Forgotten Canes: Frantisek Kaberle and the Real Cup Clincher

Who really scored the game winning and cup clinching goal in game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final? Canes folklore will tell you it was current captain Justin Williams ( we have all seen the clip of him putting it into the empty net). However, the actual cup-clinching goal was scored Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle ! In the second period Kaberle put the puck past Jussi Markkanen to take the 2-0 lead that was never relinquished. That goal makes Kaberle the official cup clinching goal scorer.

Kaberle joined the NHL later than most rookies at the age of 25 when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1999 NHL draft 76th overall. Traded to the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers during the 1999-2000 Kaberle coincidentally enough scored his first NHL goal against the Carolina Hurricanes beating Arturs Irbe. Kaberle would remain with the Thrashers until after the season canceling lockout of 2004-2005. Prior to the 2006 NHL Season Kaberle brought his game to blue-line in Raleigh.

Kaberle dove right in, in Raleigh with his 44 points (6 goals,38 assists) in 77 games leading all Defenseman in scoring during the 2006 run. Kaberle added another 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 25 games throughout the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs. A shoulder injury derailed his encore season in Raleigh limiting him to 27 games. Kaberle returned in 2007-2008 yet the injury hampered in production limiting him to only 22 assists and zero goals. After appearing in only 30 games in 2008-2009 Kaberle was bought out and returned to the Czech Republic to finish his career. Over 4 seasons in Raleigh Kaberle appeared in 204 games scoring nine goals and 73 assists for a total of 82 points.

Kaberle retired from Hockey in 2012 and now makes his home in Reddington Beach Florida. Yet no matter where he receives his mail you cant really talk about the 2006 cup Final without mentioning Frantisek Kaberle and his TRUE cup clinching goal. Thanks for reading and Redvolution.

The Caniac Collector

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forgotten Canes: Mike Commodore and his bathrobe.

Image
Whether he is flying up the ice with his trademark red afro flowing behind him, warming up during the pregame of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his bathrobe, or continuing his personal feud through his entertaining Twitter Account ( seriously folks follow this guy on Twitter @Commie22) with Maple Leafs Coach Mike Babcock eccentric would be a fair word to describe Former Canes Defenseman Mike Commodore. Commodore signed with Carolina in 2005 after bouncing between the New Jersey Devils and Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) the previous 2 seasons A staple on the blue-line during the  Stanley Cup Championship of 2006, Commodore was a hard nosed stay at home defenseman Commodore was second amongst defenseman in points with during the magical season that was 2006. Commodore provided the physical presence needed serving 138 penalty minutes while remaining second on the team in +/- at 10. In 2 two and a half seasons in Raleigh, Commodore appeared in 195 games ringing up 13 goals and 41 assists f
Read more

Eric Staal is the most Underappreciated Hurricane of All Time

Image
  Eric Staal 2014-2015 Upper Deck Premier Rink of Honor     In case you did not hear already, Carolina Hurricanes Legend Eric Staal has been named the Captain of The Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team. I tell you that to tell you this, beyond being a Justin Faulk Collector I also collect Eric Staal. The Former 2nd Overall Pick (2002), Stanley Cup Champ, the arguably legitimate Conn Smythe Winner with 28 points in 25 Games, and former Hurricanes Captain has managed to etch out a borderline Hall of Fame Career.   However, even with all that listed I would argue that Eric Staal remains the most underrated and underappreciated Carolina Hurricane of all time.  Why? Eric Staal's captaincy happened in the midst of turmoil. Having it given to him with the stripping of perennial favorite and current Canes Bench Boss Rod Brindamour's Captaincy in the middle of the 2010 season. Staal's entire tenure as captain was mired in a long and miserable playoff drought and a revolving door
Read more

It's Cardboard Therapy!

Image
     Dont thank me for my service! I did not join for gratitude! I was a 23 year old single dad who had ran out of options to support his son. I needed an escape from a bad situation and the United States Navy provided it for me. Now 12 years later I along with many other veterans battle the long term effects of what at time can be crippling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).In my daily profession it was implied that I should not write about or discuss my PTSD because it could make people uneasy and uncomfortable around me! While my internal response  was "You think it's uncomfortable hearing about it?" "Well try fucking living with it every day!" Nevertheless I heeded the warning and stop sharing my experiences via social media. However, this is my blog and my rules!  I will be the first to admit I never saw combat, yet a three year period of living in constant vigilance broke my psyche beyond repair.Being seperated from my family for 503 out of a po
Read more