Though it wasnt technically a trade, the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins effectively swapped puck-moving defencemen in two separate transactions. Numbers Game looks at the Tomas Kaberle signing and Joe Corvo trade. The Hurricanes Get: D Tomas Kaberle and a fourth-round pick. Kaberle, 33, is getting a chance to re-unite with former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice in Carolina and perhaps rebuild a reputation that took a beating after he arrived in Boston. Even though the Bruins won the Cup, and Kaberle had a respectable 11 points and plus-8 rating in 25 playoff games, his role decreased dramatically when it was apparent that he wasnt the solution on the Boston power play and he was continually losing battles for the puck in his own end. Consider that Kaberle played more than 20 minutes in three of Bostons first five playoff games, against Montreal, then his ice time really took a hit, down to a playoff-low 9:14 in the Cup-clincher. The harsh glare of the playoff spotlight didnt reflect well on Kaberle, yet a three-year, $12.75-million contract indicates that even if there was a perception that his value had gone down, his cap hit remains at the same level that it was on his last contract. Kaberle certainly had his shortcomings exposed in the playoffs, but that doesnt mean he cant be a productive power play quarterback in Carolina. He has at least 25 power play points, and 47 total points, in five of the last six seasons. Even if it didnt work in Boston, Kaberle has enough of a track record as a puck-moving defenceman that he should be able to contribute for Carolina. Whether he can continue to play 22-plus minutes per game, as he has for the last 11 seasons, is really the question when it coems to the relative value of Kaberles contract. If hes able to do it into his mid-30s, then the cost wont be too bad -- about the going rate for a top four defenceman. If his playoff decline wasnt an aberration but, rather, a sign of things to come, then as a third-pair defenceman who can help on the PP, he wouldnt be providing very good value on his deal. The Bruins Get: D Joe Corvo. Corvo is a 34-year-old who has been an enigma at times throughout his career, sometimes giving up as many chances as he creates, but he also had a career-high 23 power play points and played 24:46 per game last season, so hell get a shot at helping on the Bruins power play. He has the skating ability and heavy right-handed shot from the point to think that his skill set is suitable for the job. With more than 37 points in five of his last six seasons, Corvo is an accomplished puck-moving defenceman. He doesnt have a track record as long or as distinguished as Kaberles but, at this point, hes established his credentials as a defenceman that can play big minutes. Where Boston really makes out here is financially. Giving up a fouth-round pick to Carolina to get Corvo is hardly any cost whatsoever, in terms of assets, and Corvo is going into the last year of a deal that comes at a reasonable $2.5-million cap hit. Consider, if Corvo was made available at next years trade deadline, as a rental, hed surely bring more than a fourth-round pick from a team needing an upgrade on the blueline and the Bruins have him for the whole season. Having already seen that Kaberle wasnt a great fit, the Bruins scored a real coup by getting his replacement and a couple million dollars of cap space this year (to say nothing of the commitment -- the two addtional years for which Kaberle is signed). It almost makes up for the premium that the Bruins paid to get Kaberle in a trade from Toronto, but thats another story. If Kaberle returns to form in Carolina, the Hurricanes may not regret the deal, but the Bruins already dont regret it because they got a bargain in Corvo and he just might be able to bring what the Bruins hoped they were getting when they dealt for Kaberle in the first place. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Ugg Canada Clearance . Calgary has lost three of its past four and enters this contest two points behind Dallas for the eighth spot in the West with 66 points. The Flames did notch a point last time out, dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to the visiting Coyotes. Uggs Boxing Day Canada Sale .C. Lions won a Grey Cup, Andrew Harris watched shivering in the stands. http://www.bootsinsnowsale.com/ . This is the second year the tournament is part of the official European Tour schedule. It was scheduled for Dec. 12-15 at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. The European Tour and Sunshine Tour say it now will start Wednesday and end Saturday. Ugg Canada Boxing Day Sale . As part of the Kraft Celebration Tour, Kyle hosts a special edition of SPORTSCENTRE featuring anchors Jay Onrait and Dan OToole when