Leafs deal Winnik to Caps for second-round pick

Brooks Laich has played 60 games for Washington, turning-up one goal and six assists.

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.

It won’t take long for Laich to return to Washington, though, as the Capitals host the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Toronto, seeking to acquire expiring contracts, traded away Dion Phaneuf earlier this month and dealt Shawn Mattias, Roman Polak and James Reimer in recent days.

“Daniel is a versatile player who plays with grit and can be used in all situations”, Caps GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement late Sunday.

MacLellan also thanked Laich for his contributions over the past 10 years. “Brooks is a true professional and we wish him all the best in the future”. With plenty of cap room, the Leafs can absorb Laich’s salary while the Capitals gain much-needed room to make another deal on Monday. He had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 56 games with the Maple Leafs this season.

Laich, 32, was signed to the hefty six-year extension in 2011, before nagging injuries turned the Saskatchewan native from one of the organization’s most reliable forwards into a fourth-liner averaging just a few minutes a game.

Connor Carrick, a former fifth round pick in 2012, has been a productive American Hockey League defenceman with a 42-point season previous year and 25 points in 46 games this season to lead the Hershey Bears in scoring among blueliners.

The 29-year-old Versteeg had 11 goals and 22 assists in 62 games for the Hurricanes, who acquired him in September from Chicago.

Carrick, 21, played in three games for the Capitals this season. He plays for the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Ontario.