Washington, DC – The Washington Capitals added Martin Erat to their offensive arsenal at Wednesday's trade deadline, acquiring the veteran forward from Nashville for highly-touted prospect Filip Forsberg.
The Capitals picked up Erat and minor league forward Michael Latta from the Predators in exchange for Forsberg, an 18-year-old forward who was the 11th overall pick by Washington at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
The 31-year-old Erat has played his entire NHL career for the Predators and is second on the Nashville's all-time list in goals (163), assists (318) and games played (723). A seventh-round selection by Nashville in 1999, Erat was tied for the Predators' team lead this season with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 36 games.
The Czech native is under contract through the 2014-15 season.
Forsberg, meanwhile, recorded 33 points (15G, 18A) in 38 games for Leksand of Sweden's second league in 2012-13. He led the circuit's junior players in scoring and won the 2013 Golden Cage Award as the league's top junior player.
"In Filip Forsberg, we are adding one of the top rated young forwards in the world," said Predators general manager David Poile.
Latta, 21, posted 34 points on nine goals and 26 assists in 67 games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League this season. He will report to Washington's AHL affiliate in Hershey.
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