Kaberle to Montreal

[Zee]

Not just a bad start to this season, but a bad stretch with the Bruins last season too.  There's many who believe he added nothing to their team.  Certainly didn't help the powerplay at all.

He did tie for the scoring lead amongst Bruins defensemen in the playoffs despite only playing 16 minutes a game. He was a +8 in those playoff too.

Sure, it helps when Tim Thomas is in net for your +/- stats.  Playing 16 minutes/game speaks volumes of what they thought of his play given that he was brought in to supposedly help their PP and put them over the top.  They quickly reduced his minutes when he wasn't performing as they expected.

 

[Kin]

Sure, it helps when Tim Thomas is in net for your +/- stats.  Playing 16 minutes/game speaks volumes of what they thought of his play given that he was brought in to supposedly help their PP and put them over the top.

It says that he was their #5 defenseman who contributed offensively while they won the Stanley Cup. So, I mean, aside from the fact that he didn't singlehandedly turn a crummy PP into a good one I'd say they got a pretty decent return there.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

There's maybe the possibility that people are reading ever so slightly too much into a bad start to the season for Kabs.

No doubt. Kaberle could easily turn it around given the right opportunities in Montreal. Without Markov in the lineup he should get them.

It is a concern, however, that his play has dropped off and he has 2 more years at 4.25 left on his deal.

 

[Zee]

Sure, it helps when Tim Thomas is in net for your +/- stats.  Playing 16 minutes/game speaks volumes of what they thought of his play given that he was brought in to supposedly help their PP and put them over the top.

It says that he was their #5 defenseman who contributed offensively while they won the Stanley Cup. So, I mean, aside from the fact that he didn't singlehandedly turn a crummy PP into a good one I'd say they got a pretty decent return there.

The Bruins obviously didn't value his contribution as much as you think, otherwise they would have re-signed him to a contract.  Perhaps they realized he's not worth $4.25 million a year any longer as his best days are behind him, and tried halfheartedly to get him back at a lower cost.  No other GM in the league stepped up to sign him on July 1st even though he was supposedly a top offensive-defenseman on the free agent market, there weren't a lot of them available.  It took 5 days before Carolina gave him a contract, and now Rutherford has gone on record as saying it was a mistake.

 

[cw]

DarrenDreger: Spacek is a UFA end of season, so Carolina unloads Kaberle's $4.25 this year and next two years.

what if kaberle doesn't turn around his game.  That is alot of money for deadweight.

Montreal can afford to waive him if it doesn't work out.

 

[Kin]

The Bruins obviously didn't value his contribution as much as you think, otherwise they would have re-signed him to a contract.

Not necessarily. He might not have wanted to go back and Boston had salary cap considerations that they needed to address. Kaberle filled a valuable role for them even if that role wasn't worth four million dollars a year. Admittedly, Brian Burke would never pay that kind of money to a guy who ends up as the Leafs' #5 defenseman(lolz, he totally did) but it doesn't mean that he didn't contribute to the Bruins' success.

I found this article from a Bruins blog I thought was pretty good concerning Kabs' advanced numbers during the playoffs:

http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2011/6/2/2199913/why-tomas-kaberle-doesnt-suck-as-much-as-you-think

Again, he wasn't terrible for the Bruins last year. He's had a tough start to the season in Carolina which I'm not denying but I do think people may be reading a little bit too much into. I mean, Eric Staal has sucked for Carolina this year. Is he washed up? Is his personal life the cause?

 

[Boston Leaf]

A big thank you to Brian Burke for getting us what he did for Kaberle last year..  ;D

 

[Zee]

I dunno, many Bruins fans seemed quite sour on Kaberle and they watched him play every game for the Bruins.    I also don't think the Bruins got him thinking he'd fit in nicely as the #5 man.  When the trade went down Chiarelli said:

"We felt we needed player like Tomas," said Chiarelli. "A player with good vision, a good skater, can quarterback a power play. He's played many games in the League. Very smart, heady player, can skate. I remember him ? it used to be him and (Bryan) McCabe in Toronto and he was feeing McCabe for one-times, and we envision that 1-2 punch down the line."

