Several sources report that the Caps have acquired Eric Belanger, 32-year old centerman from Minnesota, for a second round pick.
Belanger has 13 goals and 22 assists with 28 PIM in 60 games for the Wild this season.
Depending on further deals, Belanger will figure to slide into the third line center spot with the Caps.
Will give credit to McPhee for addressing a need and getting two tough, gritty forwards in there. But he didnt address two KEY needs: goaltending and toughening up the D. Journeyman Corvo will do nothing to get folks out of the slot. And we dont need to go into the bad GT situation.
The team that made the biggest impact at the deadline is the Caps nemesis, the Pens. Poni is going to be a strong force for them and will be a problem for their eastern rivals.
i think the market for tough d-man was just too damn expensive for GMGM's liking today. ditto for Vokoun. bottom line, though, is that he tweaked without losing a key player OR a valued prospect.
GMGM likes what he has and added without subtracting.
would I liked to have seen Hamhuis? sure. but Poile must have been asking a king's ransom for him.