The Toronto Maple Leafs said this week that there were ways to recoup some of their recently traded draft capital, and it didn’t take long. The Washington Capitals have acquired Rasmus Sandin from the Maple Leafs in exchange for Erik Gustafsson and Boston’s 2023 first-round pick, as confirmed by Toronto.
The move comes just after the Maple Leafs landed Jake McCabe to shore up their defensive group, ultimately pushing Sandin out of the regular lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman has been unable to keep a grip on that full-time role, even with outstanding underlying metrics through his first few NHL seasons.
In 140 career games, Sandin has ten goals and 48 points, averaging just under 17 minutes a night. It seemed as though he was turning a corner with Toronto this season, but instead will have to find his way with a new organization.
Signed to a two-year contract last summer, Sandin carries a very reasonable $1.4MM cap hit and can contribute in several ways for the Capitals. After they moved Dmitry Orlov, he should find playing time next season and could run the team’s second powerplay unit. There’s plenty of upside still left in the first-round pick, though his size and foot speed will always likely limit him to a middle-pairing ceiling in the NHL.
Still, you can see that the Capitals aren’t content with a full rebuild while their core is still in place. Flipping a first-round pick (despite how late it will be in the first round) for a young defenseman gives them a chance to quickly rebound and try to compete again in the 2023-24 season.
For Toronto, that pick might not be in their pocket for very long. The team still has to make another move to clear enough cap space to activate Matt Murray, and they now have another chip to waive in any trade discussions.
Not to be forgotten in this deal is Gustafsson, who has 38 points in 61 games this season as an all-offense defenseman. The curious thing is where he fits into the lineup right now, as like Sandin, he currently projects outside of their top group. The Maple Leafs essentially kept their defensive depth intact with this move, though with Gustafsson being a UFA, they are sacrificing it in future seasons.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to break the trade.
Well, I guess the holdout and falling to Holl territory has really soured him to the ORG.
Best of luck Sandin
Capitals paid a lot to get him. Gustafsson is having a terrific year, he’ll help a lot in Toronto’s playoff push, plus the Leafs get Boston’s 1st rounder. Big gamble on the Caps part, but they’ve had success lately with reclamation projects (Strome, Milano and the afore mentioned Gustafsson)
I really can’t see him breaking into the top 6 with Kerfoot still on the team and O’Reilly just coming in.
He’s going to be fighting for bottom 6 minutes too because he’s more offensive minded and not defensive minded
What does O’Reilly or Kerfoot have to do with it? Gustafsson’s a defenseman. He’s basically taking Sandin’s spot.
I was thinking the same thing lol. He must think he’s a forward. There’s no way Holl plays ahead of this guy. They didn’t trade a 22 year old d man for a seventh defenseman.
Jesus I’m an idiot
That is all !!
leafs also acquiring Schenn
KRB – Gustafsson’s UFA so the Caps really lose about 20 games of his services, they could go get him back this summer. I liked what Gustafsson brought in the absence of Carlson. Not sure who’s going to run the PP if Carlson isn’t back, but they seem to be throwing in the towel on 2022-23 anyway. They get a younger, 2nd pair defenseman in Sandin
@Thornton – It’s still a gamble. Giving up a #1 in a deep draft, even if it’s not your own, is a risk. I’m perfectly fine giving up Gustafsson. This year is toast for the Caps, so sell every UFA. Still have Eller, Jensen, Sheary and Trevor Van Riemsdyk on the block
Thing is no matter how many band aids the Caps apply to their issues, there’s still at least 9 teams in the east better than them. The east is nuts right now and the Caps are on the way down while other teams are on the way up (Wings, Sabres). I still maintain they’re not a playoff team this year and probably not next year either.
There’s also nothing to be excited about in the minors which makes trading that first even more risky. MacLellan is determined to run the team into the ground for Ovechkin no matter what. If he hadn’t drafted so poorly for so many years, this wouldn’t be as bad of a situation. If this turns out as bad as it looks like it will for the team long term, Mac should probably go. He’s delusional if he thinks this is a legitimate Cup contending team or that he can make it one with this kind of approach.
Would be lovely if they prove me wrong.
Good move by both teams. Sandin has been so close to breaking out and just never seems to be able to. Frees Toronto of him and recoups good assets before he became a 3rd rounder value.
Also Torontos not done here. I’d expect another 2/3 moves. At least one of Engvall, Holl, Kerfoot get moved for assets then Toronto could package that for another bigger move with this 1st rounder.
That 1st will go for Bertuzzi
Engvall is gone to the NYI.
Schenn to Toronto
Now package that Boston 1st rounder, Engvall and Timmins for a goalie that isn’t hurt all the time.
Pretty good deal for the Leafs.
I could see them bringing back Gustafsson next year.
The object for the Caps is to get younger. I don’t expect Laviolette to be back, so I’m guessing the D will be:
Fehervary-Carlson
Sandin-Jensen
Alexeyev-?
This depends on resigning Jensen, or maybe TVR. Or maybe another trade is in the works
I think getting Sandin is as getting young as it’ll get while still trying to win now. I think they bring tvr or Gus back