The Habs made a move to try and shore up their back end on Friday, acquiring Tomas Kaberle from Carolina in exchange for Jaroslav Spacek.
Kaberle split last season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, with whom he eventually won a Stanley Cup. While he posted a respectable 47 points in 2010-11, he struggled with the Bruins, obtaining only nine points in 24 contests. He was also held goalless in the playoffs, although he did finish with 11 assists.
Likewise, the typically prolific defencemen has not fared especially well since signing with the Carolina Hurricanes over the summer. He is once again without a goal — meaning he has not scored in 63 games dating back to last year’s playoffs — and has only nine assists. His current contract extends to 2013-14 and carries an average cap-hit of $4.25 million dollars.
As for the 37-year old Spacek, his contract, which paid him $3.833 million dollars per year, expires at the end of the season. The Czech blueliner has only played in 12 games this season and has been held to three assists. Spacek is currently on injured reserve with an upper-body injury but could be ready to return this weekend. In 145 career contests with the Habs, he has four goals and 36 assists. Spacek spoke briefly with a couple members of the media before departing and had this to say on the deal: “I’m sorry it’s over but it was clear I had no future in Montreal. I think this will be good for my career and my family.”
To make room for Kaberle on the active roster, Frederic St. Denis was also assigned to the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday. On the injury front, Chris Campoli has received the green light from the doctors to return to the lineup while Brian Gionta did not make the trip to New Jersey for tomorrow afternoon’s game.