Kaberle will NOT play tonight

This just in from TSN, Tomas Kaberle will be rested for at least one more game prior to returning to the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kaberle returns, hopes Janssen doesn't shoot the messenger

The rumors out of Toronto are that Tomas Kaberle will return to the ice tonight, ironically against the team that knocked him out of the lineup earlier this month.

Kaberle is the offensive catalyst for the Toronto Maple Leafs and arguably there best defenseman to boot. If you have been sitting the Leaf players on your roster tonight might be a good time to put them back in your starting lineup... ummm Maybe Not.

Martin Brodeur was pulled from his last start after allowing 4 goals on 12 shots. If history has any bearing Marty will be on fire tonight and a shutout is a distinct possibility.

On the PIM side, all reports out of the Leaf dressing room say that no Leaf player will be looking for revenge on Cam Janssen, not even Darcy Tucker. I'm not sure how much of that medicine you are willing to swallow but I tend to believe it. More because the Leaf's don't truly have a player capable of taking Janssen to task than anything else.

Both Darcy Tucker and Wade Belak have dropped the gloves with Janssen this year and both fights went to Janssen, although Tucker did give a good account of himself (if my memory serves). It can be difficult to send a physical message when you get the snot beat out of you by the guy you are trying to give the message to.

If there is an attempt to send a message tonight, expect Janssen to shoot the messenger.

Without Kaberle on the PP, the Leafs suck

I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators game last night with mixed feelings.

I expected, and even predicted, a Leaf's loss to the Sens. Without Tomas Kaberle the Leaf's do not have a puck moving defenceman to kickstart their offense. Even more disturbing is the fact that Kaberle is not only the Buds best offensive defenseman, he is also their best defensive defenseman. Without him the Leafs struggle on both the power play and the penalty kill.

Last night demonstrated that fact quite clearly. Ottawa scored 3 power play goals on 6 tries and also generated a short handed goal on 1 of 8 Leaf power play attempts. To top that off the Leafs couldn't manage much in the way of offense during their power play opportunities, let alone a goal.

If your fantasy hockey team has any Toronto Maple Leafs player on its roster I would suggest that you sit them until Kaberle returns to the lineup. Much of the Toronto offense is produced on the PP and without Kaberle this will be anemic at best.

That doesn't mean you need to drop Sundin or McCabe from your roster, just leave them on the bench for the next little while if you have better options.

The National Post sucks the big one

Yesterday I posted this story from the National Post reporting that Tomas Kaberle was done for the rest of the NHL regular season.

Apparently they are the only people who think so. As far as Tomas Kaberle is concerned he expects to be back skating within a few days and hopes to be back in the lineup within 10 days.

So much for believing the 'respected' media.

Kaberle out for the season?

The National Post is reporting that Tomas Kaberle may be gone for the remainder of the season after the devastating hit by Cam Janssen in Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

If any of you watched the Toronto Maple Leafs vs Washington Capitals game last night you would have immediately noticed the absence of Kaberle on the power play. Without Kaberle the Toronto Maple Leafs no longer have a skilled power play quarterback and we will see the effects of that over the next 15 games. Be prepared to see Toronto's point production from their defense and power play squads drop significantly over the remainder of the season.

On the other side of the concussion block, Chris Drury is slated to return to the lineup tonight against the Avalanche. Good news for Fantasy Hockey GMs as Drury is the second leading scorer on a surging Buffalo squad.