 | Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle |
If the Ilya Kovalchuk mess was clogging up the NHL shipping lanes and making it more difficult for the Maple Leafs to move Tomas Kaberle, Brian Burke had reason to hope Tuesday would see both a clarified marketplace and new offers for the veteran blueliner.
Instead, the stunning decision by arbitrator Richard Bloch on Monday to reject Kovalchuk’s wildly front-loaded, 17-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on the grounds it blatantly cir*****vented the league’s salary cap system muddied the waters and made Burke’s job a little tougher.
That’s not to say there aren’t any suitors for Kaberle. There are, although none have yet stepped up with the kind of offer that Burke is hoping to see before the blueliner’s no-trade clause kicks in again at midnight on Sunday.
But having Kovalchuk made a free agent for the second time this summer means the Devils will be occupied with trying to re-work the contract, and there had been some suggestions that if they’d been unable to sign the 27-year-old Russian that GM Lou Lamoriello could have been motivated to take a run at Kaberle to add offence at the back end.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, may also take another shot at Kovalchuk after failing to get his name on a 15-year, $80 million (all figures U.S.) deal earlier this summer. The Kings were another team that could be a fit for Kaberle, so they might be busy elsewhere for a while.
Beyond that, the Kovalchuk ruling adds another wrinkle to a curious summer in the business of the NHL, one that has included the Stanley Cup champions walking away from a salary arbitration award to the goalie that delivered that NHL title.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mapleleafs/tomaskaberle/article/845836--cox-kovalchuk-ruling-hurts-leafs-chances-of-moving-kaberle
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| "Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle" | Login/Create an Account | 82 comments |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by cam7777 on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | Kovalchuk's new deal with Jersey should be hammered out very quickly. Basically, this is a matter of augmenting the original contract by 3%. He clearly wants to be a Devil, and he'd look stupid signing elsewhere after the comments he made when he was introduced at the press conference. This should be done very quickly.
The real concern for Kaberle, si that arbitrator Bloch has been given the green light to investiage Luongo, Savard and Pronger (and possibly one more) immediately. Gillis confirmed the process has already started for Luongo. All these contracts could be retro-actively unregistered, effectively making them all Unrestriced Free Agents.
In the case of Pronger and Luongo, they would probably just rework a deal with their current clubs that fits Bloch's rulings, so there's not much concern there. But Boston could easily walk from Savard, and if the other void contract is, as rumored, Marian Hossa, he would be a huge commodity on the open market. Chicago probably can't afford him if he's not in a front-loaded, cap cheating deal. |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by Leafs_the_word on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | Beckett is reporting that there has been ten decent offers for Kaberle, I can't imagine Kovalchuk will be too big an obstacle for Burke to find a deal. Can't wait to finally get this deal done.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ken-Beckett/Leafs-Not-Afraid-To-Hang-On-To-Kaberle/133/29690 |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by Kramer on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | I heard there are 35 big offers for Kaberle.
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by NonLeafFansAreGay on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Why does everybody want to see Kaberle go? Keep him unless it's a really good offer.
Like Kaberle for Neal and Raycroft!!! lol I'm kidding
but seriously, Kaberle for Clowe
are you kidding me???!? |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by nordiques100 on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | interesting now Luongo's contract is potentially the next to get voided.
Boy wouldnt the Nucks hope so.
they could sign Niemi for 2.75-3 mil per, save 2 mil in cap space and have a nice platoon situation, getting Cory Schneider more games than he would serving as Luongo's backup.
They could finally try and see what Schneider is made of, have still solid goaltending and more cap flexibility today and in future years.
the PA better get a head guy soon. they're taking a beating from Bettman.
