Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke.

BY MARK SPECTOR
sportsnet.ca

PHILADELPHIA — Tomas Kaberle’s no-trade clause is set to expire, and Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke is ready to deal him.

Upon exiting the National Hockey League’s general managers meetings on Wednesday, Burke revealed that, heading into a draft in which he has neither a first- or second-round pick, Kaberle’s status is top of mind right now.

"The biggest issue we have on our team is Tomas Kaberle’s status," Burke said. "We’ve informed the teams how his no-trade works. (Former Toronto GM) John Ferguson rigged that very cleverly that if the team didn’t have success it went away when the draft began. So we’re listening."

If not at the draft, then before July 1 and the opening of free agency, it sounds very much like Burke will move Kaberle. Conventional thinking would say he may like to try to replace some of the two first-round and one second-round picks he gave to Boston for Phil Kessel.

But Burke has shown more impatience than that during his time at the Leafs’ helm. He is more likely to swap Kaberle for players who can add to the Leafs’ roster right now.

"We need to add a winger that can score, preferably with some size, and we need some secondary toughness," said Burke. "So those will be the areas we try to address."

Kaberle has one year left on his deal at $4.25 million, which is also his cap hit. He had seven goals, 49 points and posted a minus-16 in his 11th season in Toronto, the only NHL organization Kaberle has ever played for.