Kaberle smartest man in the NHL

Mats Sundin could have learned a thing or two

Toronto Maple Leafs fans remember the agony of being far out of the NHL playoff race and finding your most trade-able commodity doesn't want to leave Toronto - hello Mats!!! Though it was a nice compliment to the city, the fact that Mats didn't care about winning a Stanley Cup was detrimental to the Leafs development, as Tomas Kaberle and Brian Burke so deftly proved this year.

Kaberle had a no-trade clause, however with his free agency approaching and the Leafs in the tank yet again, it was becoming clear (just like in Sundin's case...although it5 didn't come to fruition then) that a trade would be beneficial to both parties. The snag was that Kaberle also values quality of life above winning, but Tomas found a brilliant out. He surveyed the Boston Bruins team and decided that they could use a puck-moving defenceman to take some of the load off Zdeno Chara, and so he let Brian Burke know that he'd be willing to be traded to Boston, and Boston alone.

Many GMs may have found that constrictive, but the quick Burke actually turned it into a positive. Some have claimed that Boston overpaid for Kaberle, considering that the Leafs had no other option, but I view this trade differently. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was able to dig deep to get TK because he knew that Tomas really really wanted to play in Boston, and he may even have consulted Chara about the move. Then it was just a matter of meeting Burke's price, and has he had done so well (in Bruins fans eyes) on the Kessel trade, he had some wiggle room to pay up for Kaberle.

Kaberle's offence led Bruins to win over Tampa

To those who believe Kaberle did not significantly contribute to the Bruins Stanley Cup victory, check out his 11 playoff assists and his +8 rating in limited 5 on 5 minutes. Those paying attention know that Boston would not have beaten Tampa Bay without TK, as his 5 assists including game winning and game breaking goals in that series were the difference.

Add in Native Canadian Chris Kelly (brought over from Ottawa), stir vigouously until bubbles start floating to the top, then pour gently into the Cup!!!

Brad Richards, Dallas Stars part ways

Rangers, Maple Leafs in hunt for star center

Now that Brad Richards and the Dallas Stars have officially parted ways (Richards announced he won't negotiate with the Stars until they have an owner; Stars GM said no offer possible before July 1st), it's time for the Leafs to launch a full court PEI press to land Richards in Toronto.

Manhattan's bright lights, or hero of a nation?

If it boils down to the N.Y. Strangers and the T.O. Buds, our ace in the hole will have to be the PEI connection (Darryl Boyce is from PEI, as is Phaneuf's mom, who figure skated for the province). Burke must plan a trip to Charlottetown, where he and Phaneuf can schmooze Richards about the young, energetic and fast improving Leafs team. Brad Richards needs to land somewhere that will be a competitive team over the next 3 to 5 years, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a young, talented core (Phaneuf, Schenn, Kessel, Reimer) that can help keep Brad Richards vital and winning for many years to come.

As probably 80% of PEI hockey fans are also part of Leafs Nation, the chances of Toronto landing Richards are much better than most hockey writers realize.

Who is best #1 center for Toronto Maple Leafs?

Brad Richards, Zach Parise or Paul Statsny???

As I do not believe that Stamkos can be pried away from Yzerman and Tampa, it seems the Buds' pursuit of a first-line center may boil down to pursuit of Brad Richards as a UFA, Zach Parise as a RFA, and Paul Stastny via trade.

Leaving aside the costs of acquisition, which will be steep for any of these guys, which of the 3 do you believe is the best fit for the Leafs over the next three to five years, and why?

Zdeno Chara needs to step up for Boston to win Cup

Both Bruins and Leafs win with Kaberle deal

Tomas Kaberle 16:31 +7 - 18 games 8 Points

Zdeno Chara 28:17 +11 - 17 games 5 Points

Tomas Kaberle is gradually winning over Bruins fans, and the calls may soon be for Chara to pass occasionally (3 assists in 17 games!) rather than for Kaberle to shoot more. I'm not knocking Chara's massive role, as he has been a monster prowling in his own end. Something's gotta give, and the Bruins would be wise to try Chara and Kaberle together if they get behind by a couple of goals in any game.


"Genius" Brian Burke lands 2nd round draft pick from Bruins

The final shoe has dropped in the Bruins-Leafs trade for Tomas Kaberle. In addition to Boston's first round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, and the promising young centre Joe Colborne, the Leafs will now also receive the Bruins' 2012 2nd round pick. This option kicked in if Boston re-signed Kaberle, or if they reached the finals of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, which they have just done.