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by nordiques100 on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | ugh, i dont like the chances of these happening....especially the Dallas one.
nor am i a big fan of any of those players mentioned except James Neal.
and unfortunately including Jeff Finger means the leafs would take back less.....much much less in any Kaberle trade. He is completely useless, worthless and cant be given away.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/431315-toronto-maple-leafs-potential-tomas-kaberle-trade-options
here were the options mentioned:
To Toronto: Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, 3rd round draft pickTo Los Angeles: Tomas Kaberle, Mikhail Grabovksi, Jeff FingerTo Toronto: Dustin Brown, Scott Parse, 6th round draft pick To Los Angeles: Tomas Kaberle, Mikhail Grabovski, Jeff FingerTo Toronto: RJ Umberger, Andrew Murray, 3rd round draft pick To Columbus: Tomas Kaberle, John Mitchell
To Toronto: James Neal, Brad Richards, 6th round pick To Dallas: Tomas Kaberle, Mikhail Grabovski, Jeff Finger, Mike Brown
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by leemon on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | Ok I have to say something... If the NHL recinds all these contracts your going to make a small group of GMs very very happy and an even larger group hopping mad!!! How is it that teams like Boston Chicago Philly and Vancouver are only being investigated now instead of when they First signed. I mean COME ON ....I'm sure chicago now that they have won a cup are going to be so heart broken at the possible loss of an Aging scoring winger( BOO HOO OH Cry me a river).
What about Boston and savards contract which apperently would put them under the cap if voided. You cant possibly tell me that they would re-up with savard now . All theses teams would have new cap space for the upcoming season.
My point is this if they get voided the NHL needs to levy a heavy fine for this and I'm not talking a lowly 1.2 million,I'm talkin at the very least or a starting point 6 or 7 mil against the cap for atleast a 3 year period with the possible loss of the player that was once signed.
Thats only if voided, Anything less would seem unfair to other teams playing by the Rules |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by toronto77 on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Kaberle will not be traded. Here is the plan, we will keep him this season and make the playoffs, if we don't make the playoffs we will finish in 9th or 10th. Then everyone is worrying that he will not be resigned and we will lose him for nothing. But that is not the case because Kaberle wants to stay. He toughed it out the last 5 seasons of missing the playoffs, why would he leave now just when the team is starting to become a playoff contender. And Burke wants to keep him, he has no problem resigning him or keeping him until he retires (unless he starts to go downhill). Then we will sign about 1 or 2 top 6 or top 3 forwards to help us in the 11/12 season to make a major push for the cup. Since the pickings were pretty crappy for free agency this year, I hear next off season is going to be way better, so now we have more options of getting top 6 forwards without trading valuable players. |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by toronto77 on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | this is off topic,
I know it might be a couple of seasons away but I am pumped for this Jerry D'Amigo kid. I noticed that BB did not sign him to an entry level contract yet, so will he not be at training camp this year? as much as I am excited about seeing Kadri this year I really want to see what D'Amigo can do. I think he can be the next Roy or Drury.
Anyone know about his development? |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by frankinboltonleafs on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) | | With the PA being as weak as it is the balance of power truly is sitting in NY. Holy cow! Where in any business can you look back at contracts you agreed to two and three years ago and say, "We've changed our minds, your signature and our approval of it is void...we are the League!" This decision throws a lot of wrenches into any plans teams were making ...like right now. Deadlines are approaching but everyone needs to wait and see what the "League" does. Perhaps the "League" should run all the teams as well....true parity. As a lifelong fan of the game I don't like what I'm seeing. |
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by leafy on Tuesday, August 10
(User Info | Send a Message) |
I don't believe this talk that the Kovalchuk situation will hurt the Leafs chances of moving Kaberle. When it's crunch time at the eleventh hour, ie, next week, then you'll see teams make stronger bids.
I'm still very hopeful we can land a really good forward who can fill the net. Maybe someone who's not on anyone's radar.
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by leafstime on Wednesday, August 11
(User Info | Send a Message) | I revised my offer to Kovalchuk. Give him $8 mil per year for 5 years and a free case of beer. That's my final offer. Take it.
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by cam7777 on Wednesday, August 11
(User Info | Send a Message) | Nords gave me the idea for this little analysis with his shot at JFJ drafting only 4 Canadians with 25 draft picks during his tenure. He tended to draft Swedes and Russians, among others. So I wondered what would happen if, when he selected a Canadian, who the nearest Swede/Russian was, and when he selected from other nations, who the nearest Canadian was. I also put in, when he drafted Americans, who the nearest Canadian would have been:
2004
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Justin Pogge --- > Alexander Edler
Roman Kukumberg --- > Patrick Bordeleau
Dmitri Vorobiev --- > Mike Brown (that would have saved us a pick)
Robbie Earl --- > Anton Axelsson
Maxim Semenov --- > Danny Taylor
Jan Steber --- > Travis Gawryletz
Pierce Norton --- > Tristan Grant
To be fair, this was a pretty weak year all around, and all of these picks were very late. Still, at the very least, the Canadians would have provided competition at camps, instead of staying in Russia/Europe.
