What the Maple Leafs Gave Up in Trade With Capitals for Defenseman Joel Edmundson

The Capitals are retaining 50% of Edmundson's cap hit, which would put him on the Maple Leafs' roster at $875,000. When the Montreal Canadiens traded the 30-year-old defenseman to Washington, they also retained 50% of his salary, and that allows his cap hit with Toronto to be so low.

Edmundson joins a Maple Leafs defense core which already features several heavy hitters like Jake McCabe, Simon Benoit, and Ilya Lyubushkin. Toronto also has TJ Brodie, Morgan Rielly, Timothy Liljegren, and a few others.

Toronto reportedly moved defenseman Conor Timmins from injured reserve to long-term injured reserve to make the move in acquiring Edmundson possible.

The 6-foot-5 221-pound defenseman has played on Washington's third pair this season, putting up one goal and five assists in 44 games this season. Edmundson fits the build that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving wants in his defense core.

Toronto will still have flexibility to do another move ahead of Friday's 3 p.m. deadline with the Capitals retaining 50% of Edmundson's salary. He will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.