How Shattenkirk Trade Affects Columbus Blue Jackets
The Washington Capitals have acquired the crown jewel off the 2017 trading block. How does the move of Kevin Shattenkirk to the Caps affect the Columbus Blue Jackets?
The blockbuster trade between the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues yesterday has sent shockwaves through the NHL. Kevin Shattenkirk will make his debut for the Caps tonight as he turns an already lethal offense into what many now see as an unstoppable force. The Columbus Blue Jackets must wonder what can be done to keep up with the best team in the NHL.
The trade puts a plethora of pressure on the Caps as Shattenkirk comes to D.C. as an expensive rental player. A top prospect in Zach Sanford, a first round pick and a conditional second round pick is a high price. Especially for a player that won’t be in the organization next year.
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The move puts pressure on the Caps to win, and do so immediately. GM Brian MacLellan is saying this is finally the Caps year by selling off so much future value.
Playing Against Shattenkirk
The obvious affect is now having to compete with a team that has Kevin Shattenkirk on the blue line. An already explosive offense adding one of the most offensive minded defensemen in the league, watch out.
Washington is third in the league in scoring this season and Shattenkirk has the forth most points for a defensemen with 42. Washington’s next highest scoring defenseman is Matt Niskanen a full 10 points behind Shattenkirk with 32 points and only four goals.
The Jackets still have to play Washington twice this season. Those match ups just got that much more challenging.
Catching the Caps in the Metropolitan was going to be tough enough, even without Shattenkirk in the division. This deal effectively closes the door on the Jackets catching the Caps and all but wraps up another President’s Trophy for Washington.
Setting the Price
The Columbus Blue Jackets are still looking for a piece perhaps and this deal sets the price for an elite rental player. Although I don’t see GM Jarmo Kekalinaen giving up this size of a haul to get a rental.
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Shattenkirk has expressed a desire to play in New York and if this high price is what you pay for a rental guy, imagine what the CBJ would have to give up for Matt Duchene? Or even a winger with a year on his contract like Jannik Hansen. The price will be huge for Duchene and will surely come with cap problems down the line. Making a deal just got much harder because of the Caps trade.
Jarmo won’t feel the need to counter this move though. This deal will more than likely make sitting out of the trade talks easier.
As the Columbus Blue Jackets work toward the deadline, they will certainly be affected by this blockbuster deal. The chase for a big trade, President’s Trophy, and Stanly Cup all just became much more challenging.