NHL - Sports Rumors

Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:26 am EST

Maple Leafs and Blackhawks getting ready to deal?

By Mark J. Miller

“TomasThe Chichago Blackhawks apparently need to lsoe another $1.5 million from its roster in order to make room for the contract extensions that are supposedly about to be signed by Patrick Kane(notes), Jonathan Toews(notes) and defenseman Duncan Keith(notes). Rumor has it that the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs have been talking extensively in the past few months and a deal could happen between the two, according to the Toronto Sun.

One guy who could come over from Chicago is defenseman Brent Sopel(notes), who Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke apparently liked when they wer together with the Vancouver Canucks. Sopel is getting paid $2.33 million and only getting about 14 minues of playing time a gam.

Part of the problem is that the Maple Leafs aren't quite sure of the value of some of its minor-league talent. Center Tyler Bozak(notes) is apparently just coming off having H1N1 and it's unclear if he can play at the top level or not.

Another rumor has veteran defenseman Tomas Kaberle(notes) getting moved even though he has a no-trade clause, but Kaberle isn't reportedly interested in going anywhere. "Where is this coming from?" he said. "I'm the wrong guy to be asking (about a trade)."

Burke says he hasn't asked Kaberle to waive his clause - yet.

Source: Toronto SunNew Window

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58 Comments

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  1. leafs rock
    1. Posted by leafs rock Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:19 am EST

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    The media chased away McCabe and Sundin now has Kaberle on the chopping block?!? If the media wants to get after somebody let it be Blake they chase away, who has not lived up to what he is supposed to do and be. Kaberle has never given any false hope and plays hard every time he steps on the ice. So STOP with the speculations of a Kaberle trade.
  2. Space Weed
    2. Posted by Space Weed Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:29 am EST

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    Last thing us Leafs fans want right now is a guy who's given everything for his team getting traded away because they're playing badly
  3. Brian
    3. Posted by Brian Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:34 am EST

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    At 3 & 11, there has to be some underachievers on this club. I didn't think this club was a Stanley Cup contender, but I certainly didn't think they were a last place team. Yeah, Kessel can put the puck in the net, but god, all those draft picks; I'm still steaming about that. By all accounts, the kids in the system are marginal at best, so there ain't any Sidney Crosby skating thru that door. I was duped. Really thought Burke would come in, change things dramatically (which he has), that we'd be on the right track. But no 1st or 2nd round draft picks for 3 years??? I guess all that is left is to make the shrewd trade here and there. Chicago is loaded with talent. Maybe something positive can come out of trade talks with them. Can't hurt, we can't go any lower than we already are. Come on, Burke, get us another sniper.
  4. Lord Stanley of Preston
    4. Posted by Lord Stanley of Preston Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:37 am EST

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    Mark, would it kill you to edit the article before posting?
  5. Mark P
    5. Posted by Mark P Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:07 am EST

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    Do the Leafs really need ANOTHER NHL-caliber defenseman to sit in the press box at $2.3 mil??? huh???
  6. Fin-atic
    6. Posted by Fin-atic Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:20 am EST

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    Move Hossa. He's dead weight anyway, even when he's healthy.....
  7. k592082
    7. Posted by k592082 Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:16 pm EST

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    This article was posted at 06:26 EST. That would make it five-frickin-twenty-six in the morning here in good old Chicago. As of 11:15 Chicago time, I still count typographical errors: , , , , . (Maybe I can take a job as an internet editor in this recession??)
    Aside from that, moving Sopel to Anybody for a couple dozen boxes of pucks would be a great trade. He and Campbell (aka Mr Unmoveable Contract) are the only guys I see continuously botching routine passes / shots. Sopel doesn't provide anything that Hjalmarsson can't already do for 1/4 of the salary. For the first time in YEARS the Hawks are going tape-to-tape with passes and have sticks on the ice in high traffic areas. If BowMan is a fart smeller - I mean a Smart Feller, he will keep the trio of Kane, Toews and Keith around for as long as they can produce for this team. Anything less would be uncivilized.
  8. JOE CASH
    8. Posted by JOE CASH Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:32 pm EST

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    Common burkie pull the trigger Sopel for our 2012 first round pick!!!! GO LAFFS GO
  9. Icon
    9. Posted by Icon Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:58 pm EST

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    [profane] ... fix your freaking E key ...
  10. Brandyn
    10. Posted by Brandyn Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:32 pm EST

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    Spell much?
  11. shea8998
    11. Posted by shea8998 Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:33 pm EST

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    I realize that Burke's only bait here is to help teams free up cap space, but Sopel?
    Please don't let that be the 'Hawk he's targeting. The last thing we (Toronto) needs is another defenceman.
    If we're going to take help Chicago by taking on additional salary, let's us it on someone who can put the puck in the net, like Sharp or Versteeg.
  12. Andy B
    12. Posted by Andy B Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:46 pm EST

