Kaberle deadline weekend

If the Lightning do acquire Kaberle, it shock me if Malone wasn’t moved and, no matter how much I like the guy and think he fits now, knowing that a) he’s going to be expendable sooner rather than later and b) his departure would probably ensure at least one of Gagne and Kaberle are extended.

It’s easy to dismiss Malone for Kaberle as undesirable trade-off, but when you consider the larger picture of what Yzerman has accomplished this summer, you can see that Gagne and whoever is chosen to round out the top-6 will more than likely at least match last year’s contributions from Malone and those that filled in (i.e. Tanguay, Halpern, etc.). Then factor in the upgrades to the lower lines and defensive corps, a revitalized PK and probably at least the status quo on the PP, you might realize there probably wouldn’t be much need to lament Malone after all.

who will round out the top 6? i know percell was put in that spot last year but he really didnt do a good job. perhaps connolly if he surprises people in camp? or maybe another addition? how bout one of these guys? fedotenko, lehtinen, stempniak, svatos? and what about getting asham for the 3rd line? asham, moore, and pouliot could be a good combo.

And if you trade Malone, who’s going to provide a net front presence on the power supply? Pronger and Chara will be in Vinny and Stamkos’ face all night if Malone isn’t there. Downie is much more expendable than Malone as he will be a 3rd liner in a year or 2.

mike you missed our roller game this morning retard……

i would gladly trade downie and a 3rd and maybe smaby or downie and smaby for kaberle all day long. downie will be gone in a year or two with all the talent we have in the minors anyway. why not get kaberle while we still can? and resign him to like a 3 yr deal.

For those keeping score, Detroit, Dallas & Anaheim are definitely not in the bidding for Kaberle.

Dallas was never a true candidate when you think about it. Ownership in flux, sale stuff ongoing. The team cannot add or subtract significant payroll until things are nearly finalized. 4 Million a year is significant payroll.

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/statuses/21271143550

One team from each conference still in the hunt for Kaberle. Sources say there’s still a chance he gets traded tonight, but not likely.

Using deduction from Mike Corcoran’s observations, it’s SJ and TB (or TB and another western conference team) in the hunt.

Could be completely wrong here.

Does anyone else remember how Philly pushed the Habs around in the EC finals last season and shut them out 3 times? Take away Malone and V4 is the only top 6 forward over 6’1". I like Downie and love his game but Tyrell, Connolly and Panik are probably all more skilled. Malone will also be an odd man out in a couple years but in the meantime you have his big body, big mitts and a veteran presence who’s been to the cup finals. I’d rather keep both and hope our d can do the job, but I trust that Yzerman will only make a move that’sin the best long and short term interest of the Bolts. He could trade Malone and bring in Owen Nolan on a 1 year deal to provide some size, muscle and in close goal scoring prowess.

Revelation via Twitter that Ryan Malone has a NM/NT clause in his contract. Has not been asked to waive it as of 9 PM EDT

Andy Strickland is reporting that Tampa is making a major bid for Kaberle with Malone as the centerpiece. 9:15 update on Mike Augello’s blog at Hockeybuzz per Strickland.

Word is Malone has refused to waive his NTC for Toronto at this time.

Burnside reported nothing is going to happen “Barring a miracle” a little while ago.

I’m not sure Burke was ever going to get what he wanted for Kaberle, given the depth of the defensemen available this off-season. I think he wanted something similar to what he gave Boston for Kessel—and no one was willing to give him that given the economics of the time.

That said, I would have liked to have seen Kaberle on our blueline but—like in the lead-up to the Gagne trade—was concerned about what we’d have to give up in return. I am glad to see the Bolts’ front office practicing what they preached from the beginning: patience.