According to the Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa, the deal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins that will bring Tomas Kaberle to Boston is all but done.
But there's a catch.
Shinzawa writes this morning that it's not Blake Wheeler heading to Toronto as part of the deal, but rather, Joe Colborne -- the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2008 draft -- who will be heading north of the border along with Boston's first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
If it's true, this could be a huge win for the Bruins, who will salvage the chemistry on a team replete with it and could retain the services of Wheeler, who's developed into a very under-rated bottom six forward this season, even though his ceiling is much higher.
Kaberle -- who has a full no-trade clause which he's only willing to waive to Boston -- won't accept a trade without a contract extension, and it's unclear whether or not Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli has contacted Kaberle's agent to discuss terms of a new deal yet.
Still, Kaberle's addition without a roster move would require the Bruins to make another deal to free up some cap space. That move could involve Wheeler, or it could send Andrew Ference or Johnny Boychuk away. But more than likely it will be Mark Stuart, who just sort of stinks at everything.