As much as I like Rasmus Sandin, I would guess Jarmo says no to that deal. Value wise you have a really good trade for the Jackets at the TDL, but I think the main goal for Jarmo is to pick up another first rounder. Sandin is another player that plays like Bean and Boqvist (probably an upgrade over Bean at this point) when what they desperately need is competent defensive-minded players who know how to not get picked off leaving the D-zone and high faceoff percentage two-way centers. Rasmus Sandin may fill that needed role really well but I think Jarmo goes hunting for the first rounder as the centerpiece of a return for Gavrikov.

Sandin is better than Gavrikov and it's not close

What a bad take. Sandin is better than Gavrikov and it's not at all close

Trading a projected top-4 LhD for a rental top-4 LhD doesn't seem like a step forward to me, and that's if you assume that Gavrikov is better than Sandin.

It's actually pretty spot on if you have ever actually watched Gavrikov play. Gavrikov is a top pairing LHD on a team without guys like Zach Werenski or Morgan Reilly. He's not a better skater or passer than Sandin, but what he does away from the puck is by far better. He plays top pairing, top PK, and second line PP minutes and averages 22.5 minutes a game, 4.5 minutes more than Sandin does, and most of them are against top 6 players. He does all that with only a $2.8 million cap hit and in despite of Eric Gudbranson and the AHL caliber defensive core. The fact that he's only -4 on a team whose GAA is 31st in the league is astonishing.

Rasmus Sandin is sheltered on the bottom pairing playing against bottom 6 forwards on both 5v5 and on the PP. He has a stacked team in front of him and a competent d-man next to him at all times, even on the PP. He's an undersized, left handed, broke-man's version of Adam Boqvist. That title comes with a reserved IR seat in the press box called the "Ryan Murray Memorial Folding Chair".

Will Sandin be better than Gavrikov? Maybe offensively.
Is he currently? Absolutely not.

I would say that no matter what, Columbus to retain 50% which is typically what is assumed when Gavrikov shows up in trades. The price is this years first and third. Sandin's value is worth the equivalent of that first and that retainage.

His underlying numbers are terrible and have been so for a few years now. He's just one of those guys with an undeserved reputation that he's something he isn't. Not overly physical, not great offensively and certainly his defensive play isn't great either but people think otherwise despite underlying numbers proving so and results following suit. Justin Holl plays more and against tough tough competition and his results are way better than Gavrikov and yet Holl somehow sucks and Gavrikov doesn't. Capfriendly logic.

Sandin is better and it's not at all close