Photo Courtesy / Jessica Lee

Leafs GM Brian Burke has obviously lost his watch.  Otherwise, he would have been among the thousands of Torontonians keeled over in pain as the clock struck midnight on Aug. 15.  Burke was likely fast asleep at that fateful moment, as Tomas Kaberle’s no trade clause kicked back in.

The offer window is now closed. Closed, as in if the Leafs ever want to trade Kaberle during the season they will have to go ask him for approval and he will have the right to veto any trade.  About as closed as the European ogre’s chance of ever proving helpful to the hockey club again, let alone this city’s hopes and dreams.

Not trading Kaberle when he had the chance was Burke’s greatest mistake yet. The player has become a lightning rod for fan criticism especially over the last season, and for good reason. He led a power play unit that was ranked last and his weak performance was reflected in his team’s worst -16 rating. His play  worsened as the season continued and he  managed just 14 points after the Christmas break. Besides his less than spectacular stats, Kaberle has also been known to have an uncaring attitude during games and in the locker room. He rarely body checks, blocks shots or fights for the puck in corners. This is an attitude fans don’t want to see on a young and rebuilding team.

“I’m not upset at all,” Burke told Sportsnet  “I said it all along if we don’t get a fit, he stays.”

Stays for how long exactly? Aside from the on-ice issues, Kaberle only has one measly year remaining on his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this coming season. If he vetoes attempts to trade him during the season and signs with another team after the season ends then the Leafs stand to lose him for nothing. Try not to shudder if this brings up memories of the Mats Sundin saga.

Although Kaberle’s agent has told media there is a possibility the player could sign a contract extension with the Leafs, it is pretty hard to believe when looking at the strained relationship between him and head coach Ron Wilson. Wilson publicly called out Kaberle a couple of times last season. That’s if he wasn’t being benched, counting his money and watching Dion Phaneuf replace him on the ice.

Even his old man has told Czech media that his kid doesn’t want to play in the Big Smoke anymore.

“In my opinion, I can’t see Tomas entering a new contract with Toronto.” Frantisek Kaberle told a Czech hockey magazine. “I have been following Toronto for a long time, I didn’t believe it much in the beginning, but it seems that the best players don’t want to go to this club.”  At least Tomas has daddy behind him.  Is there really anyone else?