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Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013

667990 Washington Capitals

Capitals trade top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville for Martin Erat (Updated)

Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm

In a late-day move, the Capitals have traded top prospect Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators for veteran winger Martin Erat and a minor league prospect.

Erat, 31, has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary cap hit of $4.5 million per season and had to waive a no-movement clause in order to join Washington.

Although he has traditionally played right wing, Erat is left handed and should slot into the left wing spot on either of the top two lines. In 35 games for the Predators this season, Erat has recorded four goals and 17 assists. In 10 NHL seasons, Erat’s career high in goals is 23 and points is 58.

The minor league prospect who is coming to the Capitals organization in addition to Erat is American Hockey League center Michael Latta, 21. Latta has nine goals, 26 assists and 184 penalty minutes in 67 games for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season.

It’s something of a surprising move, considering how highly regarded Forsberg, 18, is, and how the Capitals have preferred to build their roster through the draft rather than acquiring veteran players through trades in recent years. For all of Forsberg’s potential, though, it’s uncertain when he would have been ready to play in the NHL.

“I wanted to help this team now,” General Manager George McPhee told reporters.

When McPhee met with local reporters last Friday, he said the organization had encouraged Forsberg to play for the AHL’s Hershey Bears following the conclusion of his season in the second-tier Swedish league Allsvenskan.

The plan is for Erat to be in Washington on Thursday morning, but it’s unclear whether he will be on the ice for the morning skate.

Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013

667991 Washington Capitals

Martin Erat on trade to Capitals: ‘I just want to win’

Posted by Lindsay Applebaum on April 3, 2013 at 7:24 pm

Martin Erat waived his no-trade clause to leave the Nashville Predators because he wanted to give himself a better chance to win a Stanley Cup, the newly acquired Capitals winger said Wednesday.

“I’ve been in Nashville for 11 years and it’s hard to leave the city when you’ve been here for so long, but I’m so excited for the opportunity and to play for the Stanley Cup,” Erat said in a conference call with reporters.

In a late trade deadline day move, Washington shipped top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville in exchange for Erat, 31, and prospect Michael Latta.

Erat said he asked Nashville General Manager David Poile for a trade because the Predators were “going in a younger direction.”

“I’m getting older, and I don’t have seven, eight years to wait for another chance,” Erat said.

After rallying last night against Carolina, the Capitals sit two points back of the Southeast Division lead with two games in hand on the Winnipeg Jets, and are four points behind the eighth-place New York Islanders. They’re still in the playoff race, and that was part of the appeal for Erat.

An endorsement from former Capital Roman Hamrlik, a good friend from the Czech Republic, also helped convince him to go to D.C., Erat said.

Asked about his hopes for the last 12 games of the regular season, Erat said: “Just make the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if you’re first or eighth. You start from zero-zero in the playoffs.”

Erat has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary cap hit of $4.5 million per season. In 35 games for the Predators, he has recorded four goals and 17 assists. He recorded a career-high 58 points (19 goals, 39 assists) last season and has eclipsed the 50-point plateau in five of the last six seasons.

While he has typically played right wing, Erat, who is left handed, said he’d be happy wherever the Capitals decide to put him in the lineup.

“I really don’t care if I play right or left, or first or third line,” he said. “I just want to win…”

Erat said he will arrive in Washington in at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013

667992 Washington Capitals

Mike Ribeiro: ‘I don’t really see myself move or sign today’

Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 1:54 pm

Mike Ribeiro said that he doesn’t expect to be traded before the NHL’s trade deadline at 3 p.m. but that he also doesn’t anticipate signing a contract extension with the Capitals Wednesday, either.

“Not really nervous. I think we have a good thing going here. Close to our division, close to making the playoffs,” Ribeiro said. “I don’t really see myself move or sign today. We’ll just get focused for the game tomorrow.”

Ribeiro, 33, is in the final year of five-year, $25 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5 and he has said he is seeking a long-term deal, which the veteran center defines as four or five years.

