Capitals finally trade Erat

336px-130412_Rostislav_Klesla

Rostislav Klesla

The Washington Capitals finally traded forward Martin Erat in a four-player deal with the Phoenix Coyotes. Erat has been requesting a trade for a long time. Remember last year I said that the Caps were making a bad deal when they got Erat, I was right.

The Caps will get Chris Brown and Rostislav Klesla for Erat and John Mitchell. the Caps also get a fourth-round draft pick in the 2015 draft.  Brown is a 23-year old forward who looks to have some scoring potential.  Klesla will add depth to the Caps defense.

Erat only scored one goal for the Caps this year and has been a vocal distraction.  Erat’s heart was clearly not with the Caps so it is good to see him go.

Here is the Caps press release.

CAPITALS ACQUIRE CHRIS BROWN, ROSTISLAV KLESLA AND FOURTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK IN THE 2015 NHL DRAFT FROM THE PHOENIX COYOTES FOR MARTIN ERAT AND JOHN MITCHELL Posted on March 04, 2014

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 4, 2014

 

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Chris Brown, defenseman Rostislav Klesla and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL Draft from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forwards Martin Erat and John Mitchell, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

 

Brown, 23, played in six games with the Coyotes this season, collecting 17 penalty minutes. In addition, he recorded 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) and 68 penalty minutes in 51 games with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL). Last season, Brown led the Pirates and all AHL rookies in scoring (29 goals) and ranked tied for third in the AHL with 14 power-play goals.

 

During the 2011-12 season, Brown recorded 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) and 66 penalty minutes in 38 games with University of Michigan (CCHA), setting career highs in assists, points and penalty minutes. Brown led all Michigan rookies in 2009-10 with 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists), and led the team with seven power-play goals in 45 games. He was also named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. Brown registered 80 points (34 goals, 46 assists) and 183 penalty minutes in 125 regular season games during his three-year career with the Wolverines. The Flower Mound, Texas native was the first ever Michigan recruit from the state of Texas.

 

Prior to his career at Michigan, Brown played for the United States National Under-18 Team at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP). As an 18-year-old, he recorded 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) and a team-leading 120 penalty minutes in 62 games in 2008-09 and also ranked second on the team with 10 power play goals. He helped lead Team USA to the gold medal in the 2009 IIHF Under-18 World Championship in North Dakota, collecting seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven games.

 

In addition, Brown also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York, registering three points (two goals, one assist) in six games and a gold medal at the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Brown was selected by the Coyotes in the second round (36th overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft.

 

Klesla, 31, collected four points (one goal, three assists) and 24 penalty minutes with the Coyotes this season. The native of Novy Jicin, Czech Republic, is a 14-year NHL veteran who has played for Columbus and Phoenix. The 6’3’’, 215-pound defenseman has appeared in 659 NHL games, recording 159 points (48 goals, 111 assists) and 620 penalty minutes. Additionally, Klesla has collected nine points (two goals, seven assists) and 11 penalty minutes in 23 career playoff games. Klesla was originally drafted by the Blue Jackets in the first round (fourth overall) in the 2000 NHL Draft.

 

Both Brown and Klesla will report to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.

 

Erat, 32, collected 24 points (one goal, 23 assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 53 games with the Capitals this season. Mitchell, 27, recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in 20 games with the Bears this season.

 

 

 

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Brian Hradsky

The owner of MSB, I created this website while in college and it has never died.

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