The Canes have activated defenseman Frantisek Kaberle off injured reserve and reassigned defenseman Tim Conboy to the Albany River Rats (AHL).
Kaberle has played just seven games this season because of a foot injury. While the Canes cancelled practice today at the RecZone, Kaberle was able to get in some skating.
Kaberle suffered a broken bone in his right foot after taking a shot off the inside of his ankle Oct. 17 against the Los Angeles Kings. He was out 19 games, returned to play three games but continued to have problems with the foot and was forced to sit out the last five games.
"It's been tough," Kaberle said. "I felt great (heading into the season) and I broke my foot. Getting back, it was still bothering me. Hopefully now I can stay healthy."
Kaberle said he had surgery on the foot last year. The foot completely healed, he said, but he was hit on the same spot on the inside of the foot in the Kings game.
"If it had hit the other foot it wouldn't have been as big a problem," he said. "But hopefully now everything will be OK."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
scrapper but..
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 11:37 — HockeydogConboy is willing to scrap after a whistle but he is not super sound defensively. If anything the Canes could use a Kronwall type that has the ability to cleanly lay big hits. I do agree that his energy is a nice addition.
I also agree that Bayda and LaRose fill a similar role with the team, with LaRose having a slight edge in scoring ability and speed. To me LaRose, Bayda, Walker, and Eaves are all filling a similar role. Walkers place in the lineup is secure in my opinion but I wouldn't mind seeing another player in Bayda's spot. God love the kid, he brings all he can every night but he just is not an effective player at this level on a nightly basis.
I have to think JR would like to add a forward, but he may not be able to. His giving players 1 way deals and no trade clauses has hinders his flexibility.
Conboy
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 18:09 — abramsdougI really hope I am mistaken; but as far as I can recall every time we send Conboy down to the Rats and Kaberle plays, the overall team effort lags. I wonder if Conboy isn't the kind of hard-edged player that the rest of team wants with them in a street fight. All I know is that the team record with Conboy is far better than the team record when he is off the team. Maybe it's merely a coincidence; but I personally doubt it. I hope Paul Maurice will keep his eyes open on the effect of the Conboy presence or absence.
You are not mistaken
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 23:18 — Nico37They do need Conboy in the lineup - not just b/c of his grit but b/c he brings desperately needed esprit de corps to a team that sorely lacks it.
This group is so stale. They need an injection of enthusiasm & Conboy brings it.
*yawn*
just thinking about this team puts me to sleep...
'Night Jimmy, 'Night Mo
The team defense has been to
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 18:08 — dustinlammersThe team defense has been built to give us no options - the no trade clauses and one way deals prevent us from changing it up, until the off-season. It was good to see some of the young prospects come up, and play well. Gives us hope for the future.
Conboy played well in my mind, and his grit will be missed but having Gleason back helps.
What else can you do?
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 16:07 — tfateelIt sucks for him, but it's just the way it is. Conboy is on a two-way deal, and can go down without clearing waivers.
How can you justify keeping him up? If he "needs" to be in the lineup, who do you realistically sit down to make room for him? At best, he's a physical presence on the fourth line... do you sit LaRose or Bayda to make room for him?
I would like to see
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 19:15 — esteban1949Bayda sent and Conboy back up...but I'm a non STH who hasn't been to a game since the RBC was built and they moved from Greensboro...so who at the front office is ever going to listen to the likes of me... ? NONE!
The Rats play tonight in Norfolk...lets see if Capt. Conboy...can remind Norfolk that he like a bad rash is still around !!!....hehehe
Go Rats & Canes !!
then you need a change !!
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 21:32 — ynotagainSounds like you need to get out of G-boro once and a while and make the trip east to see a few games at the RBC. In fact, if you come east Thursday 12/18, you might even get a Staal bobblehead to take back and show the folks in G-boroland.
Call it an early Christmas gift; hopefully 2 gifts if the Canes can pull out a win against FL.
Change You say - to ynotagain
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 22:40 — esteban1949I moved here 19 years ago...and and as soon as my youngest grandchild graduates from Salem College in Winston-Salem( class of 2012) where i live...I am going back to where i belong...Spokane Washington, where the memorial Cup winning Spokane Chiefs play, season tickets are cheaper...where sex is still dirty and the air still iffy at best...hehehe...Buti have enough "boble heads"...between those in the state legislature, The US Senate & House...do any of us really need to add anymore ? Now if i could find a person who is an Independent ...and politically leaned more say to a populist way of thinking...I'd consider collecting a few of those...;-} have a great week...and All kidding aside..
Merry Christmas to ya !
PS..darn..the Albany River Rats lost 2-1 ( bah ! Humbug !!)
Yes. LaRose and Bayda are
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 18:30 — TheReaper49Yes. LaRose and Bayda are the same freakin' player. You do not need them both. Pick one and stick with him. Shuck the other one and get someone on that line who plays with some grit and nastiness. Something this team sorely lacks.
Truly, it is maddening that the coaching and management of this team place no emphasis whatsoever on grit, jam, sandpaper, toughness, call it what you will. The result? A mediocre team that is boring to watch at times, that gets embarassingly pushed around, and that consistently leads the league in man games lost to injury.
Yeah, Rutherford. All of the injuries are the trainers fault. Not yours for putting together a team full of small players with big hearts and muffins.
Sad to see him go
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 15:03 — galatians220Yes, Conboy made a mistake on that giveaway, but Carson was not in any position to cover, thus his penalty that led to the penalty shot goal. Plenty of other guys made mistakes last night as well. Conboy never really got the chance to take regular shifts since his call-up. I would keep him over Carson. This team needs his toughness, whether at D or forward.
This is the softest team in the league
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:53 — TheReaper49I am so glad that Jim Rutherford stuck to his guns and followed up on his commitment to get a bigger, tougher 4th line. He truly is a man of his word.
What a freaking joke.
Sigh...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:04 — esteban1949That is great news...but sigh ...hate to have Conboy pack up and head back to Albany...between Him, and Gleason getting into peoples faces in defence of other team members..Capt. Tim will be missed.
Yeah, but...
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:47 — wxray1I like Conboy too, but last night, his give-away was breathtaking. I.E., I couldn't breathe after it. I don't know how it came across on TV, but live, it was ugly.
He tried to dink around Latendresse, and then got burned badly. It must have taken the coaches' breath away too. Never saw him back on the ice again. I think Pitkanen and Seids took up the slack.
Look, I know we need tough, but we need skilled play too. If he plays so bad that the coaches are afraid to put him out there, he can't be tough. Would have been nice if he were out there during the Staal boarding hit, but he wasn't because he was riding the pine.
Agreed
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 09:53 — GoShelfThe give-away was horrible, glad to see him go back down. I don't mind seeing him play as a fourth line forward, but he's not good enough to play D for this team. He's a great character guy and works hard, but if you've ever watched him in practice or watched closely in a game it's pretty evident that he just doesn't have same level of skill that our other regulars have.
Big tilt tonight, need a win.