Quote:
Originally Posted by Bejamin1
How does acquiring one year of Kaberle help the Blues? The obvious answer is that it doesn't. The Blues are not in a position to benefit from a rental.
The team that acquires Kaberle will:
1. At least legitimately be in contention to win the Stanley Cup this year.
2. Have enough cap space next year to at least attempt to re-sign him. This isn't as simple as looking at next years cap. The future price of all quality young players in the organization must also be considered before knowing whether they have 5.0-6.0M to try and sign Kaberle long-term.
That leaves these possible destinations:
1. SJS - Is the best option. Clowe should be the price.
2. NJD - Is no longer an option if Kovulchuk ends up there.
3. BUF - Is not that realistic an option.
4. BOS - No cap space.
There are seriously so few teams that can legitimately benefit from a Kaberle acquisition. Out of those teams even fewer truly have the flexibility to take him on.
Throwing out silly proposals involving teams like St.Louis is just a waste of time. They don't have any interest and for good reason. Just use logic. It's not that hard to see who might be interested in his services and why. It's equally easy to see who definetely won't be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bejamin1
Most teams don't trade away assets for guys who might be enticed to stay. Boyes is happy to stay in St.Louis. They'll be happy to keep him. That way they don't end up giving up something for nothing. See how that works?
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I completely agree. On the surface, St. Louis shouldn't even be in consideration for Kaberle. The reality is though, that to trade him (anywhere) basically requires a perfect storm, and St. Louis may be that team, simply because tehy don't neccesssarily need to resign him. They'll benefit this year, let Pietrangelo/Johnson learn from him, hopefully make the playoffs, and then either keep him or let him walk. The main piece to give up is a guy that was absolutely terrible and overpaid for them last year.
As for your below assessment, I agree with that aswell... Generally, in order for a team to give up enough "value", a team would have to be:
- In Stanley Cup contention with him.
- Have a good chance of being able to lock up Kaberle, but also be prepared to lose him after a year.
- Need a puck mover.
- Have the pieces the Leafs need (something you completely ignored)
1. San Jose -- Not prepared to part with a big package for a player who could walk, don't need a puckmover, and don't have what the Leafs need. If Clowe was what the Leafs needed, they'd have signed Ponikarovsky and called it a day.
2. New Jersey -- Doesn't have teh cap space and doesn't have what the Leafs need.
3. Buffalo -- Doesn't have what the Leafs need and don't really need him.
4. Boston -- Would have to clear Savard & Ryder to make it happen. May not be willing to trade Savard being treated as close to zero value..... and no Boston fan would be willing to do this, we've been over the flame war already.
St. Louis isn't really in a position to make full use of Kaberle because they're not going to win the cup next year, but they have a player who would problably benefit from a change of scenery and would be a near perfect fit, can afford to lose him after a year, and have an expendable player who can be of real value to the Leafs.
As I posted (similar) above.... you do a 3-way deal...
The Sharks get Jackman, STL's 2nd
The Leafs get Boyes, Huskins, SJ's 1st
The Blues get Kaberle, Setoguchi, a prospect defenceman from Toronto, and even more salary space.
Quick way to get into the playoffs without at all mortaging the future and getting another young winger to grow with their group. Setoguchi problably does more for hte Blues than Boyes did last year, and Kaberle significantly elevates their transition game and makes Eric Brewer a significantly better player. With the $2.45m in extra dollars spacce created, the Blues might be able to bring back a guy like Paul Kariya; or add a slightly crappier defenceman to play with Polak/Colaiacovo to make Pietragengelo able to be in the #7 role. Garnet Exelby actually strikes me as a player who would fit here.
EDIT---
Another way to simplify it....(lsight changes in the specifics)
-Blues trade Boyes + 1st (Top 10 Protected) to Leafs for Kaberle + Prospect Defenceman
-Blues trade Jackman (or even Kaberle) for Setoguchi (+ in the case of Kaberle).
Blues get go from Boyes ($4.5m this year) + 1st Round Pick (Top 10 Protected) to Setoguchi ($1.8m This Year), Prospect Defenceman From Leafs, Some Other Asset from Sharks. Or Blues go from Boyes + 1st (if it's in bottom 20) + Jackman to Setoguchi + Prospect + Kaberle. Lots of permutations here.
