Photo: WHL Images
“Where were you when it happened?” That’s what your grandchildren will ask you about the events of April 19, 2014, when the Capitals announced the trade of a 20-year-old WHL D-man for a pick that has a one-in-nine chance of having an NHL career.
Jaynen Rissling has played 273 games for the Calgary Hitmen, who were eliminated from the playoffs by the Kootenay Ice last month. Rissling now belongs to the Nashville Predators and everything has changed.
We are now living in the Post-Rissling Era. Adjust your calendars accordingly.
Nothing will ever be the same again. The Caps have made a big statement here. You wanted a big move? Here it is. Rissling’s bags are packed, and finally a bright future awaits the Capitals of Washington.
Some among our ranks wondered what the blockbuster trade meant for team management.
If the Caps made a trade (D Jaynen Rissling to Nashville for a 7th rounder) does that mean GM George McPhee is staying? #CapitalsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) April 19, 2014
I don’t see any room for interpretation here. The writing on the wall is in big block letters, probably in the Impact font. The Caps aren’t afraid to make the decisive decisions.
Final note: Jaynen isn’t a typo. I checked. His parents actually named him that. I thought maybe they got confused or there was a clerical error, but no. That’s deliberate.
From the Caps:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 19, 2014
Capitals Acquire Seventh-Round Pick in 2014 NHL Draft from Nashville for Rissling
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have acquired a seventh-round draft pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for the rights to defenseman Jaynen Rissling.
Rissling, 20, registered 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in 54 games with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. The 6’4”, 211-pound defenseman was drafted by the Capitals in the seventh round, 197th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Rissling recorded 117 points (23 goals, 94 assists) in 273 career WHL games.
