How the addition of Tomas Kaberle would affect the Devils?

Thoughts on his abilities and his cost aside, I think it would have a pretty big effect on the Devils.

With the addition of Volchenkov, and to a degree Tallinder, the defensive defenseman role is more than adequately filled on this team. Of the projected starting lineup players, the easiest and obvious player to move is Salvador. Whether or not he goes as part of the Kaberle overpayment trade is moot, we’ll just assume he’s gone.

The first effect is that the Devils would be taking on additional salary. Kaberle’s cap hit is $4.25m, and we’d be dishing off Salvador’s $2.9m, for a net increase of $1.35m. That would leave the team with ~$2.84m, which shouldn’t be an issue as all but a few bottom 6 forward positions most likely to be filled out by kids and/or last minute veteran minimum signings like McAmmond are already filled. It would, however, signal the end of any attempts at Kovalchuk or the hopes of acquiring another top 6 Winger, barring additional moves.

The defense would consist of Volchenkov, Greene, Tallinder, Kaberle, White and Salmela, with the possibility of Corrente or Urbom fighting with Salmela for the 6th and 7th spot.

Now, the fact is that for all of Kaberle’s offense, he doesn’t bring much in the way of defense. I’d go so far as to say that he’s actually a defensive liability. That kind of player is a new concept on the Devils so there isn’t much precedent, but I think the obvious thing to do would be to pair him with the best defensive defenseman to help shore up one another’s weaknesses.

The problem would be, which defensive defenseman do you pair him with? It certainly wouldn’t be Salmela, Urbom or Corrente, and I’d also throw out Tallinder and Greene as they aren’t pure defensive defensemen and would be better served being the veteran presence with the kids and the wheels opposite another defensive defenseman, respectively.

Which means it’s narrowed down to White or Volchenkov. Android is, without a doubt, the better of the two and top line material, which would mean he’s out as Kaberle is not top line material; leaving just White. So the pairings would look like:

Volchenkov – Greene
White – Kaberle
Tallinder – Salmela/Corrente/Urbom

That’s not terrible, and while I do think Kaberle’s offense would more than make up for White’s lack of it, I do have some serious reservations about Whitey having the ability to compensate for Kaberle’s lack of defense.

Also, $3.375m is a lot of money to be paying Tallinder to play on the third pairing.

On the other hand, the addition of Kaberle (and let’s not forget Oates) to the PP can only help. Part of why the team has struggled on the PP in the recent past is that they don’t have threats at the point that other teams have to fear burning them. There’s Rolston, but let’s just say he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in that regard.

Outside of him, there hasn’t been anyone, particularly on the defense, that has been a consistent threat and no one that has that great slapshot from the point team’s have to respect. Greene and Martin both have decent wristshots, but they’ve always been more of a threat pinching in or moving around in space rather than from the point. Kaberle brings that shot from the point that forces other teams to change the way they have to defend on the PK.

For what it’s worth, your pairings of Volchenkov – Tallinder and Kaberle – Greene would just be begging for disaster.

I cannot see how Toronto would get back 2 roster players and a prospect in return for Kaberle. As I see it and have read from sources like TSN, Burke is looking for a Top 6 Forward, and a prospect, nothing more.
And Clarkson would fill his quota for truculence, although letting Clarkson go after getting him to sign a 3 year-deal wouldnt make sense to me. But if it were Clarkson and say, someone like Vasyunov, I think Toronto would be fine with the trade.
However, I would disagree with it, being that Kaberle only has one year remaining on his deal in which he will be expecting a raise for next season, thereby most likely making him a rental.
I dont like it.

Toronto wants a center, they target Zajac, no question. They want a potential top-6 forward, they target Clarkson. Josefson would do I suppose, they also would DEMAND a first round pick since Burke probably forgot that there is such thing as a first round i.e. Kessel. Either way, we would have to unload to get him, and then we’ll be needing someone else afterwards. Now I don’t see why Burke wouldn’t take Zubrus or Salvador, but he does want to get young.

Yes, Kaberle would be a great Devil, and the all-time points leader would be happy, Mr. Elias, but I don’t see it happening.

List of things that would cost (the stuff we would have to give up, not the salary) the same/less then Kaberle that I would rather have:
-Sheldon Souray (Trade)
-Eric Belanger (F.A)
-Sammy Palhsson (Trade)
-Either Rostislav Klesla or Fedor Tyutin (Trade)
-Pavel Kubina (Trade)
-Kim Johnsson (F.A.)

He’s a two way player D-man who is good in his own zone and not that great in the offensive zone. Shutdown specialist like the A-train he is not.