The Bruins currently have the No. 14 power play in the League, but with Kaberle feeding Bruins captain Zdeno Chara for one-timers down the stretch, that number is almost certain to rise.

"We've been saying all year about this need for a defenseman," said Chiarelli. "The list of defenseman that fit this bill is very, very short. We felt we had to act and act assertively because things happen and sometimes you can't get the guy you want. Pressure was us recognizing where we had needs and then acting on it. It certainly wasn't out of emotion because this is something we've been looking at for a while."

I'd like to say I wish Tomas all the best, but he's on the Habs now, I can't possibly cheer for his success.  ;D

 

[Kin]

I dunno, many Bruins fans seemed quite sour on Kaberle and they watched him play every game for the Bruins.

I don't really think I need to respond to the idea that fans, collectively, always come to the right conclusion on a player. How many fans of the Bruins do you think would take that deal back and roll the dice in the playoffs? I'm guessing the majority of them will take the cup and wish Colborne the best.

  I also don't think the Bruins got him thinking he'd fit in nicely as the #5 man. 

So? When the Leafs traded for Owen Nolan we didn't think he'd be a third-liner for the most part but he did the job and did it well and we were pretty jazzed about it. I'm interested in how he performed, not what expectations he may or may not have lived up to.

 

[Stronger Than All]

This is weird....

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

This is weird....

agreed..yet still less weird then having to watch 93 lace up for the habs...

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Man it's going to be strange seeing him play against the leafs in that uniform.

 

[Zee]

This is weird....

agreed..yet still less weird then having to watch 93 lace up for the habs...

Yeah, that was REALLY tough to take.  Thank God Wendel never played for the Habs.

 

[barney_rebel]

 

[moon111]

Did anyone foresee Komisarek playing for Toronto and Kaberle on Montreal?  This is bringing back memories of how it felt after the Courtnall - Kordic trade.

 

[Zee]

Did anyone foresee Komisarek playing for Toronto and Kaberle on Montreal?  This is bringing back memories of how it felt after the Courtnall - Kordic trade.

Courtnall was still under 30 when he went to the Habs and his best years weren't over.  Kaberle is 34 in March and hasn't exactly been ripping it up.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

Man it's going to be strange seeing him play against the leafs in that uniform.

You think its strange now...

Wait until Feb 11, when Kaberle is at the ACC in a Montreal jersey while Sundin's banner gets raised.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

The Bruins obviously didn't value his contribution as much as you think, otherwise they would have re-signed him to a contract.

Not necessarily. He might not have wanted to go back and Boston had salary cap considerations that they needed to address. Kaberle filled a valuable role for them even if that role wasn't worth four million dollars a year. Admittedly, Brian Burke would never pay that kind of money to a guy who ends up as the Leafs' #5 defenseman(lolz, he totally did) but it doesn't mean that he didn't contribute to the Bruins' success.

I found this article from a Bruins blog I thought was pretty good concerning Kabs' advanced numbers during the playoffs:

http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2011/6/2/2199913/why-tomas-kaberle-doesnt-suck-as-much-as-you-think

Again, he wasn't terrible for the Bruins last year. He's had a tough start to the season in Carolina which I'm not denying but I do think people may be reading a little bit too much into. I mean, Eric Staal has sucked for Carolina this year. Is he washed up? Is his personal life the cause?

Not even commenting on anything other than the link title there (so don't take serious) - it made me laugh seeing Kaberle being defended with:

Tomas Kaberle - Doesn't suck as much as you think.

 

[maplesyrup]

Found this interesting - from Dreger's Mailbag;

As was reported earlier this week, Carolina offered Tomas Kaberle and a second round draft pick to Columbus for Brassard and Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson declined.

http://tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=382356

 

[bustaheims]

Found this interesting - from Dreger's Mailbag;

As was reported earlier this week, Carolina offered Tomas Kaberle and a second round draft pick to Columbus for Brassard and Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson declined.

http://tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=382356

Word is Columbus doesn't want to take back salary/contracts in a Brassard deal, which is likely a big reason why that offer was rejected.