Photo: Amanda Bowen

The Capitals made a late afternoon trade Tueday, acquiring defenseman Mike Weber from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third round 2017 draft pick. Buffalo will retain half of Weber’s $2 million salary. He is scheduled to become a UFA at the end of the year.

Weber’s acquisition puts another big body like Brooks Orpik on the Caps’ blueline. The trade is a bit of a surprise, seeing as the Capitals already have a lot of very good defensemen playing right now.

Perhaps Weber will simply serve as insurance since some members of the team’s blue line have been banged up this season.

From the Caps:

ARLINGTON, VA. – The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Mike Weber from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Buffalo has retained 50% of Weber’s remaining contract.

“We are pleased to welcome Mike to our organization,” MacLellan said. “Mike is a stay-at-home defenseman, who plays a physical game and is respected by his teammates. We felt it was important to add depth to our blueline by adding another quality veteran defenseman.”

Weber, 28, has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 35 games with the Sabres this season. The Pittsburgh native scored his first goal of the season on Feb. 9 against Florida and recorded a season-high 22:21 of ice time on Feb. 6 at Boston. Since he entered the NHL in 2007-08, Weber ranks first among Buffalo skaters in hits (917) and blocked shots (666). The 6’2”, 217-pound defenseman served as an alternate captain with the Sabres during the 2013-14 season and 2014-15 season. Weber skated in a career-high 28:18 of ice time at Boston on March 17, 2015 and recorded points in a career-best four consecutive games from April 6, 2014 to April 12, 2014 (one goal, three assists). He played in a career-high 68 games during the 2013-14 season and set career-highs in goals (4), assists (13) and points (17) in 2010-11. Weber has registered 53 points (nine goals, 44 assists) and 409 penalty minutes in 341 career NHL games with Buffalo. He was drafted by the Sabres in the second round, 57th overall, in the 2006 NHL Draft.

Weber has tallied one assist in seven career NHL playoff games. He led the Sabres with 16 blocked shots during the 2010-11 postseason and appeared in his first career NHL playoff game at Philadelphia on April 14, 2011. Weber recorded his first career playoff point with an assist and blocked three shots in Game 5 at Philadelphia on April 22.