Photo: Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post
The Washington Capitals announced on Sunday afternoon that they have traded defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Arizona Coyotes’ third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The move clears $800,000 in cap space for the Capitals.
Jonas Siegenthaler, traded to NJ**, has barely played this season but put up crazy defensive results in a 3rd pairing role in his previous two seasons with the Capitals. High-upside pickup by a team that could really use one. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/s7Tbxx2KMt
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) April 11, 2021
Siegenthaler, 23, has posted just a -3 rating, a 46.21% Corsi-for percentage, a 45.66% expected goals-for percentage, and a 44.23% scoring chances-for percentage in seven games with the Capitals this season. He has primarily been the team’s seventh defenseman.
Siegenthaler was the Capitals’ top penalty killer last season as he averaged a team-high 3:11 with a man down.
In 97 career games with the Capitals, Siegenthaler has posted two goals, 13 points, and a +14 rating. The Capitals selected him 57th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
The Capitals now have $1.175 million remaining in cap space ahead of Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline after dealing Siegenthaler and waiving forward Richard Panik last week.
The Coyotes are currently fifth in the West Division with a 19-17-5 record, one point behind the St. Louis Blues for fourth.
The trade could open up room for defenseman Martin Fehervary, the Capitals’ 46th overall pick in 2018, to move up the depth chart. The 21-year-old posted one assist, a -2 rating, a 53.64% Corsi-for percentage, a 47.53% expected goals-for percentage, and a 45.33% scoring chances-for percentage at five-on-five in six games with the Capitals last season and has two goals and 11 points in 16 games with the AHL’s Hershey Bears this season. Though, he will not likely be a full-time NHL player until next season with Zdeno Chara currently occupying the Capitals’ third-pairing left-handed defenseman spot.
With the trade, the Capitals now have seven picks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Washington owns their first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth-round picks, as well as Arizona’s third-round pick and Vegas’ fifth-round pick
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 11, 2021
The Coyotes traded the Devils the selection in the trade that sent forward Taylor Hall to the desert on December 16, 2019.
By Harrison Brown
I liked Siegenthaler, and was surprised he wasn’t played more. Seemed like very good Defense, but limited Offensive upside. Was he a FA next year, and likely to leave anyway?
RFA, it makes sense with Fehervary/Alexeyev in the pipeline/need to clear cap space/etc.
Gee, yet another young defensive prospect dealt for next to nothing! So add Jonas to the Schmidt,Bowey,Lewington & Djoos as in house replacements for aging blueline! How much longer is ownership going to sit back while GM pisses away future because he’s trying to win ASAP? Save this story in a year you’ll be adding more to list!
Nardella, Fehry,Alexiyev. This move makes more room for them. They are better prospects than Seigs, who I like.
They have 3 better lefties in the pipeline than Seigs. Not an issue.
Win now! 🏆
I am surprised. I like JS!