Confirmed with Link: Erik Gustafsson and a 1st Rounder (Bostons) for Rasmus Sandin.

[cyris]

Yeah - why are the Leafs doing this?

We are in win now mode and Sandin isn’t one of our best 3 LHD.
He has been sat multiple times in the playoffs and was difficult to sign in the off season because of it. We probably couldn’t push him out of the lineup again without him asking for a trade.

But you are getting a good young Dman. He is pretty physical for his size and has a super high hockey IQ. Most of us believe he is going to be a top 4 Dman we just needed to get harder to play against now and he was the odd man out

 

[Holtbyisms]

Wow, I'm freaking impressed. Turned Orlov, Hathaway and Gustafson into Sandin a 2nd and a 3rd. I'd make that trade any day if the week without even thinking about it.

 

[PlushMinus]

What the f*** are "Tage Thompson Is Trash Stats"?

Angry new user is angry!

I am guessing he is saying that the fancies on TT were really bad and look at what a great player he has become in Buffalo. That is the only way the angry posts makes any sense.

Actually, alcohol could also explain it

 

[ovikovy817]

IIRC he was hyped during a WJC.

 

[max21]

He’s cheap for 2 years which is great, I’m glad we’re not paying Jensen and Orlov which would mean we’d essentially have the same forward group for next year which would excite no one

 

[Firsov99]

Nice. A young defenseman. So, what do we have now: three players out, a young D-man in, plus some picks.

And this ain’t retooling, we are rebuilding step by step. The biggest challenge is though how to deal with the “retirement contracts” of some of the aged players. Ovi is out question here of course.

 

[HecticGlow]

He’s cheap for 2 years which is great, I’m glad we’re not paying Jensen and Orlov which would mean we’d essentially have the same forward group for next year which would excite no one

Jensen’s still here and could well be re-signed.

 

[max21]

Jensen’s still here and could well be re-signed.

I meant signing them both

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

Honestly, I'll be interested to see how his footspeed plays out here. It's been a consistent complaint, but the one thing I really think our coaching staff/development groups have done has been working on footspeed with players.

I think back to Wilson. He was so slow when he first came up, but now he's one of our fastest and best skaters. Not to say Sandin will suddenly become a burner like Jensen, but I could easily see that improving here.

That was one of Protas' weaknesses when we drafted him and he's definitely improved since then

 

[twabby]

Right, its great when you don't even have to look a single time at what a player actually does on the ice and can have your Tage Thompson is trash eval bar do all the thinking for you. Maybe we can snag Kevin Shattenkirk and more small slow PP specialists while we're at it.

*nods sagely*

 

[twabby]

This is a wild take and I generally agree with you on most things.

It’s mostly that I think skating is one of the most visible aspects of a player and can completely influence and overtake one’s opinion of a player no matter how much they show they influence goal-differential in either direction. It takes much more time to evaluate things like hockey IQ, for instance. Entire seasons are needed to form a good picture. But for many they have the “this guy can’t skate” idea marinading in their heads the entire time that can’t be separated in order to make a fair and objective evaluation of a player.

There’s a baseline minimum for skating for sure, but in that case I have a feeling Sandin would fail all of the other important metrics that he excels in now.

 

[EroCaps]

Caps trade Orlov, Hathaway, and Gustafson for a player who could replace Orlov, a 2nd, and a 3rd.

Fair, I guess.

They get younger and less competitive in the immediate, however.

Rebuild or don’t brohs.

 

[pman25]

Also most people here haven’t even watched Sandin play to actually judge his skating anyway. It’s probably fine!

People love to criticize analytics because it’s not watching the games, but it’s not like they’re watching the games either. Just reading posts

 

[IafrateOvie34]

Jensen’s still here and could well be re-signed.

