Turns Out the Toronto Maple Leafs Might Already Have the Defenseman They Need

The Toronto Maple Leafs got back into their winning ways last night.

The win was a nice reprieve after the Toronto Maple Leafs injuries caused them to go 1-2-1 in their last five before their off week.

Jake Muzzin was back, and he was a difference maker.  Muzzin played the most minutes on the team, and was the backbone of the Leafs blue line, proving yet again that the trade to acquire him for a pick and three guys you can’t even remember was an absolute grand-slam. (The Leafs 2nd rounder is also now ranked above the guy the Kings took with the Leafs pick).

But the true revelation was Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect Rasmus Sandin. (All stats from naturalstattrick.com).

Toronto Maple Leafs Big Addition Isn’t from a Trade

The main talk surrounding the Leafs always seems to be about getting a defenseman. I’ve long argued that roster balance is a myth and that adding a winger would be just as important.

I’ve also argued that the lineup of Rielly, Barrie, Muzzin, Holl, Sandin, and Dermott is already a Cup Worthy blue line, and that the Leafs don’t need to upgrade on the back-end unless they trade for a superstar no-doubt #1 (like this guy).

I think Rasmus Sandin emphatically made that point last night better than I ever could.

Sandin scored his first career NHL goal, added an assist and now has 6 points in ten games. (Nearly a 50 point pace).

Paired with the (drastically underrated as a 3rd pairing defenseman) Cody Ceci, Rasmus Sandin was dominant on a night when the Leafs generally weren’t.

Despite skating just 14:34 (lowest among defensemen) and barely getting on the ice with Matthews or Marner, Sandin  posted a 58% possession rating, in addition to the Leafs getting 62% of the shots when he was on the ice.

Both his points came at 5v5, and with him on the ice the Toronto Maple Leafs got 71% of the scoring chances, were 7-3 in high-danger chances, and had 69% of the expected goals.

It was a mic-drop performance from the Leafs top prospect.

When you factor in how good Justin Holl is, and how good Travis Dermott can be, there is no real need for the Leafs to spend assets to upgrade the blue-line, unless someone spectacular becomes available.

Sandin, who will never play another AHL game in his life, has now reached the ten game mark, meaning that his ELC contract has kicked in.

Those ten games – nine good, one bad, by my count – have seen him post a preposterous 56% possession rating, and 55% stats across the board.

Muzzin and Rielly are the Leafs two best defenseman.  Sandin might have something to say about that shortly.

For now, he’s clearly better than the #6 role he was given last night.  Starting now, the Leafs need to give him more ice time.

And you can cancel those trade plans, because the Leafs just added the impact defenseman they needed to their team last night when Rasmus Sandin played his tenth game of the season.

The team can now focus on adding a forward and a backup goalie.