One day after pulling off a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks that saw defenseman Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty become Toronto Maple Leafs, the club’s general manager pulled off another move on Tuesday.
The Maple Leafs have reportedly traded their former 29th overall pick defenseman Rasmus Sandin to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Erik Gustafsson and Boston’s first-round draft pick.
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Sandin has four goals and 20 points in 52 games this season playing deep on the Leafs defence corps. After signing a two year, $2.8 million deal in the offseason, but has had his struggles this season and was just recently back in the lineup after missing the previous three games with an upper body injury.
It was a sombre mood for the Swedish connection at Leaf practice today with William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrök and Timothy Lilijegren all saying goodbyes to Sandin and fellow Swede Pierre Engvall.
In return the Leafs get a 30 year old puck moving, offensive defenceman who has seven goals and 38 points this season with the Capitals and has many similar qualities to what his counterpart going the other way possesses. He carries a cap hit of $800,000 and is a UFA at the end of the season.
In the move the Leafs also acquire Boston’s first round pick in 2023, while also saving $600,000 in cap space
With Matt Murray projected to come off long-term injured reserve this week, the Leafs have made it slightly easier to activate him with this move. According to PuckPedia.com, after sending down goaltender Joseph Woll, they’d still need to open up $471,000 in cap space.
Stay tuned to the BD Sports site because it appears that Dubas wasn’t finished with his moves today.
BD Sports 