Wallin waits on roster moves

Canes overstocked on defensemen

RALEIGH -- For Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Niclas Wallin, the timing wasn't good. Not that he could help it.

Wallin suffered a concussion in the Canes' first preseason game, against the Washington Capitals. While Carolina has a surplus of defensemen and some tough decisions to make on a regular-season roster, Wallin has been forced to sit.

Defensemen such as Dennis Seidenberg and Frantisek Kaberle have played well in games and been solid in practice. The chatter about possibly trading Kaberle -- so loud a month ago -- has subsided.

Anton Babchuk, back from a leg injury, was to be paired with Josef Melichar on Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Tim Conboy, who also has been injured, is a tough guy.

Something has to give.

"We all know the deal," Wallin said Thursday after returning to practice. "We're all professional and all NHL defensemen. Obviously it's a coaching decision and a management decision to see who will be there."

"It's always a tough situation when you have it like that. Sometimes, it can be good, too, with the injuries we've had. Finally, I'm healthy. I feel great. We had a lot of injuries last season. Maybe they want to be on the safe side and have an extra defenseman.

"I hate to see someone go. I've been here since early August and we've worked out. We're all teammates and all friends, but at the end of the day there's going to be six or seven who will play. We'll see who is it."

Wallin and Kaberle were a part of the Canes' Stanley Cup run in 2006, and Kaberle had the winning goal in the seventh and deciding game of the finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Kaberle has been slowed by shoulder injuries the past two seasons but said he finally has fully recovered.

"It took awhile," he said, smiling. "But all summer I was able to practice, and I feel great.

"There were times [the past two seasons] when I was frustrated because it didn't get better and it was still sore. But I feel very good now."

As for the speculation that Kaberle and his $2.2. million salary might go elsewhere, Kaberle shrugs it off.

"Every practice, every game, I try to play my best," he said. "We'll see what happens, whether I have a spot in the lineup or not."

Wallin, 33, has the same attitude. He doesn't think missing preseason games will hurt his status, given the nature of his injury, nor would he say he was concerned or nervous about the final decision on roster spots.

"Concussions are concussions," he said. "I've played through concussions before, but this one is different. It's better to be on the safe side today and be ready when the [regular-season] games start.

"But nervous? I can't say I'm nervous. The coaches will have the say. I'm here doing my thing. I'm healthy and in better shape than I was last year, so I've done my part in the offseason in training. So we'll see opening night."

Wallin said he hopes to play in the final preseason game Sunday against Nashville.