The Montreal native said he isn’t concerned about being able to sign a contract for next season, whether with the Capitals or elsewhere. For now, Ribeiro is glad to know that he appears to be staying in Washington for at least the remainder of the season.

“The relief is more about staying here or not staying. It was more that than my contract,” Ribeiro said. “Contract I don’t think I’m worried if I’m going to sign for next year’s season. That will happen. It was more to know if I was staying here or not. With our last two weeks or so I think you can see our potential, what we can do. I’m happy here and hopefully we can keep winning here and make the playoffs.”

Over the past several days, whether General Manager George McPhee would trade or re-sign Ribeiro prior to the trade deadline was one of the largest questions looming for the Capitals.

As Washington captured five of six points on its recently completed road trip and moved within two points of the Southeast Division lead, though, it seemed unlikely that McPhee would trade away the team’s second-line center and second-leading scorer.

“I still have the rest of this year of my contract so nothing changes,” Ribeiro said. “I still have a lot of time after today if they want to sign me or not. So for me it’s to keep playing and make the playoffs and at some point we can talk and get things done and see where it goes from there.”

Ribeiro remaining in Washington also sends a clear message to the rest of the team that the focus is on succeeding this season.

“He’s a very, very important piece of this team right now,” Troy Brouwer said. “With him not being moved, guys know that we have that second-line center that adds another element of dangerous ability to put the puck in the net and be a solid two-way player behind Nicky. He’s been phenomenal for us all year long. Guys are still hoping that if he doesn’t get traded here that they’ll find a way to keep him here for a while.”

Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013

667993 Washington Capitals

NHL trade deadline: Blue Jackets acquire Marian Gaborik; Jason Pominville to Minnesota

Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 9:59 am

>> Capitals trade top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville for Martin Erat

>> Update 3:18 p.m.: The Colorado Avalanche have sent defenseman Ryan O’Byrne to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick.

>> Update 3:02 p.m.: Friendly reminder that while the 3 p.m. deadline has passed but deals can still be announced anywhere from a half hour to 45 minutes afterward as the paperwork is processed by the league.

Meanwhile, Phoenix has traded Raffi Torres to the San Jose Sharks for a third-round pick.

>> Update 2:58 p.m.: Columbus has acquired forward Blake Comeau from the Calgary Flames for a fifth-round pick.

>> Update 2:45 p.m.: Buffalo has traded Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild for goaltender Matt Hackett and forward prospect Johan Larsson.

>> Update 2:38 p.m.: According to multiple reports the New York Rangers have traded Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Derick Brassard, right wing Derek Dorsett, defensive prospect John Moore and a sixth round pick.

>> Update 2:32 p.m.: The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded goaltender Steve Mason to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Michael Leighton and a third-round pick.

>> Update 2:10 p.m.: Via TSN’s Bob McKenzie Tampa Bay has acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators as it continues to try and find a true No. 1 goaltender to anchor their team. The Lightning will send winger Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick back to Ottawa for Bishop.

>> Update 2:01 p.m.: Mike Ribeiro said Wednesday afternoon at KCI that he doesn’t expect to be traded or sign a contract extension today. “I think we have a good thing going here. Close to our division, close to making the playoffs,” Ribeiro said. “I don’t really see myself move or sign today.”

Check out Ribeiro’s full comments here.

>> Update 1:34 p.m.: TSN is reporting that Carolina has sent center Jussi Jokinen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional seventh round pick. According to Bob McKenzie, the Hurricanes will be retaining some of Jokinen’s $3 million salary in the trade.

>> Update 1:20 p.m.: A few minor trades happened as the Capitals came off the ice for practice. Nashville sent Scott Hannan (Anyone remember that line change in the 2011 playoffs against Tampa Bay?) to the San Jose for a conditional seventh-round pick. If Hannan plays in the postseason that turns into a sixth-round pick. And Edmonton acquired Jerred Smithson from the Florida Panthers for a fourth-round pick.

