Rasmus Sandin trade details: Maple Leafs move defenseman to Capitals for curious haul
Rasmus Sandin won’t be doing a Stanley Cup run with the Maple Leafs this year.
Toronto traded the 22-year-old defenseman to Washington on Tuesday.
Sandin is in his fourth year in the NHL, all with Toronto. In 52 games this year, the Sweden defender has four goals, 16 assists and 20 points. His assists and points are both already career highs. He has averaged 17:59 minutes per game and has featured in a third pairing role.
In exchange, the Maple Leafs received defenseman Erik Gustafsson and Boston’s 2023 first-round pick.
Gustafsson, 30, is joining his fourth team in his seven-year NHL career. In 61 games with the Capitals, the veteran had 31 assists and 38 points with an average ice time of 20:22.
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Trade details by Rasmus Sandin
- Capitals get: D. Rasmus Sandin
- Maple Leaves obtained: D Erik Gustafsson, 2023 first round selection
The move allows Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas to regain a first-round pick after trading away the Leafs’ 2023 pick a few weeks ago. It is Dubas’ third major step to date.
The Capitals take advantage of the Maple Leafs’ stash of defenders and snap up Sandin to expand their defensive core. Washington doesn’t have many young, NHL-ready defensemen other than Martin Fehervary, so this addition gives them some youth on the blue line.
The Maple Leafs win back a 2023 first-round pick after trading their 2023 pick to the Blues in the Ryan O’Reilly deal. The team has not had a first-round pick since 2020 and also just traded their 2024 first-round pick to acquire Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty.
The pick Toronto received was Boston’s first, acquired by Washington in a trade with Dmitry Orlov. It will therefore be significantly lower in the draft than when selecting the capitals.
Toronto also gets a cheaper option on the blue line at Gustafsson. He’s a senior defenseman who had one of his best seasons to date playing a second pairing role with the Capitals.
Rasmus Sandin contract details
Sandin is under contract for another year after this year. He is signed for 2023-23 and has a cap hit of $1.4 million.
He will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2024.
Erik Gustafsson contract details
Gustafsson is currently on a one-year contract capped at $800,000. He signed as a free agent with the Capitals last summer.
He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.