The Washington Capitals acquired the top rental asset on the open market Monday night, landing talented puck-moving defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a seismic trade with the St. Louis Blues, according to multiple reports.
In exchange, the Blues will receive Washington's first-round pick in this summer's draft, a conditional second-round selection in 2018, and forward Zach Sanford.
St. Louis will also retain a portion of the defenseman's salary to complete the transaction.
It's expected Shattenkirk will be in Washington's lineup Tuesday versus the New York Rangers.
The Capitals are already, in many ways, the NHL's most complete team, and their current configuration on defense has been the league's stingiest unit this season. But with the mobile Shattenkirk, they have added a completely new dimension to their back line.
The 28-year-old is one of the league's premier transition facilitators, and a power-play specialist. He owns the fourth-highest points rate among blue-liners in all situations, meaning just three defenders have been more productive with their minutes this season.
Shattenkirk is in the final year of an incredibly team-friendly deal that takes up just a $4.25-million share on the salary cap. He'll fetch a lucrative long-term agreement as the most sought after free agent this summer.
The acquisition also prevents the Pittsburgh Penguins and Rangers - two Metropolitan Division heavyweights with similar aspirations and interest in Shattenkirk - from bolstering their respective lineups with the ice-tiling rearguard.
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