The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ roster makeover continued Sunday night, trading forward Daniel Winnik and a 2016 fifth-round pick to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016, defenceman Connor Carrick, and forward Brooks Laich.
Winnik, 30, has four goals, 10 assists with a minus-3 rating in 56 games with Toronto this season. The veteran winger signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million this past summer as an unrestricted free agent.
He thanked the Leafs’ organization on Twitter before expressing his excitement about the possibility of competing for the Stanley Cup with Washington.
It is the second straight year the Maple Leafs traded Winnik before the trade deadline after the club sent him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade last February.
“Daniel is a versatile player who plays with grit and can be used in all situations,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement. “This move enables us to add some depth to our forward group and balances our lineup. We would like to thank Brooks for all of his contributions to our organization over the past 10 years. Brooks is a true professional and we wish him all the best in the future.”
Laich, 32, was placed on waivers by Washington on Saturday after a tough season in which he scored just one goal and recorded six assists in 60 games. His contract carried a salary cap hit of $4.5 million and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2016-17 season. He has played 743 NHL games with the Capitals and Ottawa Senators.
His former teammate, and now longest-tenured Capital, Alex Ovechkin sent wished Laich well on social media.
Carrick, 21, has split the season between the NHL and the AHL with the Hershey Bears. He has appeared in 37 career NHL games, scoring one goal with five assists.
The Maple Leafs traded goaltender James Reimer on Saturday afternoon to the San Jose Sharks and are expected to move forward P.A. Parenteau before the trade deadline.
