The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Tomas Kaberle to a three-year, $12.75 million free-agent contract, general manager Jim Rutherford announced today.
To make room for Kaberle's contract, the Canes traded defenseman Joe Corvo to the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft,
"Tomas is one of the best puck-moving defensemen and power-play specialists in the league," Rutherford said. "When he's on his game, he can do a lot of things. He's a very good all-around player, and we'll need to find the right defensive partner for him who can play 22-23 minutes a game."
Kaberle, 33, is the younger brother of former Canes defenseman Frantisek Kaberle. Tomas won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins this season. Frantisek was a member of the 2006 champs with Carolina.
"I told Tomas today, each of you has a Stanley Cup and this gives you the chance to one-up your brother," Rutherford said. "Hopefully he will have that opportunity in the next three years.
"Tomas showed what he can do in the last three or four games of the Stanley Cup finals (against Vancouver) this year. I thought he was one of those who made a difference in those games."
Tomas Kaberle, 33, has 84 goals and 445 assists in 902 NHL career games, all but 24 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In two of his seasons with the Leafs, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, he played for Paul Maurice, now the Canes' coach.
"He's a high-end, puck-moving defenseman," Maurice said today. "He can play within the system and sees the ice well at all times. He has great vision. He's a cerebral player and a good playmaker with a lot of experience."
"He's a calming influence on defense. In the late stages of games, you want the puck on his stick. His heart rate is not going to change."
Kaberle was drafted by the Leafs in the eighth round in 1996. A four-time All-Star, he has notched 40 or more points eight times in his career, with a high of 67 in 2006.
A longtime alternate captain for the Leafs, Kaberle did not wear the "A" this past season. He was traded to the Bruins on Feb. 18, for Boston's first-round pick in 2011, its second-round pick in 2012 and a prospect.
Maurice said he has not decided on the defensive combinations for next season.
"The same for the forwards," he said. "In training camp, we're going to be scrimmaging a lot, looking at a lot of different combinations, different looks."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Interesting!!
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 09:01 — Caniac5I think it's interesting that Cole left and Corvo requested to leave. Sounds to me like they are not happy with organizational issues...IMHO!
We overpaid for Kaberle! The Bruins were not happy with his play so just earning a ring is not a reason to overpay for a player that did not contribute...much! Corvo is more physical than Kaberle and we need physicality! And Bryan going to the Ducks just shows JR is really not willing to give the youngsters a chance! I would leave too!!
I say that if we are not above .500 by the first week of December...boot Mo! November has been a consistent disappointment with the Canes. If this year proves the same, we will be so far behind the 8-ball by then, we will need a miracle to put it back together!
And besides, we have not resigned Joslin or Sutter yet! If we lose those too, we will have to struggle to replace the physicality they bring.
interesting
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:10 — louis12580Bryan Rodney got multiple chances with the organization. I was not a big fan of his. Good skater with a good shot, but not good in his own end of the rink. By 27 you either have it or you don't and Rodney was the latter. As for Joslin and Sutter, no need to worry. R.F.A.'s are an entirely different breed when it comes to signings. Witness Stamkos and, to a lesser degree, Parise and Weber (both going to arbitration). I listened to the interview with Jim yesterday afternoon and while he allowed that he was done dealing now that didn't preclude something else occurring. Two second round and two fourth round picks in the 2012 draft. That gives him some wiggle room as to a possible deal. Much of the decision making will come down to training camp and the front office and coaching staff can make an evaluation of Bowman, Boychuk, and Dalpe. i've said it before and I'll say it again, of those three, Boychuk is the most likely to go.
You realize Rodney is 27,
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 09:22 — imayagainknowantonYou realize Rodney is 27, right? About seven months younger than Pitkanen. Rodney leaving shows JR is giving youngsters a chance, because there won't be a career AHLer playing top pairing and top PP minutes for the Checkers in place of a young player like Faulk or Sanguinetti, or getting call-ups over them.
And Corvo is not physical. At all. Pitkanen had more hits last season. Esepcially amusing that you whine about Rodney leaving after mentioning that we needed physicality. I didn't see Rodney throw a single hit in any Checkers playoff game I watched and he coughed up the puck whenever an opposing player got near him.
Offense
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 06:11 — lewpulsSo we need a coach who likes the defense to score, who likes to play offensively. But we have Mo.
25 games into the season, if we aren't five above .500 I can see Mo going.