His best friend Dowd is still here, so there is always that chance.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

If our recent drafting and development im fine trading the last pick in the 1st round for a ready made NHL player at age 22

 

[Silky mitts]

I’m hyped they got a top 4 defenseman with 4 more years of control. You can punch holes in anyones game but he’s 8 years younger than the average Cap.

 

[Roughing]

Great. Now extend Jensen and TVR and the Ds and Gs would look fine.

The Fs look awful so lots of work to do there. Those lifetime contracts are huge anchors.

 

[McVechkin]

If our recent drafting and development im fine trading the last pick in the 1st round for a ready made NHL player at age 22

Unfortunately this is probably the best way to look at it ha. The caps just simply haven’t hit in that part of the draft for a while. So take a lot of that risk out.

 

[RandyHolt]

All the new fancy stats yet there are no hit or play the body stats? Old school fans know the way a forward plays against a guy like Orpik right after he demolishes someone at the blue. The pansy forwards all take note and dump in it instead - play scared. Orpik clearly in our cup run would set the tone early in game 1. That 1 hit can and would shape an entire series. Luckily for my entertainment pleasures and our team Sandin likes to hit. Has anyone quantified hitting proper and more than watching Troy "Shankapotamus" Brouwer get 4 hits a game and scaring no defensemen?

 

[DWGie26]

My only problem is this re-tool on the fly thing should have been done 3 years ago.

It was patently obvious that the team needed this sort of shakeup.

We were in playoff contention with punchers chance. That is why we didn’t do it then. it became obvious “this wasn’t our year” and so we made some moves. The goal was stated as we want to get younger and build to compete the next three years. This is another step in that direction. And certainly more to come.

Appealing to the authority that has consistently trotted out Irwin in D, and top line NAK.

For the umpteenth time, forgive me if I don't trust the coaches player evaluations.

Well BMBM has seemed to take control. I wonder if we can trade for Irwin for anything and put Johanson and Alexyev some game time for remainder of season. We need to see if we have a 3LD there.

 

[DWGie26]

Nice. A young defenseman. So, what do we have now: three players out, a young D-man in, plus some picks.

And this ain’t retooling, we are rebuilding step by step. The biggest challenge is though how to deal with the “retirement contracts” of some of the aged players. Ovi is out question here of course.

We have gotten a young (25) center locked up with term. A LW (26) in Milano who seems to fit for cheap. Now a 22 year old top 4 dee with term. Value for UFA’s.

I would say it is a retool. But very strategic to get young players who can contribute now and help run for a cup over next three years and not be old when it is done. Very savvy.

 

[Capsman]

Unfortunately this is probably the best way to look at it ha. The caps just simply haven’t hit in that part of the draft for a while. So take a lot of that risk out.

Maclellan knows his strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Langway]

Wow, I'm freaking impressed. Turned Orlov, Hathaway and Gustafson into Sandin a 2nd and a 3rd. I'd make that trade any day if the week without even thinking about it.

On the one hand, Orlov seemingly priced himself out and it's quite nice to take a flier on Sandin rather than them trying to squeeze into the playoffs and losing Orlov for nothing. The losing streak was likely a blessing in disguise. At least a couple more assets should be on the way via Eller/Sheary.

On the other, there's a long road to achieving the mix needed for a rejuvenated playoff level team next season. Orlov was an extremely crucial piece, quite arguably their best D for years. It would seem, absent anything substantial in the off-season, they're wagering an awful lot on a healthy 19/74/43 and maybe a new coach placing them back in the mix. Not sure at this stage it's a realistic assessment. If they're resigned to being very resourceful compensating for a declining core then, I mean, it's all pretty backwards, yeah? There's perhaps wisdom in fully allowing the core group to sink or swim next season but time's a-wasting. They can't just keep giving them chance after chance and futzing about with the rest. They need to substantial fortifications fast. If they're largely resigned to that core fate does it make sense to aggressively augment the group? Or is it better to stand back, troll for value selectively, let it run its course once again and plan for the future? IMO Sandin was a bit of an overaggressive target at the moment but I get it. Short-term value for dollar is always tempting for them...and they seem to only basically think year-to-year anyway.

