As the narrow window of opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs to trade Tomas Kaberle without the hindrance of his “no-trade” clause draws near to closing on August 15^th speculation is picking up over which teams might have interest in him and what they could possibly offer up.

Depending on what you read it seems nearly half the league is interested in Kaberle and he could be worth a top six forward plus a first round pick; at least that’s what Leafs management is rumored seeking in return.

The Philadelphia Flyers tried to acquire Kaberle two years ago so naturally it’s thought they might be interested again. The Dallas Stars, LA Kings, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets are thought to be seeking an experienced puck-moving defenseman.

A recent report suggesting the Tampa Bay Lightning might be interested in adding a veteran defenseman has naturally linked them to Kaberle. There’s even talk of the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins “kicking the tires”.

Fact is, there probably isn’t that many possible destinations for Kaberle at this late date.

The Flyers are maxed out now cap-wise and have already bolstered their defense corps. Unless the NHL retroactively rejects the contract of Chris Pronger they no longer need a defenseman like Kaberle in their ranks.

Cap constraints are also an issue for the Bruins, so unless they can somehow convince the Leafs to accept Marc Savard and his very long-term, front-loaded contract or winger Michael Ryder’s $4 million salary for next season they simply won’t have a deal that can fit comfortably under their cap.

Detroit is another team maxed out for cap space which isn’t likely to make any trades (and certainly not forward Valtteri Filppula as one rumor site suggested), while there’s rumors the Bolts might offer up forward Ryan Malone for Kaberle, but GM Steve Yzerman appeared to address the need for a similar type defenseman by bringing back Pavel Kubina earlier this summer.

Budget teams like the Stars and Blues aren’t likely to have any serious interest in parting with assets for a defenseman who probably won’t remain with them after this coming season.

It’s believed the Ducks are still seeking a defenseman but not at the cost of forward Bobby Ryan. The Kings and Sharks are Western Conference teams and given Kaberle’s preference to playing in the Eastern Conference one has to wonder how keen they might be to give up assets for a player they might only have for one year.

As for the Blue Jackets reports out of Columbus already indicate that unless the Leafs back off their asking price not to expect Kaberle in a Jackets jersey.

More affordable assets on the UFA market include Marc-Andre Bergeron, Willie Mitchell, Paul Mara, Andreas Lilja, or Lukas Krajicek. Sure, they’re not in the same class as Kaberle but would certainly come at a more cap-friendly price for those teams and wouldn’t result in giving up assets other than money to get them.

It must be remembered Leafs GM Brian Burke has repeatedly said he’s not actively shopping Kaberle and is quite willing to go into next season with the veteran Czech still on his roster.

Burke might also have another opportunity to shop Kaberle at the trade deadline, though the latter’s “no-trade” clause would certainly limit the number of preferred destinations.

Fact is, barring one of the aforementioned changing their minds or another club jumping into the bidding unexpectedly the possibility of Kaberle remaining a Leaf is at this stage a real one.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey

]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/20707/feed/ 1 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/wbphilp/1801/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/wbphilp/1801/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:31:25 +0000 WB Philp http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=1801 2008-09 Recap: Dismal
The Lightning finished 2008-09 last in the Southeast Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference with a poor 24-40-18 record and 66 points.

They had four players that netted 20 or more goals and six players in total that had double-digit goals. Martin St. Louis (30 goals. 50 assists and 80 points) was a bright spot for the Bolts.

The offense was 25th in the NHL with 207 goals scored and the defense finished 27th in the NHL giving up 269 goals.

The power play was 19th in the league, scoring on 17.8 percent of their chances while the penalty kill was 26th in the league, killing off 78 percent while short handed.

Additions: Alex Tanguay (Montreal), Mattias Ohlund (Vancouver), Matt Walker (Chicago), Todd Fedoruk (Phoenix), Stephane Veilleux (Minnesota), David Hale (Phoenix), Antero Nittymaki (Philadelphia) and Kurtis Foster (Minnesota).

Subtractions: David Koci (Colorado), Richard Petoit (Chicago), Brandon Segal (Los Angeles), Noah Welch (Atlanta), Cory Murphy (New Jersey), Jason Ward (Philadelphia), Radim Vrbata (Phoenix), Wade Brookbank (Pittsburgh), Josef Melichar (HC Czech Budejovice) and Vinny Prospal (Contract Buy-Out).

Goaltending
The biggest question coming into this season is the goaltending. This question has been answered positively…so far. Mike Smith looks to be over his post concussion syndrome and has been solid in his four-preseason games, posting a 1.67 GAA and a .942 save percentage. He has survived being hit and run over and is no worse for the wear. Backup netminder Antero Niittymaki has been sharp and looks to be over the hip injury that bothered him last season.

Goaltending should be a strong suit for the Lightning this season, as long as the injury bug stays away.

Forwards
The team’s top two lines are scary good. Vincent Lecavalier flanked by newcomer Alex Tanguay and Steve Downie will be a formidable group. Vinny looks to be in great shape and is poised to regain his position as a top five NHL forward. Free agent acquisition Alex Tanguay has skated well and will provide some much-needed scoring punch to the lineup. Winger Steve Downie has played inspiring hockey in the preseason. He has earned his shot and will be a solid physical presence on the first line. Can he control his emotions and keep his head right? Stay tuned.

Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone will skate together on the second line. Marty and Stammer have that “special something” between them and Ryan Malone is ready to have the best season of his career. Many fans are calling for Marty to play with Vinny on the first line. This may be warranted, given the fact that we know from past experience that they can be dynamic together, but coach Tocchet wants two solid scoring lines and is hesitant to separate Marty and Steven Stamkos after last seasons stretch of brilliance from them. Can you blame him?

The third line looks to be centered by veteran Jeff Halpern with young James Wright and Drew Miller at his side. This is where the Lightning offense takes a huge step down. It looks to me like gritty Halpern has finally lost a step and the young James Wright is a total wild card. Drew Miller will play well but is not someone that can carry this line.

The fourth line is a toss up, but based on last night’s game, it should be Zenon Konopka flanked by Todd Fedoruk and Stephane Veilleux.

Ryan Craig, Adam Hall and Brandon Bochenski were put on waivers today and Brett McLean was released.

Defense
I’m not going to get into last years numbers and man games lost to injury. Suffice it to say, the Lightning defense was nothing short of horrible. The Bolts blue liners can’t help but be better this season, can they? GM Brian Lawton has done an admirable job of bringing in key free agents to play with the number two overall pick Victor Hedman. Mattias Ohlund is a veteran that is tremendous at killing penalties and will provide great leadership for all the Bolts blue line corps. Kurtis Foster is a solid power play contributor with a cannon of a slap shot, but will need to be good five on five to remain an integral part of the team. Matt Walker brings his rough and tumble style of play to the Lightning. He is a solid stay at home type of defender. Having Paul Ranger and Andrej Meszaros healthy will make a huge difference for the Bolt defense.

The defensive pairings may end up different, but for now they look like this:

Mattias Ohlund-Victor Hedman
Paul Ranger-Matt Walker
Andrej Meszaros-Kurtis Foster

Two of the remaining five defensemen (Matt Lashoff, Matt Smaby, Mike Lundin, David Hale and Lukas Krajicek) will make the squad.

According to TBO.com’s Erik Erlenndsson: “General Manager Brian Lawton said on Saturday that some of the trade talk has picked up a little bit, and it’s no secret he would like to move Lukas Krajicek and his $1.475 million contract to another team since he obviously didn’t crack the top six, even though he has not had a bad training camp. If I were to venture a guess as to who the two defensemen who stay are, I would say Matt Smaby hangs around and perhaps Matt Lashoff. In my opinion, those are the two players who they would have to put through waivers that wouldn’t want to lose to another team. I don’t want to imply that David Hale or Mike Lundin are expendable, but the Smaby provides an element of toughness that outside of Matt Walker the team doesn’t have and Lashoff has too much of an upside to possibly lose him for nothing, plus even if they are able to sneak him to Norfolk on Tuesday, they could potentially lose him on re-entry waivers, which means he might be stuck down in Norfolk the whole season (although that might not be the worst thing in the world for his development especially since he is on a one-way deal next year.)”

The NHL requires that the final rosters be turned in by Wednesday. That leaves less than 48 hours for the Bolts brass to decide on the opening night team. Rick Tocchet and his staff need to give two more players the bad news to get down to the 23-player maximum.

Predictions
The much-improved Lightning will finish third in the Southeast Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming season puckheads?

Earlier, forward Carter Ashton was sent to his junior team in Lethbridge.

Radek Smolenak was claimed on waivers by Chicago on Friday, leaving 29 players in camp with just one more preseason game remaining on the schedule,  Sunday in Atlanta. The Lightning roster will be trimmed down to 23 players by Wednesday prior the start of the regular season October 3 in Atlanta.

Who’s left?

Sixteen forwards:  Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Malone, Alex Tanguay, Steve Downie, Jeff Halpern, Drew Miller, James Wright, Todd Fedoruk, Brett McLean, Brandon Bochenski, Zenon Konopka, Stephane Veilleux, Ryan Craig and Adam Hall

Eleven defensemen:  Mattias Ohlund, Victor Hedman, Paul Ranger, Andrej Meszaros, Kurtis Foster, Matt Walker, Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff, Mike Lundin, Lukas Krajicek and David Hale

Two goaltenders:  Mike Smith and Antero Niittymaki

Bay Area Hockey Is Back!

To be very clear, I am not a fan of  Tampa Bay Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie. They have done some outright stupid things that have set the franchise back for years. They are embroiled in a business tug of war that will end with one of them face down in the mud, and maybe in jail, guilty of embezzlement. But lately I find myself thinking that the team can be competitive this season. Can they overcome their ownerships shortcomings and battle back to respectability? Their recent history of boneheaded decisions may be changing…just in time.

Soon after the Hollywood cowboys at OK Hockey hired the mullet clad Barry Melrose, they realized their mistake and sent him packing. Arrogant Barry woke up and realized he wasn’t in the nineties anymore, took his stellar 5-7-4 record and went crawling back to the, “Is hockey a sport?” network and continued doing what he does best…criticize others.

