The Washington Capitals have acquired defenceman Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers in exchange for prospect winger Jake Hauswirth and a third-round draft pick in the 2011 draft.
"We continue to set ourselves up to have another franchise-building draft this summer," general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. "Our confidence in our current corps of defencemen -- both in the NHL and throughout our organization -- allowed us to make this (Wideman) trade and acquire another high pick in the 2011 draft."
Wideman has nine goals and 24 assists in 61 games with Florida this season. The 27-year-old also has a minus-26 rating in his first year with the Panthers, who signed Wideman this past summer after he spent parts of four seasons with the Boston Bruins.
"My first reaction was excitement. I've obviously played against Washington the last few years. ... I know the type of game they play and the way they play, and I'm happy to be a part of it," Wideman said.
In 439 career games with Florida, Boston and St. Louis, Wideman has recorded 55 goals and 143 assists.
Hauswirth, 23, is a 6-foot-5 forward that's seeing game action with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. In 37 games, the Houghton, MI, native has 10 goals and four assists with eight penalty minutes.
Hauswirth signed with the Capitals as a free agent on May 5, 2009.
