Good Idea, Bad Idea

  Two recent press releases out of two teams’ training camps have stirred up some interesting thoughts in my mind.

  First, is that of Atlanta Thrashers’ power forward/defenseman Dustin Byfuglien starting the season on defense, and secondly, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenseman Tomas Kaberle spending some time on the wing.

  We’ll start with the good idea.

  After a long battle between management and player, Tomas Kaberle is a Maple Leaf ahead of 2010-2011. Kaberle’s imminent long and short term future is to remain a mystery, but until something transpires he will in fact wear the blue sweater. Toronto has been rebuilding for seemingly a decade-plus, and with or without Kaberle the Leafs need results now. Kaberle is responsible for 49 of the entire team’s total (576) points scored over the past season, all from the back end. Toronto is stacked with an overstock of high paid, high caliber players on defense. Their longing need, however, is a legitimate top-six forward to give them a true shot at achieving success. The entire game plan for Burke and co. was to shop Kaberle for just that. As none of the offers appeased the general manager through the trade deadline and the off-season (ten days of which Burke had no limitations due to Kaberle’s stipulations in his no-trade clause), the fact that Toronto was in a bind was a true reality that nobody quite knows how to handle. There could however be a short term solution for the Leafs. Kaberle is not the speediest player on the team, nor is he the most physical. He is, though, the best passer on the team. With the emergence of scoring forwards from within the depth charts and the acquisitions made over the past couple of years, it is not that crazy of an idea to fill that top-six void with the Czech defenseman, Kaberle.

  This is just a supposed idea, but Kaberle’s point totals point to him being the most-fit guy to move up to forward from the back end. He really makes his money quarterbacking the powerplay, which he will continue to do for as long as he is a Leaf.

  The true question is just that; how long will he be a Leaf? Burke’s aspirations of landing a top-six forward may not come to fruition until the trade deadline when teams have an overwhelming need for puck moving defenseman like Kaberle. The only problem with that logic is simply the fact that the Leafs want to be in a playoff position at that time, and if Kaberle’s services have been retained until that point, the probability he will get shipped is much more marginal. Furthermore: it’s highly unlikely any playoff team would ship out a top-six forward at that time anyway.

  Keeping him on defense and burying some cap space (i.e. Jeff Finger) is never a bad idea. Kaberle is one of the best passers from the blue line, but with his offensive knowledge and awareness, compiled with his 6’1 214lbs. frame one must wonder what he could accomplish feeding those passes to players like Kessel, Versteeg, Bozak, Kulemin, or Kadri from the wing.

  Of Kaberle’s 49 points, 42 of them were assists, and one person he does better in overall assists (by 4) is ex Leaf, Matt Stajan.

  I’ve never been one to be all sunshine and fairy tales, but if it worked could Kaberle not be re-born in a market that has seemingly rejected him? There’s one thing that the best hockey players do across the board: overcome.

  Now we’ll look at the chance of Byfuglien moving back to the back end.

  I’m not suggesting this to be a terrible idea, but Byfuglien really had a breakout post-season for the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The daunting truth is that the Thrashers need offense. Although they scooped up nearly half of the Blackhawks’ team in the off-season, they have also lost big names such as Maxim Afinogenov, Clarke MacArthur, Colby Armstrong, Slava Kozlov, and Todd White. It leaves one scratchier their head as to where all the offense will come from. Emerging stars are still hopefully emerging, but Byfuglien is Cup proven.

  Byfuglien proved he can park his massive 6’4 255lbs. frame in front of the net, or in the slot, and has the proven ability to drive it home at clutch times. He matched up against the strongest of defensemen, and provided checking line support against the league’s best forward pairings.

  During the regular season Byfuglien tallied 17 goals and 17 assists in 82 games with a -7 rating and 92 penalty minutes. He broke out in the post season and displayed raw skill and true force in the offensive zone. In 22 games Dustin notched 11 goals and 5 assists with a -4 rating and 5 powerplay points. The big deal was the fact that five of his goals were game winners.

  On defense Byfuglien is just as solid. He’s not the most fluid skater, but in a stay at home/punishing type of role Dustin more than fits the bill. He has plenty of experience on defense and shown that he is more than capable. This does bump Boris Valabik, but to have such a versatile forward in Dustin Byfuglien is on most teams’ wish lists.

  General Manager Rick Dudley is surely playing it safe by starting him on the back end. I suppose the way this team is structured they can’t bank on scoring in numbers and could be forced to play a defensive game if their kids (i.e. Little and Kane) don’t light the lamp consistently. As my counterpart Dustin Lundberg pointed out in his Atlanta Thrashers Team Preview, the team is built with size and strength. Players like Ben Eager, Fredrik Modin, Eric Boulton, and Chris Thorburn can all provide that muscle on the wing, but the truth is none of them have the offensive touch that Dustin Byfuglien has.

  There’s no doubt that “Big Buff” will be moving back and forth between positions (even in mid game), but I do think his offensive dynamic could really better the smaller forwards around him.

  This, my apologies if I’m totally wrong (Dudley), I’m afraid must fall under the “bad idea” column.

  It should be interesting.

- Kendall Grubbs