This wasn't just any home run by the Washington Capitals and general manager Brian MacLellan. This was a grand slam this morning in the wake of Anthony Mantha getting traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Rasmus Sandin was a steal at the deadline last year and now he gets his bag with a $4.6 million AAV which over five years equals 23 million in total.
Sandin turns 24 tomorrow and has recorded 20 points with three goals and 17 assists in 52 games this season, ranking second on the Capitals in ice time per game at 21:19 minutes. That's a signle season career high.
Listed at five foot 11 and 189 pounds, Sandin ranks second in goals among defenseman as well as assists and points. He's also ranked third in blocked shots. This helps shore up an improving defense which will make life a whole lot easier for who's in goal. The Caps are back in action tomorrow night at the Pittsburgh Penguins before Friday's 3 p.m. deadline.
What this does is keep the Capitals younger for the current haul that they're in. Per Capitals Public Relations, the team now has four players signed throgh the 2027-28 season or beyond. That includes Tom Wilson, Sandin hmself, Aliaksei Protas, and Dylan Strome.
Strome has been a gem in itself from the 2022 offseason which has seen him lead the Caps in goals this season with 22 as well as points with 47. Wilson and Protas each have 26 points which is ranked tied for fifth on the team in scoring. Anytime you have four players in the top five in some type of cateogry it's a good balance between veterans and the young bucks.
There might be some more trade deadline news ahead so as the old saying goes, stay tuned!