open
June 5, 2010 1:42 PM ET | Delete
games are not played on paper, moron
June 5, 2010 1:44 PM ET | Delete
kj, thx for the blog...myers knows how to get shots through...no need to pay that much for a pp-specialist...look at chicago this series...they've got keith and soupy...how's their pp?
June 5, 2010 1:48 PM ET | Delete
bosoo i bet you play house hockey or beer league, i play aaa and you cant tell me right now that games arent played on paper. philly and hawks have the two most deep depth charts in the league. your sabres lost because the pp sucks hard c*ck. cjhicago and philly have unreal d and your sasbres dont. THATS MY POINT YOUR THE MORON YOU DUMBSH!T
June 5, 2010 1:58 PM ET | Delete
yeah...and kaberle, a noted defensive liability, is gonna strengthen buffalo's d...i'll stick by some of my previous points...leaf fans overrate their own players...some even come up with idiotic trade scenarios like a #1 pick, a #1 prospect and a former #1 pick for kaberle
June 5, 2010 1:59 PM ET | Delete
The Sabres have plenty of prospects. Give the Leafs Roy and a 1st. Hell, throw in Stafford. Back comes Kaberle and someone irrelevant.
June 5, 2010 2:01 PM ET | Delete
how about not dealing with the leafs at all?...let them pawn kaberle off on some other unsuspecting team...
June 5, 2010 3:10 PM ET | Delete
The Sabres the worst team on paper??? keep smoking your shit clown. Where do you get your info? aaa hockey? from where the pressbox? You are the reason why this site sucks.
June 5, 2010 3:23 PM ET | Delete
Don't trade Roy to the LeafsWe will be sorry six times a yearSend him out West
June 6, 2010 12:23 AM ET | Delete
b0s0o1, stop tarring all Leafs fans with the same brush. I get it that you think that one defenseman (Myers) can handle all the powerplay time in Buffalo. I disagree and think that a second defenseman with puckmoving abilities would only improve Buffalo's defense. If the Sabres were to replace Tallinder and Lydman with Kaberle and a tough stay-at-home type (McKee?) they would walk away much improved.
June 6, 2010 6:33 AM ET | Delete
thankyou a mar
June 6, 2010 10:53 AM ET | Delete
i hear ya, a-mar...i did use a broad stroke to paint all leaf fans the same color...many from "leaf-nation" feel that the "hockey gods" have given them omnipotent powers...like they've been chosen to gaze into some sacred, puck-shaped oracle high atop mount maple while the rest merely wallow in their pedestrian ways...whatever..........anyhow....
June 6, 2010 10:59 AM ET | Delete
myers was a revelation last season...to say that he'll play all the powerplay was quite the condescending statement (shrugs)...and you wonder why people paint leaf-fans, and canadians for that matter, with a broad stroke...kaberle is not worth $4.5m to the sabres...he's not worth a #1 pick and a #1 prospect or former #1 pick
June 6, 2010 11:04 AM ET | Delete
the sabres problems in general, and the back-end in particluar, is mainly due to an over-abundance of soft-but-skilled players...they have myers who can move the puck...they have sekera who's a puck-mover...they have buts who was drafted with offense in mind...and, as for mckee?...the same one who was a #6/7 d-man for the pens last season?...yeah...that'll help
June 6, 2010 11:15 AM ET | Delete
No condescending statement on my end, I'll not dignify another rant from you about Leafs fans AND Canadians. Look at what you've said. You keep saying that the Sabres don't need a one-dimensional player because Myers will handle the powerplay duties. Sabres fans would be the first to suggest that Sekera is not the solution if the Sabres are to improve. I suggested McKee as a cost effective depth solution (see 5-6) that adds a dimension of nastiness that isn't apparent on Buffalo's current defense corps.
June 6, 2010 11:21 AM ET | Delete
June 6, 2010 11:36 AM ET | Delete
my apologies...it was never my intent to suggest that myers would play every pp minute of every game...but he'll, obviously, play 60-75% of a pp which leaves 25-40% for the second unit...sabres pp woes go a bit deeper...not sure whether it's ruff or mccutcheon coaching it, but it lacks serious continuity...as for 5/6 d-men, mike weber'll get a shot to be the player you mentioned, and he should succeed...
June 6, 2010 1:49 PM ET | Delete
I'm with bosoo here, because if you know Kaberle, you know his plus-minus, and his lack of DEFENSE. I think the team is better without a Campbell or Kaberle for now. We must find a power-play d that isn't a liability, otherwise we will have to try and develop from within and possibly go after a Plekanec to help the pp right away?
June 6, 2010 3:33 PM ET | Delete
I just don't think there's a power play quarterback out defensive limitations under reasonable contract that the Sabres would be able to acquire as easily as Tomas Kaberle. I think his defensive limitations are magnified with the large Toronto media and 29th place Leafs team. Keep in mind he played half a season with Vesa Toskala behind him. On a team with a stellar netminder and solid defensive types (Myers, Rivet, Montador) I think he could play adequate defense and help the power play immensely.
June 6, 2010 5:44 PM ET | Delete
Yea it is hard to find pp dman let alone pp dman who actually are decent defensivley but I just don't know about Kaberle. If we do get him, we better not trade Roy within the division and I don't like my d if it has three Butler Sekera and Kabs. Too soft. Sekera or butler need to go if this trade happens
June 6, 2010 7:05 PM ET | Delete
Can understand that. Don't think that Roy is Toronto bound. Trading Roy for defense would open up a little too big a hole up front for the Sabres. I think Stafford and 1st round pick or Stafford and Kassian are far more likely. Stafford seems like a player that Buffalo management would like to move to fill a hole at a different position. I feel that there are enough defensive options available as UFAs that Buffalo could address toughness concerns cheaply that way.
June 7, 2010 10:00 AM ET | Delete
good kaberle analysis, a-mar...joe corvo could help on the pp and he would cost nothing in return, plus he could be had for no more than $3m...as witnessed by tallinder's "resurgence," anyone playing next to myers will have their game bumped up a notch...still don't think kabrele's worth the contract or the asking price of leaf-fans
June 7, 2010 10:09 AM ET | Delete
for an extra $500k (at most,) the sabres could go all in for one of the best pp qb's in the game--gonchar...for $4.5-5m they could target fa kim johnsson...they could go after souray, and probably give up less than what you're asking, and pay an extra $1m in salary for two years...all viable options in the sabres "quest for a pp qb"
June 7, 2010 10:14 AM ET | Delete
here's what i believe the sabres d will look like in oct.--right side will be myers, rivet, and monty...#4 will be either buts or sekara, #6 will be weber...the #2 d-man spot next to myers is an interesting spot and they have plenty of options whether they go after a "puck-mover" or a "stay-at-home"...myers' play allows them to go either way...that's the luxury of having a player like him
June 7, 2010 1:22 PM ET | Delete
Yeah, I think we can all agree that Myers is awesome. Calder trophy winner, for sure.
June 8, 2010 8:13 AM ET | Delete
boos Rivet is out til Dec with his shoulder surgery
June 8, 2010 3:04 PM ET | Delete
a big howdy, deadhead : )....ummmm...rivet...things went really well with the surgery: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2010/05/regier-optimistic-rivet-will-be-back-for-camp.html...should be ready for the start of the season...if not, no reason why monty can't jump up to second-pairing for a bit...
June 8, 2010 8:40 PM ET | Delete
I don't believe what they print in the Buffalo News. All lies I tell ya.
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