With a lot of NHL trade rumors flying at the trade deadline, the Washington Capitals have stepped in and made a move. They have acquired defensemen Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers in exchange for minor league forward Jake Hauswirth and a 2011 third-round draft pick, according to Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com.
The deal was consummated at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, less than four hours before the 3 p.m. deadline, according to Vogel. The Capitals still have that much time to make a move for a second-line center if they feel it is an important need. The team did acquire veteran winger Marco Sturm off waivers over the weekend.
The 27-year-old Wideman fits in with the team's philosophy of becoming more defensive-minded. He has nine goals and 33 points in 61 games this season for a struggling Panthers team. His best season came in 2008/09 with the Boston Bruins, where he posted 13 goals, 37 assists and a plus/minus of +32. He also provides insurance for the Capitals on the blue line as they deal with the frequent injuries to Mike Green and Tom Poti.