In the famous-last-words department, it doesn't look like there's anything happening on the trade front, where the Canes are shopping Frantisek Kaberle in a cost-cutting move.
I haven't heard anything in a few days and Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said his phone has quieted lately as well.
"I talk to teams looking for a defenseman but at this point, nothing yet," Rutherford said. "Teams are looking to move players around or shuffle contracts a little bit to make room for certain players. In our case, we have an extra defenseman and we'd also like to move out a contract."
In my experience, when a GM says he's got a player on the block, a deal either happens in the next week or so or waits until there's some sort of precipitating event. In Kaberle's case, it could be an arbitration case that goes (or doesn't go) a team's way, or it could be the start of training camp as it approaches, when teams realize they need another defenseman due to injury or retirement or whatever. (Carolina brought in Jason Woolley and Cale Hulse on late free-agent tryouts one year.)
That being said, all it would take is one phone call, so a deal could be on its way to being done by the time you read this.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
Comments
Thanks and good bye
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 16:06 — Joseph G (not verified)As much as I am grateful for Erik Cole rushing the net to draw the penalty that set up Kaberle's Cup winning goal. It is time. Cole is gone. And hopefully, so will Frankie soon be. In the past season ( for me 2006-2007 doesn't count-injury and healing) he consistently looked too small, too slow, and too indecisive with the puck. By all accounts, he's a good guy. I hope he can find a good home. Just not here.
Moving Kaberle
Wed, 07/16/2008 - 17:07 — esteban1949it maybe quite at the moment...but the market is still going on quietly...and behind the scenes...should he go to a conference team ? Or send him out west ? Only time and JR know for sure...Now if he was or had the ironman stats say...a Bobby hull or Phil Eposisto had...Kaberle would be in the busom and heart of JR...But as we know...the Business of hockey means more these days than anything else...sigh...at least Stan Makita played longer than Keberle will...and that dear kiddies is when no one wore face masks,helmets ...but then back then...the air was alot cleaner too ...
edited for content, 6:08 p.m.
No offense meant...
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 12:09 — penaltykiller74I understand the whole "the game isn't the same as it used to be" deal. No there are not that many Ironman players, and dynasties are a thing of the past, but it is the evolution of the sport for the evolution of the fan.
Yes it is a business, and all sports teams are. The NHL is just now getting up the speed with the other professional sports, which is a good thing. Making it a successful business will bring the game more mainstream, and will bring more games to television on regular channels instead of the occasional game here and there.
I can sit down and watch Classic games on the NHL network, because I love the sport and can see the great games then, but they are great, not because the fans paid $2 to get in or the players didn't have helmets, but because it is hockey.
The principle of the game is the same and you can see that when you watch both classic games and games of today. But to be honest, they are more exciting now, because it is faster and the players as a whole are better. Passes are tape to tape more, and from more players than just two or three. I'm not saying that the greats from the past could not compete today, but the mediocre players on a team today, are in my opinion, better than the mediocre players of the past, and that makes the teams of now better.
So, to close, if you love the sport, you love the sport, and that is awesome. If you don't want to pay the price to see the games or deal with the fans, then watch them on TV and not gripe about it. Its your choice. I choose to sit there at the rink, in my Canes jersey, cheering for my team showing my support - respectfully I'll add - because they deserve it.