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Brian Burke and Tomas Kaberle may be relieved now, but rumors will return soon enough

Dion Phaneuf, Tomas Kaberle

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Dion Phaneuf, left, and Tomas Kaberle skate off the ice as San Jose Sharks celebrate a 3-2 win in an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

AP

Last night, I emphasized the fact that the Tomas Kaberle saga is far from over. It seems that both Brian Burke and Kaberle’s agent Rick Curran threw the word “relief” around when describing the now-passed window in which the defenseman’s no-trade clause was lifted, but I would add “temporary” to relief in this case.

Still, it’s obvious that Canada’s version of Hollywood stars are hockey players (with the occasional exception being Michael J. Fox, Mike Myers, Celine Dion and Nickelback). By that comparison, the Toronto media* makes up most of the paparazzi.

* - No, that doesn’t mean ALL Toronto media by ANY means. I hope that my use of all caps makes my message as obvious as possible there.

Brian Burke

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke speaks to the media for the first time since the death of his 21-year-old Brendan on Friday, Feb. 12, 20101, before an NHL hockey game between the Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

AP

So when you read quotes from Curran and Burke, it’s a bit difficult to tell if you should read between the lines. Is it lip service when Burke says he’s glad to keep Kaberle or could it just be that the Toronto media made the chances of a trade overblown? Either way, Curran says that Kaberle just hopes that things settles down, according to the Toronto Star.

“He’s just trying to get everything back to normal and makes plans to come back to Toronto,” said his agent Rick Curran after speaking with Kaberle this morning.

“He woke up in the morning and he was relieved to know he wasn’t going somewhere he didn’t know he’d be going to.”

“Now,” continued Curran. “I’m just quite hopeful that everything settles down. Let’s just let everything settle down.”

Chances are, things will only settle down for a brief moment. With one year left on his contract, Kaberle will be a natural target for two very different trains of thought: one will focus on the possibility of an extension with the Leafs while the other will revolve around a trade. The latter situation will boil to an Emma Stone level once the trading deadline approaches.

So, yes, Kaberle and Burke (and Curran) can take a brief reprieve from the rumor mongering. Maybe even for the rest of the summer. But like “Saw” sequels, the Kaberle rumors won’t ever go away and - let’s face it - they’ll pretty much be the same old thing over and over again.

Without the silly masks and gore, I hope.