Photo: Yahoo
The Washington Capitals announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have acquired defenseman Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in 2021. Dillon can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The Sharks will retain 50% of his $3.27 million cap hit for the rest of the season.
The Capitals have acquired defenseman Brenden Dillon from the San Jose Sharks. Dillon brings 588 career games of NHL experience to the Capitals’ blue line. He ranked second among San Jose defensemen with a 51.70 shot attempt percentage this season. pic.twitter.com/XrIqCo6cUv
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 18, 2020
If the Capitals win the 2020 Stanley Cup, the 2021 third-round pick (owned by the Capitals) will instead become the 2020 third-round pick (originally owned by the Arizona Coyotes) that the Capitals previously acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Andre Burakovsky on June 28.
The 29-year-old has recorded one goal, 14 points, and an even rating in 59 games with the Sharks this season. In 588 career NHL games with the Sharks and Dallas Stars, Dillon has recorded 22 goals, 114 points, and a +15 rating.
Dillon, undrafted, set a career-high in points with 22 during the 2017-18 season and matched it last year when he also set career-highs in assists (21) and plus-minus (+19).
The Capitals acquired the defensemen after allowing 41 goals in their past 11 games. They are 5-6-0 in that span. Their average of 3.02 goals-against per game this season is tied with the Vancouver Canucks for 14th in the NHL but their average of 3.48 goals-against per game since December 23 ranks 29th.
Dillon has averaged 19:22 worth of ice-time per game this season, the fifth-most on the Sharks, including 2:02 on the penalty kill. The Capitals’ 83.9% penalty-killing efficiency ranks fourth in the NHL. His 178 hits lead the Sharks and 67 blocked shots rank fourth. He also has 12 takeaways and 22 giveaways.
Dillon will likely slot in on the Capitals’ second-pairing with Dmitry Orlov.
The Capitals have acquired at least one defenseman at every trade deadline under GM Brian MacLellan.
Dillon has posted nine points (all assists) and a -10 rating in 62 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, including two assists and a -5 rating in 24 games during the Sharks’ run to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final where they lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night (7 PM ET, NBCSN nationally or NBC Sports Washington locally). Dillon could make his Capitals debut then.
The Capitals have until Monday at 3 PM ET to make any other moves they wish to make before the NHL Trade Deadline. They have been linked to Los Angeles Kings defenseman Derek Forbort (though, that’s not likely to happen after acquiring Dillon), Kings forward Trevor Lewis, and New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider.
With Dillon on the ice at five-on-five this season, San Jose saw a decrease in shot attempts against within 20 feet from their net relative to the NHL average. Graphics provided by @IneffectiveMath at https://t.co/zBmcTlSPBl pic.twitter.com/IzZ7QpZuTY
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 18, 2020
The Capitals now have $917,344 left in cap space.
Dillon was emotional after the Sharks’ 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday, knowing that it could be his final game in teal.
Welcome to the #ALLCAPS Brendan Dillon! This guy looks like he has a lot of passion. I promise I only cried a little bit watching this 😭 pic.twitter.com/mAgRkAy9Dp
— Jordan Wilson (@JordanWilsonNHL) February 18, 2020
By Harrison Brown
Hopefully this adds some hardiness and strength to the defensive corps.
That’s a lot for a rental. Very Shattenkirk-like. Won’t help prospect pool. But Caps are desperate.
So what use is it to develop d-men in system if your going to pick up other teams garbage(aka:Jenson,Gudas,& now Dillon!). Guess other teams will get better use of Caps d prospect than they will. Hopefully that means Christian Djoos will soon be with team that can use playmaking young d-man with Cup under his belt. I mean he only been on team’s that either goto or are in finals within first year of being thier(Hershey(AHL final) & Washington(NHL Final & Win)),i’am sure that’s exactly what Cap’s don’t need right now especially with GM & Coachs eye for talent! Dust clubs off Caps will be on the course in first or second round!!
Capitals defensive acquisitions at/near trade deadline under GM Brian MacLellan:
2015: Tim Gleason (Carolina)
2016: Mike Weber (Buffalo)
2017: Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis)
2018: Michael Kempny (Chicago)
2019: Nick Jensen (Detroit)
2020: Brendan Dillon (San Jose)
And Jon your point is what? Out of last 7(you forgot Jerebek was also brought in same trade deadline as Kempny),only 2 remain! That’s a lot of draft pick & money wasted for no long term reward! Only “house made” long term through organization are Carlson & Orlov,all the rest have been shipped out or are soon to be shipped out! Can Ted L. Not see his GM’s dicking around with future on back end or does he just not give a damn being he finally got “a” ring !
That’s exactly my point. You can argue all except Kempny were bust moves.