Tomas Kaberle pulled on his Boston Bruins jersey for the first time on Friday night. It was the first time in his NHL career that he didn’t sport the uniform of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and despite years of pleading from many Leafs fans to trade the defenseman, it’s admittedly a bit weird now that he’s gone.
In Wake Of Tomas Kaberle Trade, Leafs Fans Feel ‘Empty’
SB Nation’s Pension Plan Puppets explains:
As for Tomas Kaberle, I cannot do justice to the man. I was part of the contingent of fans that have spent the past two plus seasons agitating for him to be traded, disparaging his will to win because he wouldn’t leave, and cursing Brian Burke for not using the two summer periods to move him for something. Well, we got our wish and I don’t know about others but I feel pretty empty right now. The Leafs lost their last link to the never quite strong enough pre-lockout teams that came so close to breaking through to the final. The franchise has also lost the last active player to play at Maple Leaf Gardens. He was also the 11th on the Maple Leafs’ all-time points list with 520 points, eighth in games played with 878, fifth in assists (437) and second in regular season overtime goals (7). Among the pantheon of Leafs defencemen he stands astride as a colossus beside all-time greats Tim Horton and Borje Salming.
While Kaberle's gone, it's probably the right move for the Leafs. As PPP points out, the two sides were seemingly prepared to part following this season anyway, so for Brian Burke to get that something for him is the best situation in Toronto.
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