Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray didn't want to trade goaltender Frederik Andersen. He had no choice.
"This is a situation that just had to happen at this time," Murray said of the deal that saw Andersen head east to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two draft picks - a first-round pick in 2016 and a second-round pick in 2017.
"There was no avoiding it," he added.
Andersen was a restricted free agent Monday morning, while John Gibson, who split the Ducks' crease with Andersen, is signed through 2018-19 at a cap hit of $2.3 million. It's Gibson's net now.
Andersen's a No. 1 now, too, with Toronto locking him up to a five-year deal worth a reported $25 million.
With restricted free agents Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, and Brandon Pirri needing new contracts, and numerous unrestricted free agents - including in-season acquisitions David Perron and Jamie McGinn - Andersen had to go.
"This is managing your assets," Murray added. "I'm not worried about what we have left."