Though most believe Burke lost the Kessel trade, and that may indeed be the case, my own feeling is that a big move was required at the time and Phil Kessel became the second piece to go with Luke Schenn. The Dion Phaneuf trade added the third impact player and James Reimer rose through the minors to become the fourth.

Kaberle was moved at the perfect time and brought in a significant bounty for the Maple Leafs. Fans of the Boston Bruins have tempered criticism of the trade in recent days, and if the boys in black and gold bring Lord Stanley's Mug back to Beantown, then TK may actually ascend to local hero status.

Leaf fans know his crisp passes will be required against Vancuver's swift defense, while Bruins fans are learning this now, game by game.

Management goals for 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs

Autumn of NHL season will be crucial months

Though it may require the Maple Leafs to sign NHL free agent Brad Richards plus another offensive threat, after so many years of being sent out to golfing pastures, it is no longer enough to just dream of and plan for making the playoffs. Teams that compete strenuously for Lord Stanley's Cup have loftier objectives, so here are my worthwhile targets for the management of the Toronto Maple Leafs to consider.

Objective One - Toronto Marlies win the AHL's Calder Cup

With all the draft picks and impressive young talent in the Leafs system, this is the year to give the Marlies three goalies and twenty two skaters even if it means not everyone dresses every night. The team was raped by the NHL club last season as injured guys and players shipped out by the Leafs were replaced by seven callups from the Marlies, decimating the playoff chances of the American Hockey League franchise. Winning a Calder Cup will provide several graduates to the Leafs each of the next few years, and many "assets" with winning resumes that Burke can package in trades for impact players.

So if some players have big seasons in the AHL and don't get called up, deal with it. Significant holes on the big club will have to be filled via trades before and at the deadline, for this is a year we add talent that's ready to win.


Objective Two - First in Northeast Division on January 1st, 2012

Some may doubt that the Leafs can compete successfully with Boston, Montreal and Buffalo, yet Toronto finished just eleven points back of Montreal and Buffalo, and competed on equal footing with all three clubs during the second half of last season.

The Leafs need to focus on each five game and eight game stretch and perhaps win days off by winning these "mini-seasons", for the first three months of the 2011-2012 NHL season are crucial. I'll accept first place in the division on New Year's Day, or 2nd place but within five points of the top.



Objective Three - Round Two of NHL playoffs

I don't want to hear any excuses about who the Leafs draw in the 2012 NHL playoffs. If we're the favoured team then I expect us to win, and if we're the underdogs, the fans have waited long enough they deserve to both hope for and experience a NHL playoff series win.


So there you have it, my 3 goals for Toronto Maple Leafs management. Build for the future, shoot for the top, drive to the net.

Go Leafs Go!!!

Thanks You Leafs, for a true grit 2nd half

Optimus Reimer the key to turnaround; Phaneuf rock solid

The Stanley Cup tourney will go without the beloved Buds, however they certainly didn't defeat themselves in the 2011 portion of the NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs have a strong youthful core in place for the 2011-2012 NHL season, and Burke's wizardry promises to augment this crew further. Stay tuned for an exciting off-season and a highly anticipated 2011 Leafs training camp.

A few highlights:

- King James Reimer carries a struggling team on his back and turns around a franchise

- Dion Phaneuf steps up after Kaberle leaves, earns his big Leafs "C"

- Phil Kessel emerging as a top playmaker over the final weeks of the season

- Luke Schenn's continued growth as a solid, stay-at-home defender

- Nikolai Kulemin a 30-goal scorer!

- Mikhail Grabovski excels as a 2nd line centre

- Nazem Kadri learning to play with smarts and finesse

- Joffrey Lupul regains scoring touch, clicks with Kessel

- Clarke MacArthur solidifies 2nd line, needs to be re-signed

- Boyce and Crabb show promise alongside Kadri

- Aulie, Lashoff perform under pressure after callup from Marlies

Burke's priorities have to be signing a bona fide #1 centre (hello Brad Richards!) plus a solid veteran goaltender, who is willing to play 25-30 games in support of James Reimer.

Thanks Buds, for the playoff intensity of the last couple of months. We're moving in the right direction, and hopeful for next season.

Go Leafs Go!!!