Winnik felt 'underlying tension' in Maple Leafs' dressing room
Daniel Winnik was still surprised Monday after being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Washington Capitals late Sunday evening.
Related: Capitals trade Laich, 2nd-rounder to Maple Leafs for Winnik
"I honestly had no idea or expectations coming into this deadline," Winnik said on Sportsnet. "Obviously last year I knew I was going to get moved, and this year I thought it was maybe under 50 percent."
Winnik, who has now been traded by the Maple Leafs twice in a little over a year, shed light on the uneasiness in Toronto's dressing room amidst a plethora of trades in the past week.
Daniel Winnik tells @Sportsnet he didn't expect to be traded this year. Adds there's been an "underlying tension" in #leafs dressing room.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 29, 2016
"You have to talk about (trades) a little more here considering the situation the organization is in and with the deadline looming," Winnik said. "We got the first trade of Shawn Matthias, and then shortly after it was Roman Polak and Nick Spaling, and then it's kind of the waiting game until today."
Despite leaving his hometown team once again, Winnik is certainly thrilled about going to a Stanley Cup contender.
(2/2) Very excited to be joining @washcaps and love the possibilities we can achieve as a team. See you guys soon
— Daniel Winnik (@Danwinnik34) February 29, 2016
The 30-year-old forward is in the first season of a two-year, $4.5-million deal, and has now netted the Maple Leafs a pair of second-round picks in 2016 through two separate trades.