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  6. article_body => "<p>Defenseman Jakub Jerabek is really happy about the opportunity to play with the Washington Capitals, but it could have come at a better time. The trade came with his parents already on their way from the Czech Republic to visit him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was crazy days past three days because I had my parents on the way to Montreal and they&nbsp;didn't know so it was a big surprise for them,\u201d Jerabek told reporters Saturday after his first skate with the team.<\/p>\n<p>A native of the Czech Republic, Jerabek signed his first NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens in May 2017. After spending some time in the AHL and struggling to consistently earn a spot in the Canadiens\u2019 lineup, he knew a trade was possible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy family, maybe we expected some trade. When its come with Caps and it was Washington, I was really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-extra-podcast-trade-deadline-story-time-alan-may\" target=\"_blank\">TRADE DEADLINE <\/a><\/em><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-extra-podcast-trade-deadline-story-time-alan-may\" target=\"_blank\">STORY TIME<\/a><\/em><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/capitals\/capitals-extra-podcast-trade-deadline-story-time-alan-may\" target=\"_blank\"> WITH ALAN MAY<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jerabek said he came into the NHL with no expectations and was simply happy for the opportunity, but it is fair to wonder if he was not just the least bit frustrated with how he was utilized by Montreal.<\/p>\n<p>For a&nbsp;player with experience playing for the national team, the Czech league and the KHL, getting only 25 games with a bad Montreal team seems a bit low.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn first two weeks, I didn't know what's going on because the coaches just told me that I played well, but we just make some competition between the [defensemen] and that I have to wait for my next chance,\u201d Jerabek said. \u201cIt was hard, but now I'm happy down here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Washington now offers a very different opportunity. In need of help on the blue line, Jeraebek has the chance to earn consistent playing time for a team on pace to reach the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>Jerabek will not play in Saturday\u2019s game against Buffalo, but he was hopeful he would be in the lineup for Monday\u2019s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.<\/p>\n<p><em>MORE CAPITALS: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/CapitalsFaceoff\" target=\"_blank\">IS IT TIME FOR GRUBAUER TO START IN PLACE OF HOLTBY?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>For now, Jerabek and head coach Barry Trotz are unclear as to what his ultimate role on the team will be. With eight defensemen now on the roster, Trotz cautioned any lineup decision could not be rushed because of the trickle-down effect it will have on the other players.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou always look at chemistry and all that with your group&nbsp;depending&nbsp;how high that player goes up the lineup, it affects different people,\u201d Trotz said. \u201cIn a forward group, if you get a guy that you all of a sudden stick on the first line,&nbsp;there's&nbsp;four other guys that are bumped down and one guy's bumped out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The addition of Jerabek, however, offers the Caps another defenseman who can quickly move the puck out of the defensive zone, something the team has struggled with immensely throughout the season. Though he shoots left, he also said he is comfortable playing on the right said and has played there regularly over the past few years. That provides the lineup with some flexibility on the third pair behind Matt Niskanen and John Carlson.<\/p>\n<p>As for Jerabek\u2019s parents, they will be arriving in Washington on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI tried to figure out the situation with them to get them to here and they will come today,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I'm really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Capitals

Capitals

Defenseman Jakub Jerabek is really happy about the opportunity to play with the Washington Capitals, but it could have come at a better time. The trade came with his parents already on their way from the Czech Republic to visit him.

“It was crazy days past three days because I had my parents on the way to Montreal and they didn't know so it was a big surprise for them,” Jerabek told reporters Saturday after his first skate with the team.

A native of the Czech Republic, Jerabek signed his first NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens in May 2017. After spending some time in the AHL and struggling to consistently earn a spot in the Canadiens’ lineup, he knew a trade was possible.

“My family, maybe we expected some trade. When its come with Caps and it was Washington, I was really happy.”

RELATED: TRADE DEADLINE STORY TIME WITH ALAN MAY

Jerabek said he came into the NHL with no expectations and was simply happy for the opportunity, but it is fair to wonder if he was not just the least bit frustrated with how he was utilized by Montreal.

For a player with experience playing for the national team, the Czech league and the KHL, getting only 25 games with a bad Montreal team seems a bit low.

 

“In first two weeks, I didn't know what's going on because the coaches just told me that I played well, but we just make some competition between the [defensemen] and that I have to wait for my next chance,” Jerabek said. “It was hard, but now I'm happy down here.”

Washington now offers a very different opportunity. In need of help on the blue line, Jeraebek has the chance to earn consistent playing time for a team on pace to reach the postseason.

Jerabek will not play in Saturday’s game against Buffalo, but he was hopeful he would be in the lineup for Monday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

MORE CAPITALS: IS IT TIME FOR GRUBAUER TO START IN PLACE OF HOLTBY?

For now, Jerabek and head coach Barry Trotz are unclear as to what his ultimate role on the team will be. With eight defensemen now on the roster, Trotz cautioned any lineup decision could not be rushed because of the trickle-down effect it will have on the other players.

“You always look at chemistry and all that with your group depending how high that player goes up the lineup, it affects different people,” Trotz said. “In a forward group, if you get a guy that you all of a sudden stick on the first line, there's four other guys that are bumped down and one guy's bumped out.”

The addition of Jerabek, however, offers the Caps another defenseman who can quickly move the puck out of the defensive zone, something the team has struggled with immensely throughout the season. Though he shoots left, he also said he is comfortable playing on the right said and has played there regularly over the past few years. That provides the lineup with some flexibility on the third pair behind Matt Niskanen and John Carlson.

As for Jerabek’s parents, they will be arriving in Washington on Saturday.

“I tried to figure out the situation with them to get them to here and they will come today,” he said. “So I'm really happy.”