Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - The Washington Capitals continued their fire sale Thursday by completing another trade with the Bruins, this time sending center Michael Nylander to Boston in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2006 NHL draft and future considerations. On Wednesday, the Capitals shipped defenseman Sergei Gonchar to Beantown for blueliner Shaone Morrisonn and the Bruins' first and second round draft picks in 2004. The trades with Boston are just the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves this season by Washington, which has also shipped Jaromir Jagr to the Rangers, Robert Lang to the Red Wings, Peter Bondra to Ottawa and Steve Konowalchuk to Colorado. Nylander has missed much of this season with a broken leg, playing in just three games from February 27 - March 2. He has posted two assists and eight penalty minutes since returning to the lineup. With a possible work stoppage looming for next season, the Capitals brass have found it better to cut salary and think about the future. "Given the status of his unrestricted free agency this summer and our reluctance to enter into new contracts until we know what the new collective bargaining agreement holds, we felt it in our best interest to acquire an asset for Michael at this time," Caps vice president and general manager George McPhee said. An 11-year veteran, the 31-year-old Nylander has recorded 139 goals and 296 assists in 633 career games with the Carolina Hurricanes franchise, Calgary, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Washington.
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