Washington acquires Arnott and Wideman
The Capitals used the NHL’s trade deadline on Monday to add two new players the organization hopes will contribute to a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Washington acquired defenseman Dennis Wideman, 27, from the Florida Panthers and veteran center Jason Arnott, 36, from the New Jersey Devils. That was in addition to left wing Marco Sturm, 32, who was picked up via waivers on Saturday. In return, the Caps lost only one player off their 23-man NHL roster — center David Steckel — two draft picks and a marginal prospect.
Steckel went to the Devils along with a 2012 second-round pick. Jake Hauswirth, a 23-year-old forward who spent this season with ECHL affiliate South Carolina, was traded to Florida with a 2011 third-round pick.
Arnott was the biggest piece added because Washington had such an obvious hole at second-line center. Rookies Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault had been used interchangeably in that spot. But Arnott is a big pivot at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds with plenty of playoff experience during a 19-year career. He served as team captain during his four years with Nashville and clinched the 2000 Stanley Cup in his first go-around in New Jersey with a double-overtime goal in Game 6. Arnott had to waive a no-movement clause in his contract for the trade with the Devils to go through.
| Caps notes |
| » Washington’s two recent additions — Jason Arnott and Dennis Wideman — will be in town for the team’s morning skate on Tuesday prior to a game with the New York Islanders. |
| » Forward Marco Sturm practiced with the Caps for the first time since being picked up on waivers over the weekend. He skated on the second line. |
| » Forward Eric Fehr (shoulder) took part in the entire practice on Monday at Kettler Iceplex. He hasn’t played since Jan. 14. |
“[Arnott has] been a captain of an NHL team and he’s won a Cup,” Washington general manager George McPhee said. “And those kind of intangibles are something that we wanted in the room like we had when we got Sergei Fedorov [at the trade deadline three] years ago.”
Meanwhile, Wideman’s presence helps alleviate the absence of defensemen Mike Green (head injury) and Tom Poti (groin). Without those two, much of the Cap’s puck-moving responsibilities and power-play time have gone to rookie John Carlson. He has performed beautifully for a 21-year-old, but coach Bruce Boudreau wanted to relieve some of that pressure from Carlson’s shoulders.
Green will miss “several weeks” more, McPhee said Monday, thanks to a second hit to the head during last Friday’s loss to the New York Rangers. Poti has played in just 21 games all year. Green currently is back in his hometown of Calgary after the death of his grandmother over the weekend.
Wideman can play on the power play and give Washington some ice time when short-handed, too. He has a goal and 21 assists in 30 career playoff games — all with Boston, where he played three years before being traded to Florida.
“I was obviously in a hockey city and in the loop there with Boston. And then to come down here to Florida it was a little quieter because we’re in the process of rebuilding,” Wideman said. “And now to jump back into the spotlight even more with a team like Washington … obviously, there’s going to be a lot more pressure there to perform. I’m excited about it and hope to contribute as much as I can.”
