The Washington Capitals have acquired forwards Martin Erat and Michael Latta from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Filip Forsberg.
Latta, 21, ranks second on the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) in points (34) and first in assists (26) among active players. He compiled a plus-9 rating and 184 penalty minutes (led the team) in 67 games played this season.
In 122 career AHL games with Milwaukee, the St. Clements, Ont., native has recorded 23 goals, 41 assists and 286 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot, 215-pound center was drafted by Nashville in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He will report to Hershey.
Erat, 31, has recorded 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 36 games with Nashville this season. The native of Trebic, Czech Republic, currently ranks second in Nashville franchise history in career points (481), goals (163), assists (318), games played (723), game-winning goals (26) and ranks third in power-play goals (42).
Erat was drafted by Nashville in the seventh round (191st overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He has played all 723 of his career NHL games with Nashville.
Forsberg, 18, posted 33 points (15g, 18a) in 38 games for Leksand of Sweden’s second league in 2012-13, pacing all junior skaters. The 6-1, 188-pound center was the recipient of the 2013 Golden Cage Award as the league’s top junior player.
Washington’s first-round pick, 11th overall, in the 2012 Entry Draft was recently named the 21st-rated NHL-affiliate prospect by The Hockey News. The Ostervala, Sweden, native helped Sweden win gold at the 2012 World Junior Championships, then captained the Tre Kronor to a silver medal at the 2013 World Juniors, being named the tournament’s All-Star Team in the process.
