Capitals Claim Aaron Volpatti off Waivers from Canucks
 

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have claimed left wing Aaron Volpatti off of waivers from Vancouver, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Volpatti, 27, has recorded one goal and 28 penalty minutes in 16 games with Vancouver this season. The native of Revelstoke, British Columbia, ranked second on Vancouver in penalty minutes this season and has collected three goals, one assist and 81 penalty minutes in 54 career NHL games with the Canucks.

The 6’0”, 215-pound forward tallied 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and 91 penalty minutes in 61 career AHL games with Manitoba. He spent four seasons playing for Brown University in the NCAA and was named to the ECAC All-Academic team his first three seasons before being named team captain for his senior season.

Volpatti was originally signed as an un-drafted free agent by Vancouver on March 22, 2010.

Nice pickup by the Caps, for nothing. Now all they need to do is bring back DJ King and they would have a pretty tough squad.

Nice! Good job Caps.

lol yeah d.j. king who did absolutely nothing in his last couple pro seasons...he just signed an echl deal and was lucky to get that

To make room for Steve Pinizotto....a career AHLer.... (0 NHL games at age 28) Mike Gillis is an idiot. Canucks had a mediocre but tolerable thing going with Weise and Volpatti, knew they'd fick it up for another signing Gillis' ego required to call-up...

Vancouver should claim Sestito.

Agreed, he's not even a downgrade to Volpatti. That said there's no way Mike Gillis bites.

Not sure what the Canucks were thinking,, this is a tough kid.

Nice job by the Caps. He'll help.

Honestly, if Pinizzotto is the one who comes up, it's pretty much an even exchange, maybe edge to Pinizzotto in playing ability.

Steve Pinizzotto: 28 Years old, 404 PIM and 0.48 PPG in 227 career AHL games, no NHL experience
Aaron Volpatti: 27 Years old, 91 PIM and 0.21 PPG in 91 career AHL games, 81 PIM and 0.07 PPG in 54 NHL games

I guess I forgot to put one of these up ;)

I don't really think that King is a viable option. Other than Erskine, he was the last tough guy they had.

Pinizotto, I think, will prove himself to be a much more useful player at the NHL level, if he can stay healthy (which is a big if).

Pinizotto is just as tough, and just as willing. He is also a much more useful player, but is brittle as 5hit. All things being equal, I think he is way more useful at the NHL level...but all things aren't equal. If he does in fact get the call up, he will almost certainly sustain a long term injury before the playoffs start.

Here's Pinizotto from this season, losing a fight to a guy he's giving up 6-7" on and who according to DYG doesnt have a clear loss in 7 seasons:

Steve Pinizzotto vs Christopher Breen - YouTube

I guess with Dale weises recent fights they think hes tough enough to not have volplatti. good for caps, hendricks needed back up

this is the first sign of life i've seen from this bucket of pansies all year....

I could see a trade following this. Volpatti gives us like 16 forwards including Laich and Johanssen on IR. But as long as Volpatti plays, Ill definitely be happy with this pick up. Our 4th line desperately needs a guy like him.

why pick up Sesotho ? They have Weise and he is just as capable if not more! Should have claimed McGrattan if they would want a real HW.

I like what I've seen from volpatti and with John Erskine in his corner he can be even more of a cocksucker. Good pick up by caps IMO .