2005
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Tuuka Rask --- > Matt Lashoff (He got this one right....temporarily)
Phil Oreskovic --- > Ilya Zubov
Alex Berry --- > Wacey Rabbit
Johan Dalhberg --- > John Flatters (this guy put up 25 points in the WHL over 4 full seasons - horrendously bad. of course, dalhberg was just as bad)
Anton Stralman - Brock Bradford
Chad Rau - Patric Hornqvist
So far, it looks to me like JFJ actually went wrong when he selected North Americans at all in this year. Zubov was nothing to write home about, but he definitely would have got a better shot in our system than Ottawa's. He was right to pick Stralman, but missed out on Hornqvist. And of course, had he chosen the next avaiable Canadian in round 1, he wouldn't have landed Rask. Looks like the real problem with this draft was not having enough faith in himself to select another Swede (Hornqvist), and trading away the best player drafted. Moron.
2006
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Jiri Tlusty --- > Ty Wishart (but Chris Stewart was on the board too)
Nikolai Kulemin --- > Shawn Matthias (he made the right choice here)
James Reimer --- > Jakub Kovar (made the right choice again)
Korbinian Holzer --- > Matt Beleskey (looks like the right choice to me)
Viktor Stalberg --- > Tyler Ruegsegger (seems these two were made for TO)
Tyler Ruegsegger --- > Stefan Ridderwall (Burke might give Tyler an AHL contract, so this was probably the right choice also)
Leo Komarov --- > Kevin Koopman
Chris Frank --- > Derek Dorsett (always go Canadian if you're going to go North American, this is an L for JFJ)
Benn Ferriero --- > Denis Kasionov (Ferriero actually plays in the NHL now, so again, shockingly, JFJ made the right choice)
I started this thinking JFJ would look like a fool, but as I go on, I find he actually knew his stuff on the draft board. The problem was clearly that he didn't have enough draft picks because he traded them all away for Vesa Toskala, Andrew Raycroft, and other, even less useful players. One more year....
2007
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Dale Mitchell --- > Joakim Andersson (there was just nothing to work with here)
Matt Frattin --- > Vladimir Ruzicka (both are longshots, but Frattin is actually developing half decently in the NCAA. He just put up 19 points in 24 games last year, and has improved in every outting)
Ben Winnett --- > Maxim Grachev (irrelevent, so far)
Juraj Mikus --- > Max Campbell (another one for JFJ)
Chris DiDomenico --- > Patrick Zackrisson (another one for JFJ)
Carl Gunnarsson --- > Simon Lacroix (another one for JFJ)
So, it looks like JFJ would have done a fine job if he was just the drafting manager. A lot of the players he drafted are turning out very well as time goes. However, he didn't look for personal traits, like leadership, and desire to win, that Burke also looks for. He wasn't trying to hit them o
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by Leafs_the_word on Wednesday, August 11
(User Info | Send a Message) | Sportsnet saying we're in on Kennedy. Not sure if he's big enough to play in our bottom six.
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Re: Kovalchuk ruling hurts Leafs’ chances of moving Kaberle (Score: 1)
by mojo19 on Wednesday, August 11
(User Info | Send a Message) | I really wouldn't mind adding a gritty NHL veteran up front. Especially one who could come in for under $2 million. Or even just a veteran who could maybe play on the top 2 lines and bring a bit of stability and leadership. Any of these guys would be a nice addition:
Paul Kariya
Raffi Torres
Jeff Halpern
Eric Belanger
Brendan Morrison
Jason Williams
Mike Comrie
Evgeny Artyukhin
Max Afinogenov
Richard Park
Not that Burke would be interested in this guy but I was amazed at the play of Miroslav Satan in the playoffs. Overall he was Boston's best forward and he scored some clutch goals and made some key plays. I would love to see him come in cheap but again, he is not a Burke type guy at all.
Really I don't mind signing 1 more vet, even if it means that only 1 of Caputi or Irwin can make the team. I don't think we NEED an entire team of 23 year olds, and having a veteran, whether its a scorer or checker, would be a good thing for this team. |
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