>> It could be a day with little movement around the league considering that many of the available big-name players have already been moved in the week leading up to Wednesday’s deadline.

To name a few: Jarome Iginla went to Pittsburgh as did Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray, Jaromir Jagr was traded to the Boston Bruins, Ryane Clowe was sent to the New York Rangers, Jay Bouwmeester was shipped to the St. Louis Blues, Robyn Regehr went to the L.A. Kings and Derek Roy was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.

Capitals center Mike Ribeiro is one of the more interesting cases with the deadline just a few hours away. He’s made it clear he’s looking for a long-term deal and Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported earlier Wednesday that Ribeiro is willing to take a four-year deal as opposed to his previous preference for a five-year deal.

While Ribeiro could draw interest as a rental in a deadline day deal, with Washington in the midst of a playoff hunt it seems unlikely McPhee would be willing to trade away the team’s No. 2 center and second leading scorer (35 points) even if the two sides aren’t close to reaching an agreement on a new deal.

>> One other Capitals name that popped up on Wednesday as a possible trade candidate according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun is veteran winger Jason Chimera.

The 33-year-old left wing has one year remaining on his current contract after this season with a salary cap hit of $1.75 million. It’s been a rough season for Chimera offensively. After recording his first career 20-goal season in 2011-12 but in 32 games this season he has just one goal and eight assists.

>> The Washington Capitals embarked on a road trip last Friday knowing that how they fared in three games against Buffalo, Philadelphia and Carolina would not only impact their postseason chances but could sway the organization’s approach at the trade deadline.

Wednesday they return to Arlington for practice having obtained five of a possible six points in their past three games. The Capitals sit two points back of the Southeast Division lead with two games in hand on the Winnipeg Jets and four points behind the eighth-place New York Islanders.

The Southeast Division title and a sixth-consecutive postseason berth are very much within Washington’s reach. Given that the Capitals seem to be finding a rhythm under Coach Adam Oates winning two out of every three games through the final 12 contests of the regular season, which would secure a playoff spot according to most projections, doesn’t seem all that farfetched given their remaining schedule.

So will General Manager George McPhee look to add any complementary players for a playoff push or largely stand pat with this group that reached hockey’s version of .500 with their win over Carolina Tuesday night?

Stay tuned for updates on whatever moves the Capitals make and whatever deals occur around the league as the 3 p.m. trade deadline approaches.

Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013

667994 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ deadline decisions make goal clear: Win now

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

George McPhee watched as his Washington Capitals climbed to within two points of first place in the Southeast Division but all along figured he wanted to add another top-six forward. No matter the recent results, the general manager made one thing clear: “We weren’t going to be sellers.”

That’s why he didn’t trade impending free agent center Mike Ribeiro or gritty forward Matt Hendricks. And that’s why the Caps traded highly touted prospect Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators for top-line winger Martin Erat just before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

On the precipice of the playoff picture, McPhee didn’t raise the white flag on the 2013 season. Instead he did the opposite, mortgaging a piece of the future for a 31-year-old who could help the Caps right away.

“You’re here to win; we’ve been in that mode for a while,” McPhee said. “This is six years of trying to win a Cup. We had our rebuild phase. We sort of rebuilt things on the fly here, but we’d like to continue to make the playoffs while we’re doing it.”

Playoffs or bust now and in the near future is how McPhee approached this move. In the 18-year-old Forsberg, the Caps gave up their second-best prospect and top pick in last year’s draft.

“With respect to giving up young players, you’ve got to be careful doing that,” McPhee said. “But we’ve drafted well enough that we can do it.”

It was done with eyes on the final 12 games of the regular season, the upcoming playoffs and the next two years, as Erat has two seasons left on his contract at a $4.5 million annual cap hit.

Adding Erat, who was tied for the Nashville lead with 21 points, beefs up the Caps’ forward ranks at a time when they’re clicking.

