The Washington Capitals acquired defenseman Jakub Jerabek from the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday afternoon. Washington sent their 2019 fifth round pick to Montreal for the 26-year old blueliner.
Jerabek tallied one goal and four points in 25 games in his rookie season with the Canadiens, who signed him as an undrafted unrestricted free agent May 1, 2017. He has a -1 rating this season.
TRADE | The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Jakub Jerabek from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fifth round draft pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Release: https://t.co/D9LNlcXjs2 pic.twitter.com/RaDiCBjsII
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2018
Before coming over to the NHL, Jerabek tallied 16 goals and 99 points in 308 games in the Czech League. He also piled five goals and 34 points in 59 games in the KHL.
The Capitals made this acquisition as a corresponding move to defenseman Taylor Chorney being claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets on waivers. Chorney, 30, recorded a goal and five points in 24 games with the Capitals this season and had a +8 rating but struggled getting in the lineup. He can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
The Capitals also needed to send somebody down after acquiring Michal Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. He is expected to make his Capitals debut against the Florida Panthers tomorrow night.
Jerabek can become an unrestricted free agent after the season and carries a $925,000 cap hit. He tallied a goal, 11 points, and a +10 rating in 17 games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, Montreal’s AHL affiliate.
He tallied four goals and nine points in 17 games playing internationally with the Czech Republic last season. He had a -2 rating in the tournament.
This could possibly mean Madison Bowey, who has 12 assists and a -3 rating in 51 games, could be sent down to Hershey.
The NHL trade deadline is Monday at 3 PM eastern time so Capitals’ GM Brian MacLellan will continue evaluating the team to see what he needs to add by then.
By Harrison Brown