tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Leafs Get More For Kabs, NHL & Yanks Fall

Yesterday as was anticipated, Brian Burke made two trades: one that will help the team immediately and the other that hopefully will bear fruit in the future.  The first trade involved the 2012 second round pick that the Leafs received from the Bruins in the Tomas Kaberle deal.  That 2nd round pick was contingent upon whether or not the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.  Well the Leafs used that pick to get John-Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche.

Liles is a 31 year old puck-moving, power play quarterback defenseman who scored 40 points last year for the Avs.  The Leafs tried getting Liles at the trade deadline in February but the Avs wanted a first round pick and the Leafs declined.  By waiting it out, Toronto gets the guy they wanted to replace Kaberle in the short term( as Liles has one year remaining on his contract) without giving up a first round pick.  So if we look at the Kaberle trade, the Leafs sent Kaberle to Boston for Joe Colborne, a first round pick (which was used to move up in the draft to take Tyler Biggs) and John-Michael Liles.  While Brian Burke gets constantly questioned on the Phil Kessel deal, it appears that the Maple Leafs won out on the Kaberle deal.

Tyler Biggs was the player taken as a result of the second trade Burke made.  He packaged the Leafs second round pick and the 1st rounder they acquired from Boston to move up to get Biggs.  He's a big tough right winger who's not afraid to throw his body around and has a scoring touch.  This is a typical Burke-type player who will be headed to Miami of Ohio University for further seasoning.  You never know with these picks but if this kid develops as Burke & Company anticipate, this could be the power forward that the Leafs have lacked for years.

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Not sure if we can expect anymore trades at the draft as we have already seen Brian Campbell, Troy Brower, Devin Setoguchi and Brett Burns all moved yesterday.  July 1st is only 6 days away and as we know there will be plenty of action.  Brad Richards is the big prize and the NY Rangers appear to be the favorites to land him.  Tampa is indicating that they are not in the running and there are rumblings that the Flyers may be in the mix.  In order for the Flyers to be serious players in the Richards sweepstakes they would have to move another salary and the rumors are that Kris Versteeg could be leaving Philly.

With Liles being moved, it seems unlikely that Colorado would be willing to move Paul Stastny because they will need to meet the floor cap amount and taking Stastny out would make it awfully hard for that to happen.  It has been awfully quiet in regard to the status of RFA's Steven Stamkos and Zack Parise.  There seems to be a feeling out there that teams may be willing to submit an offer sheet for both of these players or its possible that the Devils and Lightning could pull off a trade.  Keep an eye on this.

And finally, there is a faint rumor that the Pittsburgh Penguins may be willing to move Evegni Malkin.  This would be a major move.  It's the silly season so we are going to hear a lot of things.  But that's what makes it fun!!!

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The Yankees dropped a 4-2 decision to the Colorado Rockies last night missing out on another opportunity to pass the Red Sox who lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  A.J. Burnett continues to frustrate as last night he pitched well enough to lose.  Today is Old Timer's Day at the Stadium and hopefully some of that old magic can find its way to the current team.  You may think I'm being negative but I'm looking at October and the Yanks need Burnett.  The news from Trenton on Phil Hughes was not encouraging.  It doesn't look like he will be joining the Yankees soon meaning the pitching staff is still a problem.  Brian Cashman will be very busy between now and July 31st.