“The players have been playing really well,” McPhee said. “I think we’ve proven that when we’re healthy we’re pretty good. I just tried to make them a little bit better.”

That’s what these players wanted. After going 5-1-1 in their past seven, the Caps wanted to show this group was good enough to make a run in the playoffs.

But they had no idea how McPhee would approach the deadline.

“I don’t know what the mindset is for a guy like him when you’re kind of right on the bubble of making it,” defenseman Karl Alzner said earlier Wednesday afternoon. “Do you go all-in or do you back off? I don’t know how you look at that. For me, I hope to go all-in because I don’t ever want to write off a season or anything like that.”

Right wing Troy Brouwer said within the locker room that “our only priority is this year, right now, and making the playoffs.”

McPhee did nothing to dispel that notion, that the expectations for this team did not dip after a 2-8-1 start and struggles that had them in the basement of the Eastern Conference. It’s about getting into the playoffs.

In that vein, McPhee said he never considered trading Ribeiro or Hendricks, neither of whom signed contract extensions before Wednesday’s deadline passed. Dumping them would have sent the wrong message to the rest of the players.

“They’ve played well for us this year and we have lots of time to talk,” McPhee said. “We’ll see what the future brings. I just didn’t think it would be the right thing to do for our team or our fan base.”

Ribeiro was confident well before 3 p.m. that he wasn’t getting traded but also knew he wasn’t signing a deal immediately. The 33-year-old will worry about the contract later and concentrate now on being one of the Caps’ top offensive weapons.

“I think we have a good thing going here: close to our division [lead], close to making the playoffs,” Ribeiro said.

Brouwer said he believed this group was better than last year’s team, which made it to Game 7 of the conference semifinals against the New York Rangers. Having Ribeiro around has a lot to do with that.

“He’s a very, very important piece of this team right now,” Brouwer said. “With him not being moved, guys know that we have that second-line center that adds another element of dangerous ability to put the puck in the net and be a solid two-way player behind [Nicklas Backstrom]. He’s been phenomenal for us all year long.”

McPhee’s hope is that Erat will be able to step in and contribute in a top-six role right away. Erat had to waive a no-movement clause to come to Washington, and it’s possible he slides onto the top line at left wing opposite Alex Ovechkin.

“The nice thing is we’re getting healthy and we have some options,” McPhee said. “We like the player a lot. He’s a real good veteran player, terrific speed, good sense, plays the game right.”

Erat has recorded at least 49 points in the past eight seasons, including a career-high 58 last year. And his desire to win now fits well with the Caps’.

“For me, I was getting older,” Erat said. “I don’t have seven, eight years to wait for another chance.”

With Erat, the Caps have parts of three seasons, with Backstrom and Ovechkin each still in their prime, to get the job done. But of course it came with McPhee gambling the future for a better chance in the present.

“You’re playing on your instincts and experiences as a manager,” he said. “If I do this, does it make us better now, does it make us better in the future?”

Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667995 Washington Capitals

Capitals notes: Matt Hendricks played through scratched cornea

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

That Matt Hendricks is a tough hockey player was never in question. The Washington Capitals forward Tuesday simply added another chapter to his tale of playing through injuries.

Hendricks suffered a scratched cornea in his left eye against the Carolina Hurricanes and lost his vision at first, but he came back to play.

“I still feel it; it feels a little sore and a little burning sensation in there,” Hendricks said after practicing Wednesday. “But for the most part I’m good. It was probably more scary than anything.”

Hendricks took a glove to the eye from Hurricanes forward Tim Brent as some pushing and shoving was going on. His vision was “a little disrupted” and he saw spots, but drops and a contact lens allowed him to continue about his business.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Hendricks said. “I couldn’t see anything out of it right away. Kind of like somebody poked you in the eye real good and you kind of see black here. But it came back quickly and I was able to play, and that’s all that really matters.”

