Former First Round Pick Placed On Waivers After Trade Earlier Today.

The Washington Capitals acquired a new goaltender on Sunday morning in a trade with the New Jersey Devils, and unfortunately for one former first round pick that has come at his expense.

Following the trade however, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery quickly confirmed that veteran defenseman Dylan McIlrath would be placed on waivers later in the day. McIlrath a former New York Rangers first round pick (10th overall) from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft has spent the last several seasons of his NHL career with the Capitals but now finds himself at risk of being claimed.

McIlrath has played much more of a physical enforcer type role and has been pushed down the depth chart in Washington with the Capitals defense relatively healthy this season. This could mean a trip down to the American Hockey League should McIlrath go unclaimed, which would be familiar territory for the 3 time Calder Cup champion.

There is a possibly that he could be claimed despite his limited deployment in recent years, a very cheap price tag of just $850,000 on a contract that expires at the end of this season.

McIlrath has shown he's still willing to drop the gloves in defense of his teammates, doing so as recently as this past preseason when he went toe to toe with the Philadelphia Flyers' Garrett Wilson.