Mar

Washington Capitals Post Trade Deadline

Bryan Patton Category

Capitals Post Trade Deadline Analysis, David Steckel, Dennis Wideman, Geore McPhee, Jake Hauswirth, Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, NHL Trade Deadline, Washington Capitals

So the 2010-2011 NHL trade deadline has come and gone. The Washington Capitals performed a flurry of moves to strengthen the roster. For starters they picked up left winger Marco Sturm off waivers. They also acquired defenseman Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers for a third round draft pick in the 2011 draft and prospect Jake Hauswirth. To finish the trading day General Manager George McPhee went out and picked up center Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils for center David Steckel and a second round pick in 2012.

Capitals fans have been asking for a second line center all year. While the twitter feeds in DC are unhappy about Steckel being shipped out, Arnott does solidify the center position on the Capitals second line.

You have to give George McPhee credit for making the moves the team need to help them going forward without giving up the future to get it. Missing a third round pick this year is not going to hurt the Caps who are full of young talent. Jake Hauswirth wasn’t a household name and not one of the top prospects in the Capitals organization. Letting David Steckel go is not going to hurt the Caps as much as fans think it will. He was key at winning face-offs on the penalty kill, and in general, but adding Arnott to the second line will help redistribute talent to the third and fourth lines.

Dennis Wideman gives the Capitals another strong defensive presence. With defensemen Mike Green and Tom Poti still dealing with injury Wideman is another defender who can step in and quarterback the power play from the blue line with defenseman John Carlson. Also, Wideman is under contract for next year.

George McPhee went out and made the moves necessary to help push this team forward as the playoffs approach without having to give up key pieces of the team. I believe the Capitals are a better team then they were before the deadline.