The Toronto Maple Leafs have a future star in Rasmus Sandin, but he needs to be playing important minutes in order to reach his potential.
Rasmus Sandin has a bright future ahead of him with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the organization needs to make sure he is managed appropriately to help him truly reach his potential.
The 20-year-old Swedish defenseman played 28 regular season games for the Leafs during the COVID-shortened 2019/20 season, but his spot in the top six of the team’s blueline next season is far less secure after a number of changes this off-season.
The Leafs signed Mikko Lehtonen, T.J Brodie and Zach Bogosian, in addition to bringing back Travis Dermott and Justin Holl. It is a crowded blue-line, and Sandin will be battling for minutes each and every game, but based on the Leafs long-term needs, he needs to be playing.
Why Sandin Needs to Play Regularly
Young prospects need to be playing regular minutes at their respective levels to help them progress in their development. Being a healthy scratch too often can stifle a prospect’s ability to make the necessary steps forward and can see them waste a year of their career without meaningful games.
One player that could be comparable to Sandin in this situation is Arizona Coyotes forward Barrett Hayton, a World Junior Championship-winning captain for Team Canada that managed a paltry 20 NHL games last season – with just one goal and four total points. (Stats via Hockey Reference).
Sandin played more games for the Leafs, at 28, earning a goal and eight points, but Hayton also faces similar questions about his development entering this season. Sandin already has plenty of AHL experience under his belt and would be a top pairing player if he is sent back down to the Marlies, something that could still take place in 2021. (Stats via Hockey Reference).
This would be a preferred alternative to him sitting in the press box and watching the Leafs from the sidelines, assuming an AHL season does take place from its planned February start. If Sandin is deemed good enough to remain on the NHL roster, he should be given every opportunity to play as often as possible.
Continuing to play on the bottom pair for the Leafs, potentially with the added protection of a player such as Zach Bogosian, or alongside current teammate Travis Dermott, would help Sandin maintain his impressive rate of development.
In his brief stint in the NHL, Sandin looked poised and made some impressive defensive plays while also demonstrating his offensive tools and should still be viewed in the same way when play resumes in 2021 – despite missing out on the qualifying rounds against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sandin is in a difficult situation, where he is likely too good for the AHL now but still needs to scrap for significant minutes in the NHL, but his long-term potential should make the Toronto Maple Leafs view him in a more favourable light and keep him in the line-up, as long as it’s not to the serious detriment of the team.
If Sheldon Keefe can’t find a spot for Sandin to play regularly with the Leafs next season, sending him down to the AHL at the earliest opportunity and keeping him there, rather than seeing him flip flop between the two levels, would be the most logical backup plan for the team.
Sandin has the potential to be a serious top-four talent in the NHL and his development will truly depend on how much time the Leafs can give him over the next two seasons, before his entry-level contract expires.