Confirmed with Link: Sandin to Washington for Erik Gustafsson and 1st (BOS)

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

The answer is obvious to me. Sandin was going to end up in the press box for the playoffs. May as well sell with his value up and get some assets in now. Having this first gives Dubas some options come the summer, options he wouldn't have had otherwise.

I'd personally argue he should prioritize winning in the playoffs over offseason flexibility, but I guess we'll see what happens

 

[Isaac Nootin]

The issue is Holl over Sandin, that's not who Rasmus was competing with for icetime. After the McCabe trade he was behind Reilly, McCabe, Gio, Brodie etc.

Holl over Liljegren is an issue however, and I'm one who thinks Holl is better than being talked about around here.

I'd personally go for playoffs

Reilly - Lily

McCabe - Brodie

Gio - Schenn/Holl - rotate who you need, or playing better.

 

[DarkKnight]

As far as Holl goes, he wasn’t good enough to start against TB last year, so one wonders is he better this year? No he isn’t.

And who cares if a young D is in the press box, how is that better than the old D we got sitting up there? Anyone who thinks Gus is an upgrade, come on, he was the most sheltered zone start D in the NHL, man that’s what I want for a cup run. The trade is garbage, I just assume Sandin wanted out if he wasn’t going to play.

 

[Sypher04]

Seems highly improbable to me that the Leafs moved on from Sandin completely of their own accord. I’d be shocked if he hadn’t indicated whether during the off-season, or after the McCabe deal was made, that if he’s not an everyday player he wants to be traded.

 

[Stephen]

Small offensive minded D man with AHL level speed due to short stride length but great hands .. to get a MID 1st rounder for him is a freakin miracle (we got a much better pick than where we took him) .. plus we got a replacement level player who plays same game for rest of year .. and guy wanted $2M per to stick around as a 3rd pairing guy .. OMG likely da best deal Dubie did at deadline

We got Boston’s first rounder.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Seems highly improbable to me that the Leafs moved on from Sandin completely of their own accord. I’d be shocked if he hadn’t indicated whether during the off-season, or after the McCabe deal was made, that if he’s not an everyday player he wants to be traded.

That's when you say too bad and keep the player. When DeBrusk asked for a trade, Boston hung on to him rather than opting to deal him for a loss. Now he's having the best season of his career. Sometimes being a GM means saying no to a player and doing what's best for your team, which is something Dubas badly struggles with

 

[robertmac43]

I'd personally argue he should prioritize winning in the playoffs over offseason flexibility, but I guess we'll see what happens

Sandin wasn't going to start on the ice in the playoffs him being a Leaf doesn't effect our ability to win come April. So where is the harm in pre-emptively trading him when his value is higher?

 

[Sypher04]

That's when you say too bad and keep the player. When DeBrusk asked for a trade, Boston hung on to him rather than opting to deal him for a loss. Now he's having the best season of his career. Sometimes being a GM means saying no to a player and doing what's best for your team, which is something Dubas badly struggles with

I think that entirely depends on the demeanor/level of distraction you can expect that player to have around your team when they don’t get their way. Also, it’s not like Dubas has never said too bad. He did it with Mikheyev just last year.

Sandin wasn’t worth any more than we got for him, so not sure what you mean about the loss part

 

[DarkKnight]

We got Boston’s first rounder.

Which would be “basically a second rounder” if we traded it.

 

[TheDoldrums]

That's when you say too bad and keep the player. When DeBrusk asked for a trade, Boston hung on to him rather than opting to deal him for a loss. Now he's having the best season of his career. Sometimes being a GM means saying no to a player and doing what's best for your team, which is something Dubas badly struggles with

Boston fired the coach DeBrusk had a problem with. I think the front office and coaching staff are much more on the same page here so I doubt it would have resolved similarly.

 

[Guy Boucher]

broad thoughts:
basically, sandin struggles against heavy forechecks and they didn't feel they could play him in the playoffs

which i think is fair. i would've kept him but he was going to be upset by this (as he was upset last playoffs), so they thought it was best to recoup value for him.

they got gustaffson because the PP has failed badly in the playoffs before, and they wanted someone who could run a PP if they have to take rielly off it

they got mccabe to replace muzzin
they got schenn to replace lyubushkin

now, i would've kept sandin because u need him next year + moving forward

i also wanted to trade rielly when he had 1 year left on his contract but thats just me.

So much of this is about mitigating Rielly:
- can't play Rielly with brodie, because brodie is your best defenseman and want him to go against point/kucherov

- can't play Rielly with holl, liljregren, sandin because he leaves them on an island and they aren't strong enough defensively to make up for him

- have to find a guy who can break the cycle almost singlehandedly on behalf of rielly (we'll see if schenn can do that)

- also Rielly is an offense guy but isn't good at running a PP or presenting any type of shot threat (slapshots/1timers) so you need to get Gustafsson to mitigate this.

