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Tomas Kaberle update: Columbus Blue Jackets bow out of sweepstakes

Scott Howson

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson announces Scott Arniel as the NHL hockey team’s coach during a news conference Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. Arniel was the coach of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League for the last four seasons. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

AP

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke hasn’t pulled the trigger on a Tomas Kaberle trade yet, but there is news/non-news that has come through recently. The Columbus Post-Dispatch reports that the Blue Jackets are out of the Kaberle sweepstakes.

It appears unlikely Tomas Kaberle is going to be a Blue Jacket -- at least any time soon.

The Jackets are no longer in serious contention for Kaberle, an NHL source told the Dispatch. Jackets general manager Scott Howson and Toronto general Brian Burke had several good discussions, the source said, but there’s “no fit there.”

Burke has until midnight to deal the puck-moving defenseman before his no-trade clause kicks back in. There’s a chance the Leafs hold onto him if they don’t like any offer. It seems like Kaberle has been on the market longer than Adam Foote’s house in Columbus.

I didn’t think the Jackets could get a deal done here because they can’t afford to give up what Burke covets -- top-6 forwards or ones who potentially could fit the bill.

Kaberle would make an awful lot of sense for Columbus, as their powerplay could really use a quarterback. My guess is that they could potentially offer a decent group of “futures” but maybe they decided Kaberle wouldn’t be worth such a bounty.

Again, we’ll keep you up to date as this clock ticks on the Leafs’ opportunity to move Kaberle without his go-ahead.