Washington Capitals Trade Second Round Pick With David Steckel To Get Jason Arnott

After initial reports that today's trade deadline deal between the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals was a straight up swap of David Steckel and Jason Arnott, we now know that there's a bit more to it.

The Capitals have thrown in a 2012 second round pick along with Steckel, beefing up the return for the Devils. Our Devils blog, In Lou We Trust, is happy with the return. 

While the Devils have added salary to their cap with Steckel, $1.1 million for the next two seasons per CapGeek, I'm thrilled they got a second round pick out of it too.  I wish it was a 2011 second rounder, but one for 2012 is just fine with me.

Technically speaking, the Devils did shed salary with the move, at least for the current season. Arnott earns $4.5 million this year while Steckel earns just $1.1 million, but at the same time, Steckel is signed up until the 2012-13 season at that same price. 

The 2011 draft is considered one of the weaker drafts in recent memory, and with the chances of that Capitals second rounder falling in the later tier of the round this year, it might be more beneficial to the Devils that it's a 2012 pick instead.