Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson, believing his club can still get back in the playoff race after the worst month in franchise history, swung a much-anticipated trade yesterday.

Longtime Blue Jackets left winger Jason Chimera was traded to the Washington Capitals for veteran right winger Chris Clark and large, lumbering defenseman Milan Jurcina, a deal that adds roughly $1 million to the Blue Jackets' payroll the remainder of this season.

"Obviously we have to start winning consistently now, but we're still capable of getting back into the race," Howson said.

Clark and Jurcina are expected to join the Blue Jackets for tonight's road game against the New York Islanders.

The key to the deal for the Blue Jackets was Clark, 33, who had served as Capitals captain since the start of the 2006-07 season. The Jackets, one of the league's youngest clubs, have missed the veteran voices of Michael Peca and Manny Malhotra, who left last summer as free agents.

"Chris has certainly got a lot of experience with young teams, with young, struggling teams," Howson said.

Clark, who has played 518 career games with Calgary and Washington, said he was "shocked" by the trade, even though his role with the Caps had diminished. In 38 games, he had four goals, 11 assists and a minus-4 rating, averaging 11 minutes, 39 seconds of ice time. He's due to make $2.5 million next season.

"It's going to be tough, but I've been in this situation before," Clark told The Washington Post. "Hopefully I can help out in any way I can."

Jurcina, 26, gives the Blue Jackets' some back-end bulk they've missed since Rostislav Klesla went down with an injury last month. At 6 feet 4, 233 pounds, Jurcina is a stay-at-home defenseman.

He's an unrestricted free agent next summer.

aportzline@dispatch.com