Hurricanes Able To Dump Kaberle On Habs

Trade Details:

Carolina Hurricanes acquire Jaroslav Spacek from the Montreal Canadiens for Tomas Kaberle

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Carolina Hurricanes Acquire:

D. Jaroslav Spacek Age: 37 Height: 6-0  Weight: 210 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $3,833,333  Expires: 2012 (UFA) Important Facts: -Has a Limited No Trade Clause. -Hurricanes Head Coach Kirk Muller was Spacek's teammate on the 98-99 Florida Panthers team. -Contract expires after this season. -Had the best plus/minus of anyone on the 2010-11 Montreal Canadiens team with a +9

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Montreal Canadiens Acquire:

D. Tomas Kaberle Age: 33 Height: 6-1 Weight: 214 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $4,250,000 Expires: 2014 Important Facts: -Despite being 25 years old, he has only been in North America for one year. -He has gotten at least 40 points in five of the past six seasons. -Four time NHL all star. -Won the Stanley Cup last year with the Boston Bruins.

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Analysis:

The Carolina Hurricanes have been regretting their decision to sign Tomas Kaberle for a while and have been trying to get rid of him. In mid-October the Hurricanes offered Kaberle and a 2nd round pick for Derrick Brassard, and the idea was vehemently opposed. Much to the Hurricanes delight the Canadiens have underperformed and General Manager Pierre Gauthier has become a bit desperate. With the third worst power play in the NHL they decided that they had to acquire a solid puck-moving defenseman to help bolster it. They decided to take a big risk by acquiring Tomas Kaberle as that defenseman, and although he might in-fact fill that role they took on a big contract for an overpaid player which is always dangerous. As Kaberle ages this contract will become worse and worse, and apparently many people around the league are shocked that the Canes found someone willing to take this contract. Pierre LeBrun mentioned that he was talking to an anonymous NHL General Manager and the GM was "absolutely shocked Carolina was able to move Kaberle's contract". Carolina only takes back Jaroslav Spacek who will play a minimal role as a veteran defenseman and will have his contract expire at the end of the season.