Hendricks played just four shifts in the final two periods of the 5-3 victory, but the fact that he came back at all was a testament to his stubbornness to play through just about anything.

“It takes a lot to get that guy out of the lineup,” center Jay Beagle said. “For him not to come back, he’s got to be almost half-dead. We know that he’s a hardworking guy and a heart guy. That’s what he does.”

Hendricks is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and is believed to be looking for a commitment to re-sign with the Caps. His agent, Michael Wulkan, said Tuesday he was “cautiously optimistic” about getting a deal done, but nothing happened before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

Hendricks will be 32 by the start of next season. He fills multiple roles for coach Adam Oates‘ team, from penalty killing and faceoffs to a little bit of enforcement.

Schmidt sent to Hershey

The Caps sent Nate Schmidt to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League a day after signing the defenseman as a college free agent out of the University of Minnesota. Schmidt practiced in Arlington with the team Wednesday and called it a “no-brainer” to sign with the team, but the playing time he’ll get in the immediate future will be in the minors.

“We like him a lot. Real good player,” general manager George McPhee said. “Sort of the guy we targeted this year.”

After demoting Schmidt, the Caps were back to having eight healthy defensemen.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667996 Washington Capitals

Martin Erat traded to Capitals for prospect Filip Forsberg

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Washington Capitals acquired winger Martin Erat and a minor leaguer from the Nashville Predators for top prospect Filip Forsberg.

Erat, 31, is a left-handed shot who has played right wing. Coach Adam Oates could move him to left wing on the first line opposite the right-handed Alex Ovechkin.

Erat has two years left with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. He has four goals and 17 assists in 36 games this season for the Predators.

Forsberg was the Caps’ No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, No. 11 overall. He’s projected as a top-six winger in the NHL.

Forsberg, 18, was considered the second-best prospect in the Washington organization, behind only Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Caps also got 21-year-old center Michael Latta, a 2009 draft pick who has played in the American Hockey League for the Milwaukee Admirals. He will report to AHL Hershey.

This move signals general manager George McPhee’s desire to win now at the expense of the future.

“As players that’s our only priority is this year, right now and making the playoffs,” right wing Troy Brouwer said hours before the trade was announced.

“I hope to go all in because I don’t ever want to write off a season or anything like that,” defenseman Karl Alzner said.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013

667997 Washington Capitals

Capitals get winger Martin Erat in deadline deal

April 3, 2013 | 7:00 pm | Modified: April 3, 2013 at 7:10 pm

Brian McNally

The Washington Examiner

The Capitals acquired forward Martin Erat and a prospect from the Nashville Predators at the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday in exchange for top prospect Filip Forsberg.

Erat, 31, is a right wing who has scored four goals and 17 assists this season for Nashville. He is also a left-handed shot and could make the transition to left wing. Washington has used Alex Ovechkin and Troy Brouwer as its top two right wings this season. Erat still has two years left on his contract with an annual $4.5 million salary-cap hit.

"He's a real good veteran player, terrific speed, plays the game right," Caps general manager George McPhee said. "Real committed on and off the ice, works hard on and off the ice."

Washington also acquired prospect Michael Latta, 21, who was with Nashville's AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He is a center with nine goals and 26 assists in 2012-13. Latta was the Predators' third-round pick in the 2009 draft, 72nd overall. Latta is a combative forward who also has 184 penalty minutes this season.

Forsberg, 18, was selected with the 11th pick in the 2012 draft and was rated the organization's No. 2 prospect by The Hockey News last month. The right wing is considered one of the game's top prospects, and it was a surprise at the time that he fell that far in the draft. He played for Leksands in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second division.

McPhee acknowledged on Friday that an immediate jump to the NHL for Forsberg was unlikely. He doesn't turn 19 until Aug. 13 and is listed at a generous 6-foot-1, 188 pounds. McPhee said last week the organization wanted to bring Forsberg over at the end of this season to play at AHL Hershey.