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Are Sandin and Liljegren Good Enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

By Nick Barden

TORONTO, ON - September 6: Timothy Liljegren (37) and Rasmus Sandin (78) look around during a drill. Toronto Maple Leafs rookies skated at their training facility, the MCC before heading to Montreal for tournament. (Toronto Star/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - September 6: Timothy Liljegren (37) and Rasmus Sandin (78) look around during a drill. Toronto Maple Leafs rookies skated at their training facility, the MCC before heading to Montreal for tournament. (Toronto Star/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Whether you saw the tweet or got a message from your friend, you were probably excited to see that the Toronto Maple Leafs called up Rasmus Sandin and then, Timothy Liljegren.

After the news of Morgan Rielly fracturing his foot last weekend, and the Toronto Maple Leafs being without a top defenseman, it was time to call up Sandin, and Liljegren.

Both players have had very good stints in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. But with Liljegren possibly not ready yet for a top-four role, I would say Sandin is.

I’d agree that while both players are ready to be full-time NHL players, there’s not enough room for the two of them. We witnessed Sandin play some pretty good minutes alongside Cody Ceci on Tuesday night. He tallied two assists and played 16:12 with a depleted defense.

There were times where he got caught deep in the offensive zone, where he couldn’t get back and that’s where you could tell that it’s his first game back up with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing with Ceci though isn’t the worst that could happen to the possible start of his NHL career. This is sort of a test for Sandin — play well alongside Ceci and you will get rewarded.

So far, even though it’s a very small sample size, he’s succeeded.

For Liljegren, it’s an interesting, and different situation.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe and Kyle Dubas likely think that Liljegren is ready for the NHL. Unfortunately right now, there isn’t enough space for him to secure a spot in the lineup, unless a trade is made.

I’d think the Toronto Maple Leafs would make a trade for a defenseman (because of their cap sitaution) rather than test Liljegren out this season. Unless Keefe decides to put him into a game and see how he does, since he’s never played in an actual NHL game.

I believe they’re both good enough and we saw clearly that Sandin is. I just don’t think that the Toronto Maple Leafs believe that Liljegren is 100% ready yet.

If he doesn’t get a shot in the Maple Leafs lineup this season, he’s going to make the team out of training camp next season and he will have his shot. Whether that role is a big or small one is yet to be seen, but with the numbers he’s accumulated in the AHL, I say he’s ready now.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs preach patience. We might not even see Sandin play another game this season after Saturday, if Jake Muzzin returns from injury after the week-long break.

If it’s not this season, it’s next season. And that’s what will make both Liljegren and Sandin’s debut’s together on the Toronto Maple Leafs something special.

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