It was reported earlier this week that Toronto Maple Leafs defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina were going to give management a list of teams they would be willing to accept a trade to. Trouble is, one of those guys may not even be on the market if we're to believe general manager Brian Burke. Burke was quoted in Tuesday's Toronto Star as saying, "I like this guy, bet on him staying," in regards to Kaberle.
Kaberle, who is currently out of the lineup with a broken bone in his hand, was also quoted as saying he would like to remain in Toronto, and refused to waive his no-trade clause at last year's deadline.
He's currently signed through the 2010-11 season at a cap hit of about $4.25 million per season.
Meanwhile, just a couple of weeks after Burke pretty much confirmed that free-agent-to-be Nik Antropov was not going to be part of the team's future, trade rumors are starting to fly regarding the 29-year-old forward. In Wednesday's Globe and Mail, Tim Wharnsby passes along the following series of rumors:
Did the firing of Pittsburgh Penguins coach Michel Therrien scuttle a possible trade between the Pens and Toronto Maple Leafs? Leafs general manager Brian Burke denied he has been talking to the Penguins about shipping out forward Nik Antropov, but there were whispers something may have been close last weekend. One possibility bandied about had Antropov swapped for Penguins defenceman Ryan Whitney. Another option was a first-round selection and young blueliner Alex Goligoski in exchange for Antropov. There also was belief that if the Penguins acquired Antropov, he may have been used as part of a package for a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers for scoring whiz Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong.Ah, yes, trade deadline season. At first, it's an exciting time as fans dream about the possibilities of their team adding the final piece of the puzzle for a stretch run towards Lord Stanley's cup. When deadline day is about, oh, two weeks away, it gets to the point where you can't wait for it all to end.
Frankly, none of those rumors even pass the laugh test and are simply awful, awful proposals.
In regards to the possibilities of the Penguins giving up either Ryan Whitney, straight up, or Alex Goligoski (the teams top prospect) and a first-round pick for two months of Nik Antropov is, well, a little hard to grasp.
Either somebody's just making up rumors, or Penguins general manager Ray Shero was looking to follow Michel Therrien out the door.
The second part of this is even more unbelievable, in that the Penguins could use a newly-acquired Antropov as part of a package to land Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong from Atlanta.
Seriously?
Speaking of not passing the laugh test, what would Atlanta, a team well out of the playoff race, want in a 29-year-old free agent as part of a package for its most marketable -- and best -- player, when the Thrashers still have him signed for next season?
