Malone is a career AHL 4th liner with no upside. Sanford is a big body who will fill out and projects to a 3rd line center. He had played about 25 games with the Caps and held his own, but he needs seasoning. He came out of university a bit early, probably could have used another year.
Essentially, the Caps got Oshie and Shattenkirk for Sanford, Brouwer, Malone, and picks back and forth. Oh, and Copley to and from. Shattenkirk will sign with the NYR after the season, so a bit of a price to pay for a pure rental, but, frankly, those draft picks won't mean too much long term. Armie really wanted Sanford.