So Darren Dreger of TSN thinks it's finally going to happen, barring "a complete meltdown" in negotiations: Defenseman Tomas Kaberle, waiving his no-trade clause and moving to the Boston Bruins.
Yes, we've seen this movie before, too. And the end is never as satisfactory as the setup.
But Dreger offered one bit of new information that could grease the gears on this: Kamp Kaberle may not be seeking a contract extension from the Bruins as a condition for the trade to happen.
The dynamics of the trade haven't been entirely worked out and sources indicate the Leafs are is waiting for Boston to put the final pieces of the puzzle in place - a process which may take another day or two to finalize.
Cap space is somewhat of an issue for the Bruins - who are believed to be working on a secondary trade (not involving Toronto) to create some cap flexibility. With the addition of Chris Kelly, Blake Wheeler has become a likely target - primarily because of his $2.2 million salary.
Bruins president Cam Neely has long been a supporter of Wheeler, going back to the time he recruited him to Boston. But at $2.2 million and with restricted free agency looming, cutting the cord in favor of acquiring Kaberle may be a necessity.
Do you believe Kaberle will end up in Boston?
Mick Colageo of Inside The Bruins had this look at Kaberle and the B's:
Kaberle, who turns 33 a week before [Chris] Phillips, nearly came to Boston at the 2009 draft when Chiarelli and Toronto GM Brian Burke realized a last-minute misunderstanding over which team was going to fork over its first-round pick as part of a Phil Kessel swap. Kessel ultimately went to Toronto for consecutive first-round picks - Boston took Tyler Seguin second overall in 2010 - and a second-rounder from last year (Jared Knight).
But while the Bruins wisely gave up on Dennis Wideman as their primary puck pusher, they didn't come out of the summer with a replacement. Fifty-seven games are in the books, and the Bruins are still without the player who would make them eligible for Stanley Cup contention. Check the sides of sports' greatest trophy; no team wins it without an elite talent on the blue line.
Stanley Cup of Chowder offered this take on Kaberle's impact:
The Bruins have been interested in Kaberle for two solid years because they badly need a mobile defenseman who can quarterback the power play. Anyone who watched the recent games against Detroit and San Jose saw what a strong forecheck can do to the Bruins. Anytime there's a pairing involving a combo of Adam McQuaid, Mark Stuart, Johnny Boychuk or Andrew Ference on the blue line, the B's are in jeopardy of getting stuck in their own zone. Add Kaberle to the defense, though, and suddenly, they have two very good puck movers in Kaberle and Steven Kampfer, and two adequate ones, in Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. The power play, 17th in the NHL, would get a huge boost from putting Kaberle at the point opposite Chara's booming shot.
Finally, The Bruins Blog wants the Leafs' No. 1 pick, currently in Boston's possession, moved at the deadline:
In the week since Chiarelli told WEEI he would consider trading Toronto's pick, it has lost a heavy amount of value. For a guy who wants to see his team take the step from high-end status to elite level, the only move here is to get rid of that pick and get a player that will shake up the Bruins' dressing room and on-ice performance. Even a rental player - albeit one that Chiarelli believes he has a responsible chance to re-sign - has to be on the radar with this draft pick slipping down the draft chart by the day.
Bob McKenzie writes that anyone who thinks that pick is headed back to the Leafs in this deal is "delusional," which is probably accurate. But wouldn't it just be delicious hockey theater?
Exciting times in Kaberle World. At least until he goes, 'Meh, I'm good' and refuses to waive his no-trade clause 5 minutes before the trade deadline.
And then signs with Boston in the summer, of course.
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