I was reading your many comments to yesterday's blog that suggested how many of you would not trade Kaberle for Hossa, and it really pretty much summed something up that I had been thinking for a long time.
The passion of Leaf's nation is like most passions. A blessing and a curse.
Currently the Leafs are in Bubble Hell. They are stuck battling for a playoff spot year after year. Because they can sign free agents, they will never be terrible, because they will never be terrible they can never get a bona fide draft pick. Because the fans demand so much the team will never rebuild, because they will never rebuild, they will always depend on mid-level players.
There is a cardinal rule that says your best player should not be the same player for more than 5 years, unless that player is the best in the game. Sundin has been the best player on the Leafs for a long time now. He is the epitome of class. He has done amazing things despite the fact that he has not had a line-mate that can even come close to playing with him. And he has seen more line-mates than there have been Maple Leaf trade rumours.
The current team is a very talented team, but an emotional wreck. They are a team fighting "not to lose" instead of fighting to win. The Hawks game this weekend was absolutely the perfect example. You can't lose games at home that you lead by two goals after two.
The Leafs are giving up almost 40 shots a game, and the angst in the arena is overwhelming. Maurice is getting a surprising reprieve from the media, mostly because the guy is an amazing guy and takes plenty of time to talk to us. JFJ has been criticized for years by the fans, has a contract shorter than his coaches, and sat by earlier this year as the team looked for a mentor that would help him out.
The Leafs have very few chips that they can move. McCabe has refused to waive the NTC, Kubina is a good defenseman IF you are playing with the lead. If you aren't Kubina looks slow. Kaberle is very valuable and it is time to change the scene.
With Kaberle you can get the two things the Leafs need. A solid two-way forward and a shot blocking defenseman.
I will draw this comparison. Years ago, in the early Lindros era, the Flyers had a line called the "crazy eights." Lindros, Recchi, and Fedyk. It was a great line. Rex set a record for points in a season by a Flyer, and yet the team was not going to the playoffs. When Recchi was sent to Montreal for Desjardins and John LeClair many Flyers fans were baffled. But you have to trade something to get something, and the chemistry change sent the Flyers on a run that saw a Cup final in 97.
The mood just prior to that trade is exactly the same as the mood now in Toronto.
But Leafs fans are so passionate that they are letting their player loyalties outweigh the reality. This is nothing against Kaberle. This is about winning hockey games. The most misused term in hockey is the one that says, "The team gave up on him" when a trade is made. You didn't give up on a player because you traded him. You traded him because the team needed something else. something new.
If you polled the rest of the NHL, I would bet you would get more people saying that they would trade Kaberle for Hossa than you can imagine...of course the Leafs would have to make another move for cap space, but a team in the desert would take some space of their hands pretty quickly. Especially if they move a bunch of cap space away to another team in the east.
If there is a will there is a way when it comes to cap space.
I am not saying that this trade will happen. It is just a rumour. What I do know is that around ten teams, many from the western conference are scouting the leafs these days. Who are they scouting?
"kabs and raycroft," a source told me. "it is widely known that the Leafs are looking to pull something major."
we will see...
UPDATE 1:07: Meyer on waivers...Talkcast today, talk to Bill Clement.
To listen to tghe Talkcast, click below...
To call, call 724-444-7444...talkcast id 49244
This afternoon I will answer more of your Saturday questions.....
I am also working on rumours involving the canes, sabres, pens, stars, and oilers....
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