Capitals land top trade prize
Shattenkirk can drive a defense
The Washington Capitals might have created an arms race in the Eastern Conference on Monday night when they acquired defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a deal with the St. Louis Blues.
It’s your move, Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Capitals entered Monday with the NHL’s best record, led the league in goals-against average (2.10) and were second in goals per game (3.31). Now they have given up a first-round pick in 2017, a second-rounder in 2018 and prospect Zach Sanford, who was drafted in the second round in 2013, to acquire the top rental property heading into the Feb. 28 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline.
Last season, the Capitals, who have never won a Stanley Cup, finished first overall and then lost to the eventual champion Penguins in the second round. They clearly wanted to take a major step to prevent that from happening again this season.
The Blues retained some of Shattenkirk’s salary to help the Capitals fit him under their salary cap.
Shattenkirk is an offensiveminded defenseman, an elite puck mover and power-play quarterback. The Capitals already had the NHL’s sixth-best power play (21.8%).
This move trumps the Penguins’ most receipt acquisition of veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey from the Carolina Hurricanes.
Both of those moves would seem to put pressure on the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets to answer with moves of their own.
The Rangers have a need for an offensive-minded defenseman. They might be interested in twoway defenseman Brendan Smith if the Detroit Red Wings don’t re-sign him. The Blue Jackets need to strengthen their depth.
The arms race is far from over. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has said he might not be done. They might upgrade their forward group, which leads the NHL in scoring. It’s not unthinkable that they could also add another defenseman.
Although the Blues are trying to make the playoffs, this move made sense because they felt like they needed to get a return on Shattenkirk, who was going to leave through free agency this summer. Last summer, the Blues lost David Backes and Troy Brouwer without getting a return.
The Blues undoubtedly think their defense, with Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester and Colton Parayko, is strong enough to overcome Shattenkirk’s loss.