Calgary Flames acquire veteran defenseman Dennis Wideman from Washington Capitals-NHL offseason Update
Calgary Flames just landed themselves an elite level defenseman as the Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) franchise acquired 29-year-old, Dennis Wideman, and did not waste any time in signing him to a five-year, $26.25 million contract on Wednesday, June
27, 2012.
Wideman had made it clear after the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings came to an end that he wanted to change teams and would not re-sign with the Washington Capitals. It was hard to imagine Calgary getting their
hands on the defender, but it happened.
The veteran defenseman was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st on Sunday, but Calgary did some quick thinking and traded minor league defenseman, Jordan Henry, along with a fifth round pick for the 2012 NHL draft to Washington
Capitals.
For Washington, the move is something that has opened up a lot of space on the salary cap. Capitals already had Mike Green and John Carlson playing the defending positions and a third was just too hard to maintain.
“Based on what we had to do, putting all the payroll models together it was going to be hard to keep him,” Washington general manager, George McPhee, said. “He plays right D and we’ve got two other right D in [Mike] Green and [John] Carlson that need new
deals and need to play a lot.”
"I didn't want to mislead a player. When it got right down to it, I didn't think we were going to be able to sign him," McPhee added.
Wideman, a former 241st overall draft pick back in 2002 by Buffalo Sabres, has a vast playing career with teams like St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and the last two seasons with Washington Capitals.
Last season was one of his best with 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games played, making him a befitting player for the Calgary Flames.
As long as Jordan Henry’s status goes, trading him gave Calgary some space in terms of finance and could be playing with Washington’s minor league affiliates, the Hershey Bears, unless Capitals let him go and allow the 26-year-old to test the free agency.
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