Washington Capitals acquire Rasmus Sandin from Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded defenseman Rasmus Sandin to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Erik Gustafsson and the Boston Bruins’ 2023 first-round draft pick, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday afternoon.

Sandin, 22, has collected four goals and 20 points while averaging 17:59 in 52 games with the Maple Leafs this season. He returned to the lineup on Feb. 26 after missing a week with an upper-body injury.

The Maple Leafs originally selected Sandin in the first round (No. 29 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. The five-foot-eleven, 182-pound lefty is signed through the end of the 2023–24 season at $1.4 million cap hit.

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Sandin TO WASH for Erik Gustafsson and a first-rounder (Boston's)

8:52 PM · Feb 28, 2023

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Gustafsson, 30, is in the midst of a renaissance season. The six-foot, 197-pound left-handed defenseman recorded seven goals and 38 points while logging 20:22 in 61 games with the Capitals before the trade.

The Capitals signed Gustafsson to a one-year, $800,000 contract during the unrestricted free agent period last July. He’ll be eligible to hit the open market again this coming summer.

The Maple Leafs now have a 2023 first-round pick again after trading their own to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari. Gustafsson will further bolster a defensive group that already includes Morgan Rielly, TJ Brodie, Timothy Liljegren, Mark Giordano, Justin Holl, and the recently acquired Jake McCabe.

The Capitals will return to action — potentially with Sandin in the lineup — on the road against the Anaheim Ducks at 10:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday evening. Two hours earlier, the Maple Leafs will take on the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.