 

[rocketman588]

Looking at what is happening to Lily

It was probably very much to his benefit to try to get traded before the year started

 

[ULF_55]

Small offensive minded D man with AHL level speed due to short stride length but great hands .. to get a MID 1st rounder for him is a freakin miracle (we got a much better pick than where we took him) .. plus we got a replacement level player who plays same game for rest of year .. and guy wanted $2M per to stick around as a 3rd pairing guy .. OMG likely da best deal Dubie did at deadline

They got Boston's pick.

So if the Bruins completely tank from here on in probably 28th. or something?

 

[Gary Nylund]

That's when you say too bad and keep the player. When DeBrusk asked for a trade, Boston hung on to him rather than opting to deal him for a loss. Now he's having the best season of his career. Sometimes being a GM means saying no to a player and doing what's best for your team, which is something Dubas badly struggles with

Didn't he do exactly that with Mikheyev?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

We got Boston’s first rounder.

Oh f*ck i missed that detail .. well da deal is still ok because da 2023 draft is much better then Sandin's draft year

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Boston fired the coach DeBrusk had a problem with. I think the front office and coaching staff are much more on the same page here so I doubt it would have resolved similarly.

Very possible. I think if it was between Sandin and Keefe to the point where one of them absolutely had to go, I could see moving on from Sandin as the preferable option. I personally wouldn't have done it that way, especially if Liljegren starts to get fed up with his usage and requests out as well

 

[ULF_55]

Very possible. I think if it was between Sandin and Keefe to the point where one of them absolutely had to go, I could see moving on from Sandin as the preferable option. I personally wouldn't have done it that way, especially if Liljegren starts to get fed up with his usage and requests out as well

I think Liljegren will be fine.

He'll still be with the team next year and if he's celebrating a Cup he'll accept that.
Otherwise he'll just have to prove to his new coach what he is.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Oh f*ck i missed that detail .. well da deal is still ok because da 2023 draft is much better then Sandin's draft year

How do we know that exactly? Will the player the Leafs draft with this pick be as good as Sandin? Nobody knows.

2023 draft is getting overrated because of who's at the top. Once it gets to pick 5, there's a massive drop off.

Getting a 1st was nice, but what that turns into is a complete unknown.

I'd have preferred they shipped out Gus for picks as well. But that's beside the point.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Which would be “basically a second rounder” if we traded it.

Yeah but maybe we get back "basically a first" and another but different "basically a second" or more!

Thats basically a win!

 

[Judas Tavares]

I think Stephen may have mentioned this, but if you kind of lump The Sandin trade into the ROR trade, it kind of makes things better.

Sandin
2nd
3rd
4th

for

ROR
Acciari
Gus

You get your forward. I realize that these are rentals who may not return. But honestly the 1st back from Boston softens the blow overall, including of all the deals combined. I think no matter how you slice it, that 1st is positive currency.

I do find it interesting in terms of the divide on this board with this trade. For some it is their least favourite. It happens to be my favourite. Well I think I prefer the ROR trade due to it's potential impact, but this one made the most sense to me, and it made sense ever since we saw the return for Nils Lundqvist.

 

[ULF_55]

Maybe they get an Anton Stralman with the pick?

 

[thusk]

How do we know that exactly? Will the player the Leafs draft with this pick be as good as Sandin? Nobody knows.

2023 draft is getting overrated because of who's at the top. Once it gets to pick 5, there's a massive drop off.

Getting a 1st was nice, but what that turns into is a complete unknown.

I'd have preferred they shipped out Gus for picks as well. But that's beside the point.

Toronto move for mccabe and lafferty for a 2025 1st pick and 2nd pick

And sandin for a 2023 1st and gustafsson

So its exactly like they moved sandin for mccabe 1v1

And a 2nd pick for laffetty and gustafsson

So at end youre asking me who give higher leafs chance to win a cup next 3 season between sandin and mccabe and the answer will be pretty easy to answer...

 

[ULF_55]

Toronto move for mccabe and lafferty for a 2025 1st pick and 2nd pick

And sandin for a 2023 1st and gustafsson

So its exactly like they moved sandin for mccabe 1v1

And a 2nd pick for laffetty and gustafsson

So at end youre asking me who give higher leafs chance to win a cup next 3 season between sandin and mccabe and the answer will be pretty easy to answer...

Have you watched Gustafsson play?

 

[thusk]

Have you watched Gustafsson play?

Gustafsson is an insurance policy in case of rielly get injured come playoff... nothing else

 

[IPS]

Seems highly improbable to me that the Leafs moved on from Sandin completely of their own accord. I’d be shocked if he hadn’t indicated whether during the off-season, or after the McCabe deal was made, that if he’s not an everyday player he wants to be traded.

He can't make any money in his career if he's not being given any opportunities. With Mccabe traded into the mix, there'll be no more. I think the contract negotiations hinged a lot on him not wanting to be a #7 injury replacement type.