Toronto Maple Leafs keep on being busy ahead of the trade deadline. On Monday, they traded for Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty with the Chicago Blackhawks, and on Tuesday, they pulled off yet another move. This time it was with the Washington Capitals in an all-out Swedish trade.
Rasmus Sandin has four goals and 16 assists in 52 games with the Maple Leafs this season, but the organization had higher hopes for the young Swede than what he has shown so far during his career. Sandin returned to the lineup this weekend and practiced with the team in Seattle Tuesday.
Maple Leafs insiders reported Sandin was pulled off the ice during the practice and not long after the trade with Washington was announced. In exchange for Sandin, the Maple Leafs get defenseman Erik Gustafsson and Boston’s first-round draft pick.
Sandin wasn’t the only Swede traded from the Maple Leafs yesterday. Forward Pierre Engvall also got traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for a third-round pick in 2024.
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Rasmus Sandin and Pierre Engvall were well-liked guys in the Toronto locker room. The Maple Leafs have a total of five Swedish players (six before Engvall got traded), all very close to each other, and when Sandin and Engvall were traded, it got emotional. TSN reporter Mark Master shared a video filmed after Toronto’s practice when the Toronto Swedes said their goodbyes to Sandin and Engvall.
”Emotional scene here in Seattle … all the Swedes are walking Sandin and Engvall out,” Masters said.
Shortly after, a new video showed how star forward William Nylander walked Ramus Sandin out of the building arm in arm. Overall, it was an emotional night for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ players and fans.
”No, dont make me cry,” one fan said in response to the video of the players saying goodbye.
”Sandin looks genuinely upset. Good luck Rasmus,” another said.
”Stop! This is so sad,” a third added.
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