This might be the most random trade in Carolina Hurricanes history, because how many people can honestly say they remember Tomas Kaberle and Jaroslav Spacek playing for this team, let alone in the same season? This is the type of trade that gets buried deep in the back of your brain, only to rear its ugly head every decade or so. Then again, it happened during the dark days.
Kaberle was already well established in the NHL. He was a four-time All-Star during his 12 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was putting up big numbers, topping 40 points eight times, including a career-high 67 points following the 2004 lockout. A mid-season trade in 2011 to the Bruins allowed Kaberle to capture an elusive Stanley Cup, scoring 11 points, all of which were assists.
Following in his older brother's footsteps, Kaberle signed a contract with the Hurricanes during free agency in 2011, bringing another Kaberle to Raleigh. The three-year, $12.75 million ($4.25m AAV) deal felt like a big deal at the time, adding a certified veteran offensive defenseman to the team while also trading Joe Corvo to the Bruins in a separate deal.
It turned out that this marriage was not a good idea. Kaberle's scoring touch was nowhere to be seen for the first two months of the season. He recorded just nine assists in 29 games, four of them coming in what eventually became Kaberle's final two games with the team in Alberta in early December.
From one veteran defenseman to another
With Kaberle's production failing to materialize with the Hurricanes, they immediately shifted and found a trade partner in the Montreal Canadiens. The swap was a 1-for-1, sending a veteran defenseman in each direction. For Kaberle, the Hurricanes received Jaroslav Spacek from the Habs.
Spacek broke into the NHL at the same time as Kaberle, albeit a few years older. While Kaberle was a staple with one team, Spacek moved around the league a lot more. He'd played on six teams before joining the Hurricanes, spending time in Florida, Chicago, Columbus, Edmonton, Buffalo, and Montreal. His tenure with the Oilers saw him face the Canes in the 2006 Final, posting five assists.
The start to the 2011-12 season had been rough for Spacek as he battled injuries. He'd been limited to three assists in 12 games in a contract year. Debuting on December 9th against Winnipeg and playing his first game in almost a month, Spacek notched two assists, contributing to both Carolina goals in a 4-2 loss.
Playing well in his first few games, Spacek scored his first goal as a Hurricane a few games later, scoring in his home debut against Vancouver. He underwent a small slump and missed time in January before finishing the season with five goals and 12 points in 34 games. With the lockout following the season, Spacek hung up his skates after 13 seasons in the NHL.
Kaberle also regained his scoring touch after the trade. He recorded points in his first four games with the Canadiens on the way to 22 points in 43 games to conclude the season. Kaberle returned to Montreal after the lockout, but he only played in ten games before being waived. The final year of his deal was bought out, and he officially retired from hockey a few seasons later.
Did this trade impact the Hurricanes' history in any discernible way? Not at all, but it was a trade that needed to be brought to light again. It's one of those trades that you look at and go, "Oh, yeah! That did happen!" As August winds down, it's a fun deal to look back at, even if its most notable achievement is merely existing.