Cautiously optimistic about
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:42 — ctillCautiously optimistic about Kaberle, although somebody has to play tough on D and he's not the one. Corvo's request to leave is very interesting after the arrival of Dave Lewis and the departure of Cole. Interesting that in JR's remarks he didn't mention Sanguinetti or Rodney. By the way, Borer has been removed from the Canes' "in the system" page although Rodney (also a UFA) is still there.
Rodney just signed with
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 20:16 — ctillRodney just signed with Anaheim at the minimum.
Corvo
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:32 — hellfishJC was a UFA next year ,so TK is good for 3yrs ,imo this would've happened this yr anyway just later.
Corvo
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:29 — robotron2084Whether he was requesting out or not, adding Kaberle meant he likely had to go. You can't have an entire defense of offensive-minded guys and you sure can't pair two of them together 5-on-5. So in 3 pairings, you have to split up Pitkanen, Kaberle, McBain and Corvo - you see who becomes odd man out there. With Gleason, Joslin and Allen/Harrison as the stay-at-home pairings, that's really not too shabby (assuming they play to their potential).
Then again, which came first? If Corvo did ask to be moved, then adding Kaberle is a great replacement, but wow, Pitkanen and Kaberle on the ice (granted, not at the same time) is going to be an adventure to say the least 5-on-5.
Good point
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:47 — Biff_BeersThat's a good point. Once we added Kaberle, every GM in the league would know that we needed to dump Corvo. Ideally, JR would have found a good deal for Corvo before signing Kaberle, but I doubt Kaberle would still been around.
Slight upgrade but...
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:55 — Hockeydad92Still no real physical element to our D? Gleason needs to step it up this year!
According to JR
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:42 — ddohrmannCorvo's agent made a "soft request" for a trade. That might have given that extra oomph to make the deal.
I like it. Overpaid? Maybe. Better than Corvo? Yep..
Wonder...
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:31 — robotron2084if that request came after his buddy Cole signed with Montreal...
Agreed
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:25 — ncsurveygirlAgreed. After reading Chip's article about how close Cole and Corvo are, I cant say I'm too surprised he made the request. Any one who requests (not matter how softly) a trade shouldnt be here anyway.
Buddy's
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:35 — hellfishWell they will see plenty of each other now that there team's are each other's most bitter rivals!
Seems panicy
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:40 — WhalerCaneI would have rather over paid for Cole, and kept Corvo than this move.
Not an option
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:30 — Biff_BeersI think the Canes could have retained Cole if the Habs had not offered a fourth year. JR has been burned once too often by giving a veteran a four- or five- year contract to an aging veteran. Also, I don't think JR would have dumped Corvo to free up money to pay Cole. Dumping Corvo to pay Kaberle makes a little more sense (but only a little - seems like JR could have gotten more for Corvo).
Why trade Corvo?
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:10 — richpungSeems like the Canes are overpaying for a streaky (33 yr old) defenseman, but so is every other team this year. Kaberle is a terrific upgrade for the powerplay and I am happy to see JR go get the talent. But I don't understand the Corvo trade. With skilled defensemen in high demand around the NHL they could only get a 4th round pick? Seriously, is that a typo? The team has plenty of cap space, I wish they kept Joe. There's nothing wrong with having 6 solid defensemen on the roster but JR seems willing to gamble with the 3rd pairing.
Defense...
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:29 — CanarseSomeone will actually have to play defense. I'm not sure the Hurricanes have guys capeable of covering for both Kaberle and Pitkanen. This could get Ozo-ugly.
I will say without Corvo the boards and glass behind the nets will get a lot less wear.
called this last week
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:09 — FiveholeIm not sure I'm happy to be right. I think Kaberle still has gas in the tank but I'm not so sure Corvo was a guy we should have dumped for cap room.
WOW!
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 16:52 — hellfishThis gives the Canes blueline a upgrade ,maybe not the best defensive wise ,but about the same as Corvo with better PP skills ,this move should deffinately upgrade the PP...Now if JR can get another forward like Boyes or Penner this team is lookin stout.
How can anyone possibly say
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 21:16 — reelpirateHow can anyone possibly say this was an upgrade?
TK
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 16:47 — lewpulsOMG. What a price. But is this guy that much better than Corvo? I doubt it.
And if we could do that, one wonders whether we could have paid Cole enough to keep him.
I think Kabele can hit the
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 17:38 — CanarseI think Kabele can hit the net, so that will be an improvement.
Only if the wind is not
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 21:15 — reelpirateOnly if the wind is not blowing.
This was a terrible move.