What Do the Toronto Maple Leafs Have in Store for Rasmus Sandin?

Rasmus Sandin has averaged under 11 minutes so far in his three-game tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With Sandin or “Sandman” (per Mike Babcock) recording so little ice time, this begs the question of what the Toronto Maple leafs plan is for Sandin.

The third pairing should be recording more ice time to ease the load off the top 4, the rate the third pairing is currently paying is not sustainable in any manner.

To present a better perspective of how little minutes Sandin and the bottom pair is being used, using last season as a benchmark, of all of the defensemen to play at least 20 games, the lowest average ice time was 12 minutes per game. Only five defensemen recorded under 14 minutes per game and 10 under fifteen minutes per game.

Despite Sandin being given such limited ice time, Sandin’s performance has been quite encouraging throughout the minutes he has been given, posting excellent on-ice results. With Sandin on the ice at 5v5, the Leafs have controlled the xG share with a 58.09xGF%

With this situation, there are two different scenarios we can formulate for ultimately what the Leafs plan for Sandin is.

Situation 1

Mike Babcock is simply easing the 19-year old into the NHL, slowly but surely.

Babcock will need to have the confidence to give more minutes to the young Swede sooner rather than later if Sandin is going to stay in the lineup, or else the top 4 will be out of gas by December. Also, Sandin playing so little minutes is not ideal from a developmental perspective.

Situation 2

With the Toronto Maple Leafs playing Sandin so little, it could frankly mean that the Leafs are only giving him a taste of the NHL and will send him down to improve on certain attributes in the AHL while playing top pair minutes in all situations.

Given Sandin is not being asked to do a whole lot in the NHL it may be wiser to send him down, especially with the salary cap restraint. This could mean Sandin is called up for the playoffs or the Leafs may believe it is best if they let him develop another full year in the AHL and let his ELC slide an extra year.

Best Case Scenario

Ideally, Babcock is easing Sandin in the NHL and plans for him to play all 82 games while increasing his minutes as he continues to perform like he has.

The other situation would be the Leafs send him down when Travis Dermott returns to play in the AHL and develop better. Later on in the season when Sandin proves to be more NHL ready he is called up to play in the Leafs top 6 for the playoffs.

With the way, the Leafs have handled their prospects throughout the Shanahan era I expect them to make the most suitable decision for the 19-year old Swede.