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    #11; you are an idiot. Why would we give up Sharp or Versteeg just to move salary? These are two quality players that help us win. In a salary dump, you move an overpriced unused player like Sopel. This type of player of course only appeals to a really horrible team like the Leafs. Your Leafs are really bad and will be for years; they should enjoy any scraps we give them. Go Hawks Go!
  13. TK
    13. Posted by TK Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:06 pm EST

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    As always, the overrated Brian Burke will pull off a head-scratcher of a trade...
  14. dslkjfdsl
    14. Posted by dslkjfdsl Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:29 pm EST

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    Barker is far superior to Sopel and much younger. No way they can afford to keep him. Barker and a draft pick for Kaberle would put Burke back into the good books of Leafs fans.
  15. r.fogarty@...
    15. Posted by r.fogarty@... Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:58 pm EST

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    Toronto 1967 Chi town 1961 who is losers town
  16. MJ touched hearts and kiddies private parts
    16. Posted by MJ touched hearts and kiddies private parts Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:52 pm EST

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    Mark Miller
    Any chance you getting a proof writer? This article is littered spelling mistakes!
    " Chichago Blackhawks apparently need to lsoe "
    " they wer together "
    " playing time a gam. "
    You have written an article about the CHICAGO Blackhawks and you cannot even spell Chicago correctly. Are you freaking $hitting us?
  17. Durk D
    17. Posted by Durk D Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:11 am EST

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    Sopel has played some seriously good minutes in Chicago. He's out there killing penalties while Campbell can never be trusted to handle that duty, which is ridiculous for a teams' highest paid d-man. What the Hawks should do is get Burke to bite on Byfuglien and take that clown! That guy takes the WORST penalties I've ever seen! I swear he should be investigated by the league for taking pay-offs cause every time momentum swings our way, he takes a foolish, drive killing penalty. I don't care how big he is, he never drops the gloves or stands up for the smaller players, like Kane. Hell if Burke sent us 12 busted sticks and took big Buy of our hands & that $3.1 million salary, Chicago would be ahead on the deal. I'd agree he's overrated as a GM, but he's too smart for that, dang it!
  18. First L
    18. Posted by First L Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:10 am EST

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    To Toronto: Sopel + Sharp + 1st Round Draft Pick
    To Chicago: Kaberle + Mitchell
    Chicago would free up Cap Space and still have Versteeg as trade bate to lure in a prospect or draft pick from another team!
    In return, Toronto will take on salary and have a player like Sharp to play along side Kessel.
    Also, get that 1st Round Draft Pick. Chicago would be hard pressed in letting go the 1st Rounder, because they don't plan on falling below at the very least top 5 spot overall. They plan to stay in the mix with Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh and San Jose! With that said, a late 1st Rounder is that as valuable as that of what Carolina will get!
  19. First L
    19. Posted by First L Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:12 am EST

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    ***Edit to my previous post***
    Error
    "...Chicago would be hard pressed in letting go the 1st Rounder..."
    Correction
    "...Chicago wouldn't be so hard pressed in letting go the 1st Rounder..."
  20. BrianV
    20. Posted by BrianV Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:17 pm EST

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    according to www.nhlnumbers.com, Toronto isn't doing so great with cap room either. (0.054 million in cap space)
    They are the only team dancing at the very top of the cap that aren't contending (Edmonton and Vancouver close behind tho)
    I see the logic in dumping Sopels' contract, (don't like it, but that is the nature of the cap) but is Toronto a suitable "Donee"?
    It would be great to get Kaberle, but that's dreaming... Hawks would have to dump at least 2 salaries to do that. It wouldn't make sense for Toronto either.
  21. topher
    21. Posted by topher Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:45 pm EST

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    Leafs have over TON of Unrestricted Free Agents after this year, which I bet is the reason why Burkey isn't panicking.
    This whole up roar over the two first round picks for Kessel I think is overblown...I think he's a young player with lots of upside, do we really think Leafs scouting can find a prospect with one of those picks that would exceed or even match Kessel? My money is on a big fat NO.
    With only 5 signed players going into next year, Leaf Nation should shut up, buy your 400% marked up tickets, and let Burke do his job and make it HIS team for 2010-2011.
  22. Cathy P
    22. Posted by Cathy P Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:32 pm EST

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    Post # 15 ,To answer your Question. BOTH!
  23. Bruce
    23. Posted by Bruce Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:17 pm EST

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    plEzE stOp kOmMeNTinG oN tHa SPeliNg iN tHa StORie...iT iS goOdEr ThAn MOste.
    As far as Brent Sopel goes-the Hawks don't need or want him. I feel sorry for you Leaf fans...you deserve better.

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