mbow30
Spudmeister Supreme
the komisarek contract sucks and all but the leafs aren't the only team overpaying for that sort of player (although they might be the only team overpaying for two of them: let's not forget about our buddy jeff finger).
in any event, kaberle is indispensable to this team. and as burke has said so many times before, if they trade him they will also have to replace him. nobody coming through the pipeline can, though. so you're looking at either another trade, or overpaying on the unrestricted market. neither alternative makes much sense when you consider that kaberle would almost certainly re-sign if a fair offer was made to him.
now, i agree that there are too many resources tied down in the blueline and that spots need to be opened for the likes of aulie, gysbyrs, holzer and possibly even blacker to get an opportunity to fight for playing time. but that issue can be addressed by dealing beauchemin, who would certainly be missed but isn't an essential piece. a top-three of phaneuf, kaberle and schenn is still very, very good. maybe komisarek can bounce back and return to being the solid #4 that he was in montreal. if not there will be ample opportunity for another youngster to seize a top four role, which might be a really positive thing for this team moving forward.
the only justification for dealing kaberle would be if they were able to get a younger and better (or just better) player than they could via the unrestricted free agent market. but from the sounds of it teams aren't willing to go above and beyond late first round picks, or second line players. neither of those options are particularly appealing.
they're better off dealing beauchemin for a prospect and a second rounder, re-signing kaberle and looking to the ufa market to bring aboard that second liner they're being offered for kaberle (or putting that money towards a first liner, somehow).
in any event, kaberle is indispensable to this team. and as burke has said so many times before, if they trade him they will also have to replace him. nobody coming through the pipeline can, though. so you're looking at either another trade, or overpaying on the unrestricted market. neither alternative makes much sense when you consider that kaberle would almost certainly re-sign if a fair offer was made to him.
now, i agree that there are too many resources tied down in the blueline and that spots need to be opened for the likes of aulie, gysbyrs, holzer and possibly even blacker to get an opportunity to fight for playing time. but that issue can be addressed by dealing beauchemin, who would certainly be missed but isn't an essential piece. a top-three of phaneuf, kaberle and schenn is still very, very good. maybe komisarek can bounce back and return to being the solid #4 that he was in montreal. if not there will be ample opportunity for another youngster to seize a top four role, which might be a really positive thing for this team moving forward.
the only justification for dealing kaberle would be if they were able to get a younger and better (or just better) player than they could via the unrestricted free agent market. but from the sounds of it teams aren't willing to go above and beyond late first round picks, or second line players. neither of those options are particularly appealing.
they're better off dealing beauchemin for a prospect and a second rounder, re-signing kaberle and looking to the ufa market to bring aboard that second liner they're being offered for kaberle (or putting that money towards a first liner, somehow).
