Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto Marlies Success Leads to Two AHL All-Stars

After a successful year so far for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Marlies have had the equivalent success in the AHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs take a lot of pride in drafting and developing players. When you hear that two players on the Toronto Marlies are heading to the AHL All-Star Classic, you have to be proud.

That’s right, Rasmus Sandin and Kasimir Kaskisuo are your Toronto Marlies all-stars representing the North Division.

Sandin has been a massive part of the success the Marlies have had this season. He’s currently away playing for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championship, where he’s tied for 30th in scoring with five assists.

Toronto Marlies All-Star Selections

Since the 19-year-old has been away from the Marlies the team has lost three of their last four games, giving up 15 goals in that span.

He’s been great for the Toronto Marlies this season and even though he’s missed, the team is still trying to find success under their new head coach, Greg Moore.

But Sandin’s other teammate and Finnish goaltender Kaskisuo has been one of the great stories this season. He’s one of eight goaltenders selected to this year’s AHL All-Star Classic.

The 26-year-old is fourth out of eight goaltenders participating in this the All-Star Classic, posing a .916 save percentage through 16 games this season.

“He’s been playing well lately,” says Moore after a 4-1 loss to the Cleveland Monsters, where Kaskisuo stopped 32 of 35 shots (H/T MarliesTv). This game doesn’t speak about how ‘well’ Kaskisuo has been playing.

Since Moore has started his role as head coach, the Finnish net-minder has accumulated a .929 save percentage through three games. So yes, he’s playing very well lately.

What’s made Kaskisuo so dominant this season is the amount of rest he gets. Himself and Joseph Woll have shared the net throughout this season, splitting the amount of games almost right down the middle.

What does this mean for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

It means they are growing, maturing and becoming better hockey players.

Sandin and his defensive partner, Timothy Liljegren have taken significant strides from the start of last season to today. And they’re both on the road to being NHL players very soon.

Liljegren has already been called up to the big club this season and if the injuries to the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t let up, Sandin could have the next ticket to Scotiabank Arena.

The next player to be called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and play in their first NHL game will be the 1000th player in Maple Leafs history to do so.

Whether or not anyone else is called up is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure; Sandin and Kaskisuo being AHL all-stars is a good look on the players, but also on the organization as well.