Capitals Pick Up Two on Deadline Day

The Washington Capitals made two moves on the trading deadline day. They traded prospect Jake Hauswirth and a 3rd round draft pick in the 2011 draft to the Florida Panthers in return for defenseman Dennis Wideman. Wideman is a veteran with 439 games worth of NHL experience and has this season and next remaining on his contract. He is an offensive minded defenseman and will look to contribute to the Capital struggling power play.

The other move of the day brought in Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils to solidify the 2nd line center role. To get Arnott the Capitals exchanged 4th line center and the NHL's best face-off man, David Steckel and a 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft. While seeing Steckel leave is tough, this is the price you pay when you need to fill specific area and have talent that is coveted by the rest of the league. We wish David well and hope that Arnott can spark the scoring touch of Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich.

Overall, I think the Capitals helped themselves in key areas. I am looking forward to seeing how these players can bolster the team in the final push to the playoffs. That journey begins tonight when the New York Islander come to Verizon Center.

The Capitals Acquire Scott Hannan from Colorado

Per the Washington Capitals,

Tomas Fleischmann has been traded to the Colorado Avalanche for veteran defenseman Scott Hannan. From the press release:

Hannan, 31, is an 11-year NHL veteran who has played for Colorado and the San Jose Sharks. The 6’1”, 225-pound defensive defenseman has played 775 career games, recording 30 goals, 150 assists, 456 penalty minutes and a +22 rating. This season Hannan has six assists and a +1 rating while playing all 23 games for the Avalanche.

Hannan has played at least 71 games in each of his 11 pro seasons, including 97.2% of the games since he made the NHL full-time in 2000-01. He has averaged 18:37 of ice time per game this season and 22:02 per game in the course of his career. His teams have made the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons prior to this one.

A first-round pick of the Sharks, 23rd overall, in the 1997 Entry Draft, Hannan broke into the league after an all-star career with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. He was a teammate of current Capital Matt Bradley with the Sharks and signed with Colorado as a free agent on July 1, 2007.