After doing exhaustive research and analysis, the Koules-Barrie contingent decided that instead of a having a so-called television studio analyst as coach, they would try a convicted sports gambling felon instead.

Enter Bolts assistant coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet has spent 25 years in the NHL, mostly as a player including 17 seasons with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, and Phoenix. He retired as a player in 2002 and joined the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach. In 2005 he joined Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky on the bench of a terrible Phoenix Coyotes team. Tocchet, as you’ll remember, pleaded guilty to conspiring and promoting an underground gambling ring. At the time, I thought this was another bad hire, but it now looks as if Tocchet may be the right man to lead the Lightning back to their 2004 prominence.

On draft day 2009, my Lightning family and friends held a hockey séance to send some divine NHL guidance to the empty-headed ownership group encouraging them to do the right thing and draft the big Swedish defenseman from MODO, Victor Hedman. After all, they had proven their lack of mental faculties when they marked their entry into the NHL arena by trading valuable defenseman Dan Boyle for the “irreplaceable”  Matt Carle, who, in turn was replaced after 12 games in a Lightning sweater. It worked and the draft went off without a hitch. The Lightning now had their defensive building block.

Vinny Is Giddy

Many of us began preparing for the nuclear winter that would ensue following the trading of Lightning captain, Vincent Lecavalier. The rumor mill churned out possible destinations for the face of the Lightning franchise…Los Angeles, Detroit and the hockey garden of Eden that is Montreal. As I gathered some bottled water, canned goods and VHS tapes of Gordie and Bobby, the July 1 deadline came and went without Vinny being moved. Hockey Bay would remain intact.

The skinny on Vinny is that he is healthy, happy and motivated. Sorry Habs fans, Vinny is still a Bolt…a Bolt for life. After battling another season ending injury and numerous wild and random trade speculations, Vinny is back and ready to resume his place as a top five NHL player. Despite his declining numbers, I look for Vinny to rebound with a 45-50 goal, 90-100 point season.

Why is Vinny so giddy? Because the Bolts management did something right. They went out and got themselves a top six forward, former Canadiens star, Alex Tanguay. “All the guys I talked to who played with him said he’s unbelievable,” Lecavalier said. “He’s going to bring a lot of offense to our team.”

“He’s a hard-working guy — a good guy and you never have enough of those guys. I played with him in the world juniors. I’m happy he’s part of it.”

Vinny and Marty St. Louis reportedly sold Tanguay on Tampa.

The captain said the team will be stronger next season with the addition of Tanguay, former Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund and second overall draft pick, big Victor Hedman.

It’s a big season,” he said. “We didn’t have a good season last year but the team has changed and has been given a new dimension.”

Vinny and Marty showed true leadership by helping to lure their French Canadian brother to the Lightning. After a tumultuous off-season of innuendos and rumors, it’s good to see Vinny happy.

The defense in 2008 was simply awful. Injuries forced the Bolts to use an amazing 22 blue-liners, with non-household names like Petiot, Krajicek and Quick. No defenseman played more than 52 games and the point’s leader was the departed Steve Eminger with a meager 23. Only one defenseman (Cory Murphy) had at least five goals.

GM Brian Lawton went out and smartly added talented defenders young and old, puck movers and stay at home defenseman alike. Swede Mattias Ohlund “chose” to come to Tampa and mentor the number two overall pick, big Victor Hedman. Lawton added grit by signing Chicago’s Matt Walker, who will be a sure fire fan favorite. Other newcomers battling for spots are Kurtis Foster andDavid Hale. I spoke with GM Lawton and he told me that the Lightning will keep eight defensemen and not the usual seven. There are 11 players battling for those eight jobs. I’m sure the blue line will be better this season, especially with Victor Hedman-ing the puck.

Can Goalie Mike Smith Remain Healthy?

The Lightning has one of the most productive net minders in the league, in Mike Smith, if he can remain healthy. The Lightning were 28th in the league in shots on goal given up per game and they gave up the fourth most goals per game, yet goaltender Smith posted a career best save percentage of .916.

In his 41 games between the pipes, he was able to keep the Bolts in just about every contest. His season ended when he suffered a concussion, but by all accounts he is healthy and ready to be the number one backstop for the Lightning. Mike is a great athlete and as feisty as they come. If he can stay on the ice, he will be an elite Eastern Conference goaltender.

Okay. Let’s review. An intense head coach that isn’t an arrogant dinosaur with a mullet…check! A big, talented, puck moving defenseman…check! A happy and healthy Vincent Lecavalier…check! A top six forward to skate alongside Vinny…check! A couple of veteran rough and tumble blue liners…check! A financially solid ownership group moving forward in the same direction…umm…gag…. choke! Well, five out of six ain’t bad.

The long and bothersome summer has run out and hockey is back in Hockey Bay USA. It is premature to say the Lightning is a playoff team, but there is little doubt that it is a vastly improved team. The real question is, can the team on the ice play through all the distractions off the ice? In fact, can they win despite their dysfunctional ownership?

Training camp is under way and the Bolts will begin answering those questions.

What do you think, puckheads? Can the Bolts be competitive this year?