Joel Edmundson traded to Toronto Maple Leafs for two draft picks

The Washington Capitals have dealt Joel Edmundson to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a third-round pick in the 2024 Draft (originally from the New York Islanders) and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 Draft (originally from the Chicago Blackhawks).

The Capitals will retain 50 percent of Edmundson’s remaining cap hit in the deal ($875k). The Canadiens ate half of Edmundson’s $3.5 million salary ($1.75 million) in his initial trade to the Capitals over the summer.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli was the first to report Edmundson was traded while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had the full return. The Capitals have made the move official.

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (originally from NY Islanders) and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (originally from Chicago) from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Joel Edmundson.

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 7, 2024

The Capitals acquired Edmundson from the Canadiens for a third-round selection and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 draft. Eight months later, general manager Brian MacLellan recouped that and then some with this return.

After missing the first portion of the season due to fracturing his hand during Training Camp, Edmundson played 44 games for the Capitals and recorded six points (1g, 5a). Edmundson provides Toronto with valuable postseason experience, playing 22 playoff games with the St. Louis Blues during their successful run to the Cup in 2019 and then another 22 playoff games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 when they made it to the Cup Final.

Edmundson is skating 16:26 of ice time per game this season with 1:31 of that coming on the penalty kill. He has primarily played on the Capitals’ third defense pairing.

The Capitals can only retain salary on one more contract this season after doing so on Anthony Mantha’s trade to Vegas and in this deal with Toronto.

Here’s the press release from the the team:

Capitals Acquire 2024 Third-Round Pick and 2025 Fifth-Round Pick from Toronto for Joel Edmundson

The Washington Capitals have acquired a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (originally from NY Islanders) and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (originally from Chicago) from the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Joel Edmundson, president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. The Capitals will retain 50 percent of Edmundson’s salary as part of the trade.

The Capitals own 25 total picks in the next three drafts. Washington currently has eight picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, nine picks in the 2025 NHL Draft and eight picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Capitals own their first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth-round picks in 2024, as well as Vegas’ second-round pick, Boston’s third-round pick and the New York Islanders’ third-round pick in 2024; their first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth-round picks in 2025, as well as Colorado’s second-round pick, Boston’s…