The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled Rasmus Sandin earlier today.
Thoughts immediately turned to Morgan Rielly, who briefly left last nights game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers after taking a puck off the ankle.
Was Sandin’s call-up a response to the injury, or something he earned through his near MVP run at the recent World Juniors?
Unfortunately, it turns out that it was the former. (Though Sandin definitely should be in the NHL regardless).
Toronto Maple Leafs Lose Best Defenseman
Morgan Rielly is now out with a fractured ankle for six to eight weeks.
The Leafs are now without their two best defensemen. That ain’t good.
You actually have to go back to last season to find the last time the Leafs played a game with their entire optimal lineup.
They played the Blues in January, and Nazem Kadri got a concussion in the first period. It was the only period all of last year that they dressed their best team, and they haven’t done it this year either.
Muzzin is out, Johnsson is just getting back, and Trevor Moore is out too. Tavares and Marner have both missed big chunks of games, and Travis Dermott and Zach Hyman both missed the first several weeks of the season.
It’s been a bit ridiculous.
But maybe it’s an opportunity in disguise. It’s an open secret that Rielly hasn’t been healthy all year and this will let him rest.
Also, it will require Rasmus Sandin to step into the NHL and play big minutes. It will result in a promotion to Travis Dermott.
People often mistakenly say the Leafs defense is weak, but it’s actually pretty great.
A healthy lineup of Rielly, Barrie, Muzzin, Holl, Dermott, Ceci, Marincin, Sandin and Liljegren is very deep. Ceci is probably the worst player there and he’s the team’s top penalty killer and a completely decent (if overpaid) #6.
With Rielly and Muzzin down, the Leafs will get to battle test their young core (Dermott, Sadin and Liljegrin) and be better for it in the long run.
Plus, there’s always the option of a trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs have already tried to add Kevin Shattenkirk and Jake Gardiner to this team, so we know they’d like an upgrade, and odds are good they’ll get one.
But for now, Sandin will get a chance to impress and Riellly will get healthy from whatever’s been bothering him all season. The team hasn’t been bothered too much by the ridiculous injuries yet, so no reason to start now.