Written by Tom Gulliti at NHL.com
Not satisfied with being in first place in the NHL standings and allowing the fewest goals in the League, the Washington Capitals made a bold move to further strengthen their defense by acquiring Kevin Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
Shattenkirk, 28, was the one of the top players available before the 2017 NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET; March 1) and came at high cost to the Capitals, who gave up forwards Zach Sanford and Brad Malone, a first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and conditional draft picks. The Capitals also received Pheonix Copley to fill their need for an experienced goaltender with Hershey of the American Hockey League.
“We felt it was important to acquire another defenseman to strengthen and add depth to our blue line,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said in a statement. “Kevin is a skilled, puck moving defenseman who we think will help our team at even strength and on the power play.”
The Capitals visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNO, SNP, TVA Sports, MSG, CSN-DC+, NHL.TV). MacLellan said Shattenkirk is expected to arrive in New York on Tuesday and be in the lineup.
A right-handed shot, Shattenkirk is in the final season of a four-year, $17 million contract with an average annual value of $4.25 million, according to CapFriendly.com. As part of the trade, the Blues will retain 39 percent of Shattenkirk’s salary and bonuses.
Shattenkirk can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. If the Capitals re-sign him to a contract that includes the 2017-18 season, or if they advance to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final and Shattenkirk plays in at least 50 percent of their playoff games in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Blues will receive the Capitals’ second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
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