One thing is for sure...they shouldn't be moving their first rounder this year or next for anything short of a cornerstone piece. Hard then to imagine there's much else big in the cards. Maybe in the off-season they consider some bigger swaps to get younger but I wouldn't count on it. Dumping or maybe buying out Mantha and piecing together the rest may be about it. Not sure that'll be enough juice, esp. if another unsung glue guy in Jensen goes.

 

[DWGie26]

On the one hand, Orlov seemingly priced himself out and it's quite nice to take a flier on Sandin rather than them trying to squeeze into the playoffs and losing Orlov for nothing. The losing streak was likely a blessing in disguise. At least a couple more assets should be on the way via Eller/Sheary.

On the other, there's a long road to achieving the mix needed for a rejuvenated playoff level team next season. Orlov was an extremely crucial piece, quite arguably their best D for years. It would seem, absent anything substantial in the off-season, they're wagering an awful lot on a healthy 19/74/43 and maybe a new coach placing them back in the mix. Not sure at this stage it's a realistic assessment. If they're resigned to being very resourceful compensating for a declining core then, I mean, it's all pretty backwards, yeah? There's perhaps wisdom in fully allowing the core group to sink or swim next season but time's a-wasting. They can't just keep giving them chance after chance and futzing about with the rest. They need to substantial fortifications fast. If they're largely resigned to that core fate does it make sense to aggressively augment the group? Or is it better to stand back, troll for value selectively, let it run its course once again and plan for the future? IMO Sandin was a bit of an overaggressive target at the moment but I get it. Short-term value for dollar is always tempting for them...and they seem to only basically think year-to-year anyway.

One thing is for sure...they shouldn't be moving their first rounder this year or next for anything short of a cornerstone piece. Hard then to imagine there's much else big in the cards. Maybe in the off-season they consider some bigger swaps to get younger but I wouldn't count on it. Dumping or maybe buying out Mantha and piecing together the rest may be about it. Not sure that'll be enough juice, esp. if another unsung glue guy in Jensen goes.

The caps oldest players (OV, Backstrom, Oshie, and say JC74) aren’t going anywhere. So best you can do is trade out other 30 year olds for younger pieces (and draft collateral).

They are going to make another run at Cup over next three years. For sure the plan isn’t complete. The current roster won’t do it. But we have pieces to move in Sheary, Eller, and perhaps Jensen/TVR. I think they keep NAK (maybe let him go in offseason), Mantha (now on IR so wait until offseason). Jensen/TVR could go either way. But regardless, they are not done at TDL and not done for the offseason. They need a legit top 6 wing and then need a top 4 LD, and whatever on right Depending on Jensen/TRV.

I have been opposed to trading our first round pick. It could be top 10-15 pick. maybe Chychrun is still on the table. maybe a move for wing in offseason. We can get there with a strong roster by start of next season.

 

[Firsov99]

We have gotten a young (25) center locked up with term. A LW (26) in Milano who seems to fit for cheap. Now a 22 year old top 4 dee with term. Value for UFA’s.

I would say it is a retool. But very strategic to get young players who can contribute now and help run for a cup over next three years and not be old when it is done. Very savvy.

Well, maybe it’s a hybrid solution. Rebuilding doesn’t necessarily mean that the team has to drop the hammer and make very drastic decisions at once. Yes, we have to keep the ship afloat since we are very old and capspace-strapped, but at the same time, getting younger, acquiring draft picks, and freeing up some cap space are undeniable signs of the rebuilding to me. It’s just the beginning.

And I am sorry, but there won’t be a Cup run in the next three years. It’s simply not realistic considering the current state of our team. Now it’s all hands on deck to help Ovi get the record, unveil a monument for him in front of the arena, and then enter the new era.