So most of you know this by now, but the Washington Capitals this afternoon acquired left wing Jason Chimera from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina.
Caps general manager George McPhee is set to talk to the media at 5:30 p.m. about the deal, but Corey caught up with Chris Clark earlier, as the veteran right wing was on his way back to Kettler Capitals Iceplex to clean out his locker.
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Clark had no idea this move was coming. “I’m definitely shocked,” he said. “But you never know in hockey or in any other sport. You prepare for the worst but hope for the best.”
And this move, for Clark, could probably be termed “the worst.” He’s leaving one of the best teams in hockey — The Caps, who with 139 goals are the highest scoring team in the league, sitting in first place in the East with 54 points and 24 wins — for the Blue Jackets, who have all of 35 points, 14 wins and are riding a four-game losing streak.
“It’s tough,” said Clark, who has four goals and 11 assists this season. “I had a lot of good years here, and guys don’t often get to spend a lot of years with one team.
“Going from being with a team that was near the bottom and being with them on the way to the high point, you always want to be with the team at the high point.”
More later from Corey, who’s out at Verizon Center, where the Caps face the Carolina Hurricanes.
