Due to popular demand (as of today a 3 to 1 vote differential) I will be continuing on with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Trade deadline edition. This time I will be looking at the blockbuster trade between the ever-present Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. Toronto sent longtime defenseman Tomas Kaberle to the Boston Bruins in exchange for prospect Joe Colborne, a first round pick in 2011 and a conditional second round pick 2012.

The Good

No more stories on TSN about Tomas Kaberle and where he will be traded! Or that he is thinking about waiving his no trade clause; or about Brian Burke talking to him about waiving his no trade clause; or Kaberle thinking about Brian Burke talking to him about waiving his no trade clause. Seriously. It seemed like a decade of stories about the possibility of Kaberle getting traded as if he was the corner stone of all hockey-ness. I will enjoy never hearing anything about him again unless I am at a Boston Sports Pub. Don't get me wrong he is a fine defensemen and probably a nice guy and I have nothing against him but I was getting sick of hearing about him and where he would end up.

The Bad

Joe Colborne. Its not so much thats its he is bad, its just that he is not meeting the potential that was expected of him when he was drafted. I remember that year a lot of Oiler fans were gung-ho on the possibility of drafting him. Which was understandable at the time; he had size and skill which is what we have always wanted. But unfortunately he was not available at our draft position and we ended up drafting some kid named Eberle. All in, Colborne looked good in college but so far that hasn't translated into success at pro level. He is still young, mind you, and this would be what you would expect in return for a trade that was very similar to the Penner trade. But if I were a Toronto fan I would not invest too much hope in Colborne turning out to be more than another Jeff Taffe.

The Ugly

This trade could have happened two years ago! TSN The potential deal was Kaberle and the 7th Overall pick for Kessel. Instead this deal has essentially taken 2 years to complete and has now cost Toronto the following: Kaberle, 2 first rounders (one being the 2nd overall), and a 2nd rounder in 2010. For Kessel, Colbourne, a mid-low first rounder and a conditional 2nd rounder. Why didn't Burke just make this deal 2 years ago? According to Bob McKenzie it fell apart over the 1st rounder. Doesn't make sense then and this doesn't make sense now. What was Burke thinking? Not rebuild thats for sure. Does it make a difference? Maybe. Probably won't know till we see what becomes of the picks in few years. All in all a very very bizarre affair.