Deadline Day – Deal 14: Washington-Carolina

Trade:

Washington gets: defenseman Joe Corvo

Carolina gets: defenseman Brian Pothier, prospect Oskar Osala and a 2nd Round pick

Analysis:

Washington adds a guy who is a puck moving defenseman who didn’t enjoy the pressure of playing in Ottawa.

Um… Yeah, enjoy the new hockey hotbed of Washington, D.C. Joe.  Yikes.

Carolina gets a guy I’ve got a soft spot for in Pothier who is a former RPI defenseman and adds a big-bodied prospect in Osala. I know what the Capitals are thinking on this move (veteran defenseman being a good thing) but this has nothing but bad mojo written all over it for Washington and it reeks of being a panic move.

Deadline Day – Deal 12: Jurcina Back To Washington

Trade:

Washington gets: defenseman Milan Jurcina

Columbus gets:  6th Round pick

Analysis:

The Capitals just dealt Jurcina in late December in the deal that also sent Chris Clark to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jason Chimera. The fact that the Capitals are now re-acquiring Jurcina could mean that the asking price for other defensemen they were looking at was too far over their head.  It’s a head-scratcher of a move for the Capitals because Jurcina is not good and is strictly a depth guy for the Caps.

Dumb, dumb, dumb deal which is made even dumber thanks to the revelation made by TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Twitter that Jurcina was just diagnosed with a sports hernia.  Perhaps this one just gets recalled.

Deadline Day – Deal 8: Belanger to Washington

Trade:

Washington gets: Eric Belanger

Minnesota gets: 2nd Round pick

Analysis:

Yet another flexibility and depth move for the Capitals. Belanger has a little scoring touch, plays some good defense at forward and can play center or wing. The problem here for the Capitals is that they’re overburdened at the moment with forwards. With just over an hour to go til the deadline, I’d have to think there’s another move coming here.

Belanger’s contract expires at the end of the year so Minnesota had no problem moving him and getting a 2nd Round pick for him is a solid return.

Deadline Day – Deal 5: Scott Walker to Washington

Trade:

Carolina sends forward Scott Walker to the Washington Capitals for a 7th Round pick

Analysis:

The Capitals add a depth forward with playoff experience and a sandpaper game to their lineup.  He’s not being brought to the Capitals to score and be a power forward, he’s there to be a force in the locker room… And to an unsuspecting opposition defenseman’s face.

This is the Capitals way of loading up for the grueling playoff run and this will help out.