Tomáš Kaberle

Lore & Background

Kaberle was drafted 204th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996 and saw limited playing time in 1998–99. After an injury to Bryan Berard in 1999–2000, his ice time increased significantly. By 2001–02 he was selected to the NHL All-Star Game and named to the Czech Olympic team. He scored his first career hat-trick on October 28, 2006, against the Montreal Canadiens.

On March 2, 2007, he suffered a concussion from a late hit by Cam Janssen and missed eight games. Kaberle scored seven overtime goals despite relatively few total goals. In the 2008 All-Star Skills Competition, he hit all four targets in four shots in the accuracy challenge, becoming the fourth player to do so. He passed Tim Horton for second on the Maple Leafs' all-time defenceman scoring list on December 1, 2009.

On February 18, 2011, Kaberle was traded to the Boston Bruins and won the Stanley Cup with them on June 15, 2011. He signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 5, 2011, but was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on December 9, 2011, in exchange for Jaroslav Špaček.

During the 2012–13 lockout he played for HC Kladno, then returned to the Canadiens but was primarily a healthy scratch. He was placed on waivers on March 30, 2013, and given a compliance buyout on June 28, 2013. He later signed with HC Kladno and officially retired on September 22, 2016.

Reader's Guide

Tomáš Kaberle's NHL career spanned 14 seasons, defined by steady offensive production from the blue line and a smooth, puck-moving style. He was a four-time All-Star and remains the second-highest scoring defenceman in Toronto Maple Leafs history, behind Börje Salming. His most notable achievement came in 2011 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins after a mid-season trade. Internationally, he won a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships with the Czech Republic.

Kaberle's career also included a memorable accuracy competition win at the 2008 All-Star Game, where he hit all four targets. His time with the Montreal Canadiens was brief and less successful, ending with a compliance buyout. After retiring, he helped his wife with her Italian restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaberle's legacy is that of a skilled, durable defenceman who was a key contributor on some strong Leafs teams and ultimately earned a championship ring.