Kaberle Deal Inches Closer... No Wheeler?

The Toronto Sun is reporting today that a Tomas Kaberle trade from the Leafs to the Bruins is a near certainty, barring the slight possibility of a last-minute breakdown. That isn't too surprising given the rumor mill the past few days, but what may surprise many B's fans is that Blake Wheeler is reportedly not involved in the proposed transaction.

The report says that Boston would send their own first rounder (not the higher placed Toronto pick they acquired in the Phil Kessel trade) as well as Joe Colborne and/or Ryan Spooner to the Leafs in exchange for the veteran blue-liner. Wheeler is not involved in the potential scenario that many news outlets are claiming will unfold. If this transaction does go down, let's ask the clear-cut most important question -- what do I think about it?

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I have somewhat of a bias toward Tyler Seguin here, because I want him to get playing time and gain confidence. If Wheeler doesn't leave town, my first reaction is that Seguin is going to see many more healthy scratches and fourth line appearances. But on second thought, maybe this would be exactly the right move for Boston.

They have already played Blake Wheeler on the fourth line this year, and they will do so again if Seguin keeps proving he can play alongside projected third-liners Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder. And if that situation doesn't unfold, it probably means Wheeler is producing with the aforementioned group. What it does is it creates a new, healthy competition in the forward group for the Bruins. There will always be a healthy scratch with the current setup (presumably Daniel Paille or Tyler Seguin as of this point in the season). Trading away Colborne and Spooner might sting a little bit since they have such great potential, but let's step back. How long are we going to wait on Colborne? Who knows if Spooner will be able to combine his impressive offensive skills into an all-around game that will work in Boston's system? With the emergence of Jared Knight in juniors this season, it is clear that Boston made the right choices with their top two picks last season. With so much young talent stockpiled, you give yourself the ability to trade some pieces in situations exactly like this one. Maybe it is the right move, after all.

The ultimate outcome, though, is that the Bruins would acquire the bona fide number two defenseman they have been searching for. They add the puck-mover that may be able to get the special teams unit to the next level, to jumpstart the forward lines, and to give a better offensive kick from the back end. And don't forget, the guy is still a defenseman -- and a pretty good one, at that. He can certainly help out this unit that has mightily struggled over the past few games. It's time to turn up the turbo and put the foot on the pedal. Peter Chiarelli, I'm giving you the go-ahead. Make this deal happen.