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Capitals land Kevin Shattenkirk in trade with Blues

ST. LOUIS, MO – JANUARY 1: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the St. Louis Blues shoots the puck during the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Practice Day at Busch Stadium on January 1, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JANUARY 1: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the St. Louis Blues shoots the puck during the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Practice Day at Busch Stadium on January 1, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals have made a big splash less than 48 hours before the NHL’s trade deadline in acquiring defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and goaltender Pheonix Copley from the St. Louis Blues for a package that includes Zach Sanford, Brad Malone, a 2017 first-round pick, a 2019 conditional second-round pick.

St. Louis also retains 39-percent of Shattenkirk’s remaining salary this season.

“We are excited to welcome Kevin to our organization,” said Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan in a statement. “We felt it was important to acquire another defenseman to strengthen and add depth to our blueline. Kevin is a skilled, puck moving defenseman who we think will help our team at even strength and on the power play.”

Shattenkirk, 28, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and the dollars and term he’d pull in from an extension would be too much for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong to fit under their cap going forward. There was a sign-and-trade in place last week, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but the blue liner shot down a seven-year, $42 million contract.

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Rutherford also reported that Shattenkirk, who was acquired in Feb. 2011 in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, previously used his no-trade clause to nix a deal to the Edmonton Oilers last summer that would have brought Taylor Hall to St. Louis.

Last week, MacLellan said about the trade deadline, “We’re not going to mess with lines or defense pairs. If we could upgrade on the fringes, we might do it.” This is a little bit more than an upgrade to the “fringes.” This is legit bringing in an offensive-minded defenseman to add to their group. Shattenkirk has reached double digits in goals in three of the last four seasons and at least 40 points in six of the last six seasons.

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Washington already owns a top-five power play (21.8 percent) and now they add Shattenkirk, who’s been a big factor for the Blues with the man advantage having scored seven times and compiled 20 points.

It was reported earlier Monday night by several sources that the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins had entered into the Shattenkirk sweepstakes along with the New York Rangers. If that’s true, and Jim Rutherford was serious in his inquiry for his depleted defense, then MacLellan just kept a big asset away from a division rival and potential playoff opponent.

Shattenkirk, who is long-rumored to want to end up with the Rangers, is expected to make his Capitals debut Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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