It might sound crazy, but Bruins should keep Kaberle
So now back to Kaberle. While the power play didn’t become a world-beater, it certainly improved over the course of the Cup Final and even in the Tampa Bay series. Front and center was Kaberle, with his fearless passes along the blue line and uncanny ability to keep pucks in regardless of how high off the ice they are or which side of him they were headed toward.
Blaming Kaberle for the power-play woes is like blaming a pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 for going 1-10 with no run support. The Bruins’ would-be finishers – Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton, et al. – are just as to blame. And what about would-be playmaker David Krejci? Working the half wall most of the season, the center was just as unproductive on the power play as Kaberle.
At even strength, even when he was struggling, Kaberle was able to keep defenses on their heels with his ability to move the puck far and move it quick. Subtly he provided the Bruins with what they got him for, even if you couldn’t quantify it on the score sheet. He sacrificed his body to block shots when the stakes were raised, even if he hit as rarely as Tyler Seguin.
Imagine Kaberle with a full training camp and exhibition season to get used to Julien’s system and play with a consistent partner (maybe even Zdeno Chara). Imagine him settling into the city instead of learning a new town after his first NHL trade in the midst of a season. Accept the fact that even if he made some gaffes out on the ice, he didn’t commit more than any other blue liner (except maybe Dennis Seidenberg) in a Bruins sweater, and he just took more flak for his errors because of the hype surrounding him when he got here and his salary.
By all accounts, Kaberle was a positive influence in the locker room, and it couldn’t hurt to have him around to help raise future “PMDs” Steven Kampfer and Matt Bartkowski.
Bet you didn’t believe there could be so many reasons to keep Tomas Kaberle. Well, there you have them all. And if Chiarelli is really interested in making Kaberle a long-term Bruin – a fact I’m not completely sold on based on Chiarelli’s vague comments on the matter – he should get the deal done without fear Kaberle would be anything but a solid contributor to future Bruins clubs.
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No. no and NO !!! . Kaberle was less then stellar in the defensive zone and that’s why he was demoted to the 3rd pairing. The guy was too predictable on the PP as all our opponent knows that he won’t shoot the puck. Sorry but Kaberle’s best years are behind him and anyone who will pay more then 3 per for his service will make a colossal mistake. We don’t need that kind liability on our team.
No. no and NO !!! . Kaberle was less then stellar in the defensive zone and that’s why he was demoted to the 3rd pairing. The guy was too predictable on the PP as all our opponent knows that he won’t shoot the puck. Sorry but Kaberle’s best years are behind him and anyone who will pay more then 3 per for his service will make a colossal mistake. We don’t need that kind liability on our team.
EDIT: To clarify, I know the B’s couldn’t get much for him if he doesn’t produce, but ANYTHING would help offset the major losses we took to get him.
Am I the only one thinking this…..sign him then look to trade him. Letting him go after giving up soo much for him would be soo painful for me (I consider the losses of Stuart and Wheeler part of that deal as they were sent away to make cap space for him). The bruins need to get at least something back for losing a fortune to get him, do it for Stuart at least (missing him something fierce).
How funny is this. I turn on TSN and they’re talking about how talks between Minny and Burns have come to a standstill and they will probably be looking to see what they can get for him. Apparently he has the same agent as Gaborik so there isn’t a lot of love from both sides.
I repeat, if you think Kaberle is taking less than $4mil (I would even argue $5 after what MTL gave Markov) on the open market, give your head a shake.
@Cormac. Maybe you didn’t get what I was saying, but we are in complete agreement. I will cry if we give him the money he’ll demand on the open market. Detroit is a great destination for him.
I think I’ll wait to see who we draft before making any defensive assessments. Grooming a guy like Murphy within our system would be lovely and Kampfer or Bart’ can keep his spot warm until then.
I also am a big fan of Burns, but haven’t heard anything about him moving and, up here in Canada, rarely does a guy move without us at least hearing some rumblings…
Lightning to announce Friday that Brewer is signing @4mil/yr on espn.com not on TSN though.
Joe, Probably a scoring forward, a replacement defenseman and a prospect.
What, in addition to the #9 pick, would it take to get Yandle’s rights from PHX? That team shouldn’t be signing anyone to long-term deals in their current situ and at 24, he’d be worth Bryzgalov’s contract IMO.
Thoughts?
George, Thanks for the update…David, I guess your comment was in reference to this story.
Selanne’s agent has told ESPN that he’s either retiring or playing for the Ducks.
J, why would he take such a pay-cut instead of hitting the open market? And if Kaberle stinks, how do you expect anyone to trade him for assests? That makes no sense whatsoever. Trade garbage fr assets? Tradecrap and expect to get something good in return and/or dollar for dolar? You are as much of a fraud as this author.
Kaberle was the Bruins number 5 or 6 defenceman. The only reason to resign him is to justify spending the draft picks to get him. Kampfer is going to get better. Kaberle is going to get worse. I’d pass on Kaberle.
And he’s a great team guy. And he can carry the puck eighty feet without looking at it ten times. And he can beat the trap by slowing it down and making a tape to tape pass that is flat and won’t get you killed.
Great work Matt! and totally agree. Anyone that knows hockey would jump at the chance to sign him for say 3 years and 9 to 10 mil! If he stinks again you can trade him for assets.
Also I know there’s the concern of throwing good money after bad, but it would seem foolish to just let Kaberle walk after the price we paid to get him.