The Kevin Shattenkirk sweepstakes came to an end Monday night as the Washington Capitals emerged from the darkness to acquire the highly touted defenseman, giving Alex Ovechkin's club even more solid ground to rest its Stanley Cup hopes upon.
Shattenkirk met with media in Washington for the first time on Tuesday, granting some perspective on his recent move.
"They didn't bring me in to save anything," Shattenkirk said. "They're the best team in the NHL right now. I just have to make sure that I'm coming in and doing what I do best for the hockey team."
The former St. Louis Blue said he was just as surprised about his new team's deadline-day deal as everyone else.
"Washington really came out of nowhere. It was a team I really didn't have in my head," Shattenkirk said. "Obviously when the news was announced it was very exciting for me because it's a great team."
#Caps defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk talks to the media prior to his first game with the Washington Capitals. #CapsNYR #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/iPzsrhGCk6
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 28, 2017
A quick glance at the standings makes the rearguard's sentiments clear. While such pre-deadline splashes are usually reserved for teams on the playoff bubble or those looking to add key pieces for the future, the Capitals check neither of these boxes.
Washington ranks first in the NHL with 89 points, boasting the third-most goals per game and the fewest goals-against per game of any team in the league.
Shattenkirk also discussed his decision to nix a sign-and-trade to a different club earlier this season, as was previously reported by the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
"There's a lot more that goes into that behind the scenes," he said. "As a player, this is a chance that you don't really get many kicks at. You just have to make sure that it's the right situation. For me it was just a matter of being patient."
Playing the waiting game seems to have paid off for the 28-year-old blue-liner, as Shattenkirk now enters the home stretch of the season on one of the league's strongest clubs, with as good a shot at the Stanley Cup as he's ever had in his seven-year career.
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