RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman Jaroslav Spacek (YAHR-roh-slav SPAH-chehk) from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Tomas Kaberle. Spacek will be available to play with the Hurricanes tonight at Winnipeg (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports Carolinas HD, Hurricanes Radio Network).

“This deal brings a solid, veteran defenseman to our team for the remainder of this season and allows us more flexibility with our roster moving forward,” said Rutherford.

Spacek, 37, has earned three assists in 12 games with the Canadiens this season. The Rokycany, Czech Republic, native is in his 13th NHL season and has scored 77 goals and earned 266 assists (343 points) in 846 career NHL regular-season games with Florida, Chicago, Columbus, Edmonton, Buffalo and Montreal. He has added four goals and 14 assists in 61 career Stanley Cup playoff games, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final with Edmonton in 2006. Spacek has represented his native Czech Republic in several international competitions, including three Winter Olympic Games. He was drafted by Florida in the fifth round, 117th overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.