The Bruins (Finally) Acquire Tomas Kaberle
Jeff Angus
2011-02-18
Fantasy Impact: The Boston Bruins have acquired defenseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto in exchange for Boston's 2011 1st round draft pick, Joe Colborne, and a conditional pick.
The Bruins get: an elite puck-moving defenseman who can play in a variety of situations. Kaberle immediately becomes Boston's best offensive defenseman (by a long shot). He won't have to play too much on the PK because of Boston's number of strong defensive defensemen. Boston is a perfect situation for him to flourish. Eastern Conference, look out!
The Leafs get: A late pick in (what we have been told, at least) a below average draft this summer. Joe Colborne is the real prize of the deal – he is very big and very skilled. Through 55 AHL games this season, Colborne has 12 goals. He was drafted as a center but moved to wing last season because of Boston's depth up the middle. Colborne's size (6'5", 215 pounds) isn't really indicative of the type of game he plays, though. Like Joe Thornton and Ryan Getzlaf, he uses his size well to keep the puck, but he isn't overly physical.
Fantasy Players Impacted: Kaberle's value rises quite a bit. This hurts Steve Kampfer's short-term value – he was seeing power play time by default because of his puck-moving abilities. Without Kaberle and Beauchemin, the Leafs have about five minutes of power play time per game they need to fill. Luke Schenn and Carl Gunnarsson should both see modest bumps in this regard.
Colborne immediately becomes one of Toronto's best prospects. He was pretty far down Boston's depth chart but he should see more than a few games with the Leafs to close out the season.
Philadelphia acquires Versteeg a few days ago, and Boston responds. The powers of the East are loading up.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
1. Kaberle
2. Chara
3. Any forward on Boston's top power play unit
4. Colborne
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:
1. Kampfer
2. Phil Kessel
3. Toronto’s top power play unit (I would say Phaneuf but his value can’t get much lower)