Rasmus Sandin establishes new team record after trade

One of the surprise moves in the NHL this season, at least one of the most surprising moves from my perspective, was the Toronto Maple Leafs' decision to move defenseman Rasmus Sandin in a deal with the Washington Capitals in exchange for veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson and a 1st round draft pick.

After all, the Leafs had already put four and a half seasons of development into Sandin and he looked to be rounding into one of the team's most reliable defenders. He had four goals and 20 points in just 52 games played with the Leafs this season, but that's nothing compared to the early impact that he's had with the Capitals. In his first two games with his new club, Sandin has a remarkable five points and has established a new Capitals team record becoming the first defenseman to score five points in his first two games with the club.

Certainly this kind of production isn't sustainable, but there's reason to believe that Sandin will be a very good offensive defenseman for the Capitals for years to come. As for the Leafs... well... they've got Gustafsson until his contract expires and they've got a 1st round pick. The problem is that the 1st round pick is Boston's and it's not likely to be high in the draft. The Leafs traded their own 1st round pick in the Ryan O'Reilly trade with the St. Louis Blues. Suffice it to say that it remains to be seen what kind of value the Leafs get out of the Sandin trade, but the early returns don't look good and the Capitals, meanwhile, are laughing all the way to the bank.