they broadcast live from the community on Tuesday, Aug. Uggs Canada Sale . In part it was a move of necessity Sunday as Jose Bautista shifted back to right field from designated hitter.As Richie McCaw stepped up to the microphone for his obligatory post-match interview, you could sense the utter relief when he was allowed to reflect that his team had finally regained a place in the Rugby World Cup Final. All the pressure and all the expectation seemed to be lifted from his shoulders at that one moment. For this rugby mad nation all the waiting was over. Despite being favoured at every tournament in the last 24 years, they have had only one look at the final in 1995. As Clint Eastwood depicted so poignantly in his film “Invictus”, that day belonged to Francois Pienaars Springboks, Joel Stranskys right boot, a famous image of a jersey-clad Mandela and not the All Blacks! New Zealand have deservedly earned the tag as “chokers”. The various failed attempts have eaten up the national psyche and permeated the culture and politics of the country of 4 Million. With the tournament coming home it was virtually inconceivable that they would go to all the effort to host the world and not have a chance to set the record straight. Thanks to a clinical display against their foes from across the Tasman, McCaw will get the chance to do what David Kirk did back in 1987...lift the Webb Ellis Cup. For me there were several factors in this match that set up the All Blacks date with destiny. They accepted and processed all the expectation of a nation. It was everywhere, so they couldnt hide from it or deny it existed. They seemed to have found a way to channel it. I credit Graham Henry in this department. There is no doubt that he learned from and benefited hugely from the failed campaign of four years ago (and four matches at the helm of Wales in 2003). The men who so controversially re-appointed him after 2007 must feel vindicated. The All Black sides of previous World Cups could not have dealt with losing the tri-nations this season, their best player after two games and the weight of expectation their nervous public laid upon them. Ultimately all 22 players (and I am sure in some way all 30) contributed in some truly meaningful way to make the semi-final victory a reality. None of the squad went hiding when the pressure was on. Eden Park also witnessed an awakening of the crowd. New Zealand supporters have always thought themselves knowledgeable andd as such, acted like it was below them to actually make some noise, paint their faces, get dressed up and let loose! On Sunday they played their part.dddddddddddd From the opening kickoff they made it their mission to rattle the Wallaby players. Admittedly, Quade Cooper made it easy for them to get going even from his opening touch! The public expressed themselves in a positive manner and the pressure left McCaws men and landed squarely on their opponents and the referee. That stadium was not going to allow a Sam Warburton type refereeing mistake to jeopardize their title aspirations. Every close or questionable call went the way of New Zealand. It is human nature that referee Joubert would avoid the wrath of the 60,000 inside Eden Park. On a more technical level the key factor was New Zealands commitment to and virtual dominance of the loose play. They were more aggressive and from players 1-15 it was a priority. Time and time again the All Black backs disrupted the Wallaby rucks out wide. There were turnovers at key moments and a very unstable platform from which Genia and Cooper struggled to launch their attack. The numerous bleeding noses and head shots were a result of active rucking. The black jerseys were not resting at the tackle area, they were applying themselves and getting results. Australia needed to control the tempo but the disrupted platforms at the loose prevented them from doing this. They were forced to kick away possession. They spent most of the day on the back foot and staring at a complete black defensive wall. New Zealand deserved their shot at the title and they earned it fair and square with victory over the Wallabies. For me it was somewhat reminiscent of the resolve England showed in 2003 to lift the cup. They were world number one heading in and much was expected of them. They became the first Northern Hemisphere World Champs because they dealt with expectations, engendered passionate support from their public, and were aggressive in every position. Along with Martin Johnson, Leonard, Dallaglio, Back, and Catt were key to making sure that happened for England. On Sunday night McCaw got the same leadership support from Mealamu, Thorn, Read, and Nonu to insure the team didnt stumble at the penultimate hurdle. Congratulations my Kiwi friends! cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '