Breaking News: Capitals Trade Declan Chisholm to Devils for 2027 Fourth-Round Pick

The Washington Capitals continued reshaping their roster Thursday, announcing they have traded defenseman Declan Chisholm to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick. The move gives Washington another future draft asset while clearing a spot on the blue line ahead of free agency and training camp.

Chisholm, 26, was acquired by Washington last summer from the Minnesota Wild after establishing himself as a capable puck-moving defenseman. Although he wasn’t projected to be a top-pair defenseman, the left-shot blueliner provided organizational depth and flashed the skating ability that made him a fifth-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2018.

Capitals Continue Stockpiling Draft Capital

General manager Chris Patrick has made it clear throughout the offseason that Washington is balancing its pursuit of another Stanley Cup with maintaining long-term organizational depth. After already making several significant trades this week, including deals involving Hendrix Lapierre and Alex Tuch, the Capitals have now added another future draft selection by moving Chisholm.

A 2027 fourth-round pick may not generate headlines, but those selections often become valuable trade chips or opportunities to uncover overlooked talent.

Chisholm’s NHL Career

The Bowmanville, Ontario native has steadily worked his way to becoming a full-time NHL defenseman.

Career NHL Statistics

• 125 NHL games
• 6 goals
• 22 assists
• 28 points
• Left-shot defenseman
• Drafted 150th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018.

2025-26 Season

During the 2025-26 campaign with Washington, Chisholm appeared in 26 games, recording:

• 1 goal
• 6 assists
• 7 points
• 4 penalty minutes

While the offensive numbers were modest, Chisholm provided reliable depth whenever injuries struck and remained an effective puck mover capable of logging minutes in multiple situations.

Previous Breakout in Minnesota

Before joining Washington, Chisholm enjoyed the best season of his NHL career with the Minnesota Wild.

2024-25 Stats

• 66 games
• 2 goals
• 10 assists
• 12 points
• Career highs in games played, assists, points and shots on goal
• Ranked among Minnesota’s leaders in takeaways by defensemen.

Those numbers convinced Washington to acquire him, believing he could develop into an everyday NHL defenseman.

What This Means for Washington

This trade appears to be less about Chisholm’s performance and more about roster management.

The Capitals have added several new players this offseason while also trying to create flexibility on defense. By moving Chisholm, Washington gains another future draft asset without significantly impacting the top of its defensive depth chart.

It also opens additional opportunities for younger defensemen to compete for NHL roster spots during training camp.

MSB Analysis

This is a classic value move by Chris Patrick.

Washington originally invested only a modest package to acquire Chisholm and has now turned a depth defenseman into another future draft selection. While Chisholm still has NHL upside and should have an opportunity to compete for a regular role in New Jersey, the Capitals continue adding organizational flexibility while focusing on larger roster priorities.

MSB Grade: B+

Washington parts with a useful depth defenseman but gains another future asset, continuing an offseason focused on maximizing roster flexibility while keeping an eye on both the present and the future.