No Kaberle tonight - 1-31-09

Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle (right), the team's lone All-Star, will not be in the lineup tonight and will miss three-to-four weeks due to a broken hand. He suffered the injury Thursday against the Avalanche while blocking a shot.

Note: Defenseman Alex Goligoski will make his return to the lineup as a forward tonight in place of Paul Bissonnette. Additionally, Hal Gill will dress tonight in place of Philippe Boucher.

EN Says: We're eager to see Goligoski in the lineup but not like this. First, using seven defensemen just never seems to work for the team as a whole. Second, this doesn't do anything for Goligoski's development. He's still learning his craft at the NHL level and sticking him on a line with Bill Thomas and Eric Godard teaches him nothing. That said, perhaps the team will try and use Goligoski on the power play where he's had some success.

We've hardly been kind to Boucher in this forum, but after last night's game, he hardly deserves a benching. We would argue Ryan Whitney or even Rob Scuderi should be watching the game in a suit before Boucher does.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)