THE SIDELINES : Capitals Get Iafrate in Trade

The Washington Capitals obtained high-scoring defenseman Al Iafrate from the Toronto Maple Leafs today in a trade for center Peter Zezel and defenseman Bob Rouse.

Iafrate, twice selected for the NHL All-Star game, had 21 goals and 42 assists for the Maple Leafs last year. He led Toronto’s defensemen in scoring in each of the last three years.

This season he has three goals and 15 assists in 42 games.

Rouse was third among Capitals defensemen in scoring this season. His fifth goal, in Washington’s 7-3 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday night, was his first since Nov. 28.

Zezel was obtained by Washington from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Geoff Courtnall during the off-season. He never really got a chance to prove himself with the Capitals, because he missed 23 straight games with an ankle injury. He had only two multiple-point efforts with the Capitals.