MONTREAL-The NHL draft begins at 7 p.m. tonight. Tomas Kaberle may no longer be a Maple Leaf at 7:01.

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Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle.

Photograph by : Canwest News Service

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The window to trade the all-star defenceman opens when the draft begins and GM Brian Burke admitted last night he's weighing an unsolicited offer that would see a player and a draft pick come back to the Leafs.

"My inclination still is someone is going to have to blow our doors off to make this deal," said Burke. "It's going to have to be a trade we absolutely feel we have to make. It's got our attention. We're listening now. The name that was thrown at us was important enough that we have to huddle on it."

Burke said the trade could get better, and he immediately notified four other teams about the offer, hoping to get an even better deal.

There would be no shortage of teams lining up to take the all-star defenceman, who has two years left at a very affordable $4.25 million (U.S.) a year. One source said Kaberle's name has been mentioned in every trade offer involving Tampa as Burke tries to move up from the seventh pick overall to try to land centre John Tavares.

The Florida Panthers are looking to replace soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester, and could want to reunite Kaberle with long-time playing partner Bryan McCabe.

The cost-conscious Phoenix Coyotes - with a surfeit of young players but lacking a veteran presence on the blue line - and Minnesota Wild - with two solid goaltenders - were also believed to be in the running.

Kaberle signed a no-trade deal as part of his contract, but because the Leafs missed the playoffs, a window to trade him - as well as fellow blueliner Pavel Kubina - opens today when the draft begins. It closes in mid-August.

Burke has previously said he'd be unwilling to trade Kaberle, because his skill set would be so hard to replace, especially at his salary.

Meanwhile, Burke said he's operating on "blind hope" that he'll be able to move up in the draft, but admitted it's looking bleak.

"I don't think the Islanders are moving their pick," said Burke. "The only name Tampa's expressed interest in is Luke Schenn and he's not going anywhere. That probably leaves us out of the top two picks, but we'll see.

"No luck so far, but the way the timing on this works, it's still early," Burke added.

The Islanders hold the first overall pick and haven't tipped their hat as to which way they're leaning - Tavares, Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman or perhaps Brampton centre Matt Duchene.

"Wherever I go, I know it'll be a great spot," said Tavares. "There's a lot of great players in the draft.

"I'd like to go No. 1, no doubt. If it happens, it would be a great accomplishment. If it doesn't, we'll just move ahead."

Tavares said he's flattered the way Burke is pursuing him.

"I can't wait to be part of the National Hockey League," said Tavares. "If it is Toronto, having grown up in Oakville watching the Leafs, it would be special for me, but we'll see what happens."

Tampa holds the second pick, Colorado the third. Atlanta is said to be leaning towards Evander Kane with the fourth pick, leaving Burke in a position to try to trade up to fifth to get Brayden Schenn, Luke's brother. Last year, the Leafs traded up from seven to five to get Luke.

"We're not trading Luke Schenn," said Burke. "We worked very hard to get him last year. We think he could be our captain in the next two or three years."

Burke would love to build the team around Schenn and Tavares.

"We're trying to move up. If we're not successful, we'll move on," said Burke. "I'm not discouraged yet. But I'm not optimistic. We've been approached about moving down. We'd entertain that. ... Until someone calls out that kid's name, we're going to keep trying."