Joel Edmundson was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Washington Capitals on Thursday for a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Capitals will retain 50 percent of Edmundson's salary.
Edmundson is in the final season of a four-year contract he signed with the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 16, 2020, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The 30-year-old defenseman has six points (one goal, five assists) in 44 games this season.
"Lots of experience, particularly in the playoffs," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Obviously, he's won. Big guy (6-foot-5, 221 pounds). Competitive. Protects the net very well. Not very fun to play against. So, just another guy that adds to the depth of our defense and gives us some extra size and presence back there. And that's been something that I think we definitely, I would say we've been an undersized defense in lots of ways in terms of our length and he adds to that."
Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round (No. 46) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Edmundson has 110 points (29 goals, 81 assists) in 521 regular-season games for the Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Canadiens and Capitals. He also had 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 75 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.
"We've obviously had guys with those experiences in the past. They're invaluable," Keefe said. "Just part of what their presence brings, part of what their word and their leadership brings and the respect that comes with it. But also just the acknowledgement of how difficult it is and what's required. So, I think you can never have enough of that type of experience. To be able to bring a guy in that has it is I think really important."
Edmundson had been acquired by Washington in a trade with Montreal on July 1 for a third- and seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
"Found out after our meeting. So, hate losing a guy like 'Eddy'. Really well liked in the locker room," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Thursday in Pittsburgh. "Plays hard, did a great job for us this year. Just echoing, I'm sure, the guys saying goodbye to him and wish him the best and good luck in Toronto. Appreciate everything he did for us."
The Maple Leafs (36-19-8) are third in the Atlantic Division, nine points behind the Boston Bruins.
The Capitals (29-23-9), who also traded forward Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, are five points behind the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, who are tied for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"For me, it's just another example of adversity, whether that's through, in your career, whether you're a young player going through these things, you'll get better at managing these situations, and being able to focus and figure out how to get your game in a good spot for tonight at 7 o'clock. That's what it's about," Carbery said.
NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin and independent correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report
