GMs keen on pair of Maple Leafs blueliners

Reports in the Toronto Sun and the Ottawa Sun indicate that Toronto Maple Leafs defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Hal Gill are attracting attention from other teams.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Kaberle appears to be the most sought after Maple Leafs player, with the San Jose Sharks and new York Rangers said to be very interested in picking up the blueliner.

The Sharks, are said to be keen on picking up a puck-moving defenseman after losing out on Ottawa Senators’ Wade Redden. Redden, too, had a no-trade clause, and invoked it when the Senators tried to move him to San Jose.

As for the Rangers, they are looking to bolster a questionable defense group.

The 29-year-old Czech is an attractive option for teams looking to improve their blueline because of his talent, age, and he makes a fair $4.25 million per season over the next two years.

However, since Kaberle owns a no-trade clause in his contract, he will have final say on whether he leaves Toronto. For the record, he has stated in the past that he would like to remain with the Maple Leafs.

Meanwhile, Toronto Sun’s Bill Lankhof suggests that Maple Leafs defenseman Hal Gill would make a great addition to a playoff team.

According to Garrioch, the Pittsburgh Penguins have already made overtures in acquiring the big blueliner.

Gill says that he’s learned to live with all the trade speculation, so he’s not all that worried about what may or may not happen before the February 26 trade deadline.

“I’ve been through a lot of trade talks,” Gill said. “People throw my name out there and nothing has happened. Then all of a sudden you didn’t hear anything about some guy and the next thing you know he’s gone somewhere.

“You realize you’re a piece of meat at a younger age and by now I’ve come to terms with that.”