‘Miller Robs Clark’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

Welcome Jason Chimera to Caps country. The Columbus Blue Jackets left winger was traded to the team for Capitals captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina yesterday afternoon.

Chimera, who has 8 goals and 17 points on the season, comes at a time when the Capitals are flying high as the top club in the Eastern Conference. With a glut of right wingers and defensemen, team GM George McPhee felt the time for a trade was right.

Columbus has to agree. With one of the worst records in the league this season, they’ve needed some serious help in team leadership and on the blue line; this trade seems to have addressed both issues for them.

While one of Columbus’ most popular players in the locker room and one of the team’s fastest skaters, Chimera hasn’t lived up to expectations in Ohio. He debuted in the 2005-06 season with 17 goals and 30 points and knocked out 15 goals in 36 points in 2007-08. But last year, injuries limited Chimera to only 49 games, with a production of 8 goals and 22 points overall. He does bring energy and edge to the ice, and the Capitals hope he can blossom in their more aggressive style of play.

Both Coach Bruce Boudreau and McPhee said the Capitals won’t select a new team captain immediately.