RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have suspended defenseman Anton Babchuk after he failed to report to Albany of the American Hockey League.
The 22-year-old Babchuk was a victim of a numbers game with the parent team, which has an abundance of players at his position.
"In his words, he wants to think about it," Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford told the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer. "(But) We want him playing, not sitting at home thinking."
In 51 of Carolina's 55 games to date, Babchuk registered 14 points -- 2 goals and 12 assists.
The newspaper said Babchuk was demoted after Rutherford decided not to make a trade to clear a spot for Frantisek Kaberle, who made his season debut Tuesday night against Montreal.
Kaberle, who had been sidelined by shoulder surgery, scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period of Carolina's 2-1 victory.
