TSN.ca Staff

9/12/2006 9:51:20 AM

Frantisek Kaberle, the older brother of Leafs defensemen Tomas Kaberle, could be out of the Hurricane line-up for up to six months.  The 32 year old underwent surgery in Chicago Monday to repair a torn labrum. 

Kaberle was a major contributor to the Canes 2005 Stanley Cup run, scoring the winning goal in game seven of the final. 

"The shoulder got gradually worse over last season, but we had hoped it would strengthen over time with rehab," GM Rutherford said to the News Observer. " When he went back home [after visiting Raleigh last month] he found that he really didn't have enough strength to feel comfortable starting the season."

The front-runner to replace Kaberle in the Canes roster is David Tanabe, signed last month to a one-year, $900,000 deal.