The Maple Leafs have just over two weeks to trade Tomas Kaberle without the star defenseman having to sign off on any deal, the Toronto Sun reports.
Kaberle, who has a no-trade clause but can be dealt to any team before Aug. 15, is prepared for a move, and the Leafs have already equipped themselves with more than enough NHL-proven defensemen.
Leafs GM Brian Burke, however, continues to insist that he won't trade Kaberle unless he receives exactly what he's looking for, which is believed to be a top-six forward.
"We get a deal we like or we keep the player," Burke told the Sun.
According to the paper, the Leafs are waiting for the Ilya Kovalchuk arbitration hearing to be heard and settled next week so teams in that race can focus on other deals.
The Leafs are also believed to be interested in Boston Bruins center Marc Savard, but the Sun claims they will only enter the mix if the price tag on the 33-year-old drops.
The National Post, though, is reporting a deal could be imminent, as six teams are believed to be in the mix. The paper claims the Leafs have already rejected an offer that included a top-six forward and a first-round draft pick.
"We're not asking for anything," Burke told the Post. "We're fielding offers. We're either going to get an offer that makes sense for Tomas Kaberle or we're going to keep him."
Two seasons ago, Kaberle was almost traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Jeff Carter and a first-round draft pick, but he vetoed the trade and refused to accept a move.
Files from:
Toronto Sun
