-AP Washington
After a quite first few weeks, Jay Ramirez finally put the Washington Capitals on the transaction sheet.
After rumors were flying around Washington regarding a trade with Phoenix, Ramirez changed it up and completed a huge deal with Florida.
The Panthers acquired Center Jeff Halpern, Defensmen Brenden Witt along with Pick #3 in Saturdays upcoming draft. In Exchange, Washington acquired center Mike Sillinger, Wingers Niklas Hagman and Danny Hordichuk along with prospects Anthony Stewart and Filip Novak.
Ramirez prized Stewart since day 1, the 19 year old winger from Canada has size and speed to play the wing for the Capitals. Along with Novak, the Capitals acquired 2 of the Panthers best prospects in exchange for the #3 pick. Hagman and Hordichuk are also 2 very young wingers who bring speed and intensity to the Caps lineup.
I consider Anthony Stewart and Filip Novak both top 10 first round picks. I know that with the #3 pick, Malkin and Laddle will both be drafted and what our team needs is help upfront. Therefore we took Stewart, who is equal to that #3 pick, along with Novak... we feel we acquired to strong prospects. Loosing Halpern and Witt will hurt however, our team is taking a turn toward youth and those 2 did not fit in. We feel it was better for us as well as them that they be traded.
Also, the Capitals announced the hiring of new head coach Paul Maurice. Maurice, the youngest head coach in the OTHL, was awarded a 2 year deal worth around 1.2 million dollars.
Maurice has proven that he knows how to work with young teams, and that is exactly what he will have to do in Washington.
"We hired Paul becasue we know what he can do, he has proven to us that he can coach at a professional leval. We are very excited about hiring Paul, and he is just as excited to run this team."
Not too long after the blockbuster trade, Ramirez moved up in the draft by trading Picks #29 and #27 to Buffalo in exchange for pick #14.
Ramirez has made his mark early in the off-season, the Capitals are going for a youth movement and have done a good job so far.