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Toronto Maple Leafs: How Has Rasmus Sandin Been Since Being a Regular?

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 21: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Rasmus Sandin (78) skates with the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 21, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 21: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Rasmus Sandin (78) skates with the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 21, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Rasmus Sandin remains the Toronto Maple Leafs top prospect.

The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Sandin 29th overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft.

A team who has recently graduated so many elite top-of-the-draft players into the NHL and is a bona fide Cup Contender has no business having a top prospect this good. 

But sometimes you get lucky.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Rasmus Sandin

Recent injuries forced the Toronto Maple Leafs to recall Sandin and burn a year of his entry level deal, but the fact is, he should have been in the NHL anyways.

Sandin performed admirably for several games back in October before Mike Babcock sent him back down.  He was the best defenseman in the AHL and really had nothing left to prove anywhere else but the NHL.

So the question is, how has Sandin played since being called up?

If we go by the eye-test, I’d say he’s played fantastic. I am usually impressed with him every time I see him play – he’s a smooth player who never panics and while he doesn’t blow you away with any game-breaking component to his game, he just looks good every time he has the puck.

He currently has seven points in 19 games, which would be a 30 point season. For a rookie playing on the third pairing and second power-play unity, those are good numbers.

IF we look at the chart above, we can see that in his limited role so far, Sandin has been excellent at defense, OK at offense, and not too good on the PP.

Sandin has a 55% Corsi (leads all leafs D), 52% of the shots, 53% of the goals, 51% of the expected goals, 55% of the scoring chances, and 47% of the dangerous chances.

Overall, those are pretty great numbers for a rookie playing on the third pairing.  Sandin is likely to get better as he gains experience as well.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have an excellent player in Sandin, one who has a shot at being a legitimate superstar.

He clearly belongs in the NHL and makes their need to add blue-liners at the trade deadline much less urgent. (All stat naturalstattrick.com).

Morgan Rielly, Tyson Barrie, Jake Muzzin, Justin Holl, Rasmus Sandin and Travis Dermott give the Leafs six really defensemen.

Next. Do the Leafs Really Need to Add a Defenseman?. dark

Timothy Liljegren, Cody Ceci and Martin Marincin give them extreme depth at the position in case of further in jury.

Things are looking good for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Sandin is living up to the hype.  Exceeding it even.

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