The summer’s ongoing story between Tomas Kaberle’s no-trade clause and the Toronto Maple Leafs who was in trade talks with other teams possibly came to an end last night. Kaberle’s contract allowed him to be traded up until 12:01 a.m. EST, but that deadline came and passed and Kaberle is still the property of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. It looks like he’ll report to Toronto’s training camp and wear the blue and white for another season, unless he waives his no-trade clause at some point, but that likely won’t happen until the trade deadline.

Last season Kaberle lead all Leaf players 42 assists and all defenders with 49 points, all while having a below-average second half. Kaberle is not what you would call a premier defender in the NHL, but he’s definitely a top six blue-liner and is arguably the best on that Toronto has, but that title may be argued now that Dion Phaneuf has adjusted to the city (as well as the captaincy) and Luke Schenn looks ready to bounce back from a disappointing sophomore season.

Reports that coach Ron Wilson does not like Kaberle’s style of play (and possibly even the man) are rampant on the internet. But whether a rift between the two exists or doesn’t, Kaberle is still one of the best defensemen in the Leafs organization. General Manager Brian Burke denies that any bad blood exists between the two, but now that the deadline has passed and Kaberle’s no trade clause is back in effect, who would expect Burke to have said anything else?

Keeping Kaberle isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the team. No, the team doesn’t get any younger or forwards, but his contract doesn’t affect the team’s cap position too badly. They do have eight NHL defensemen right now, but there’s nothing stopping the team from burying a guy in the minors until he’s needed to replace an injured player. The only way this non-deal can go sour is if the reports about Kaberle and Wilson are true and this relationship blows up in their face, and knowing how Wilson is in front of a microphone, that scenario is just as likely as any.