Toronto Maple Leafs Top 10 Prospects (Annual Pre-Camp Update)

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a puck up ice against the Arizona Coyotes during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a puck up ice against the Arizona Coyotes during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
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Toronto Maple Leafs
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 12: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Rasmus Sandin #2

Drafted 29th in the first round in 2019, Rasmus Sandin has done nothing but impress since the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him.  He used to be their #1 prospect, but falls to #2 only because the #1 guy is so good.

Sandin is potentially the best defenseman in the AHL, and is roundly considered one of the best players in the entire world that isn’t yet an NHL regular.  A left shooting defenseman who can play both sides, Sandin will be looking to make an impact in the NHL this year, despite the number of players who will be trying to win regular ice-time on the Leafs.

So far Sandin has 28 NHL games under his belt, and he performed pretty good, all things considered (like Liljegren, most of his time came when the Leafs were icing depleted lineups). Sandin posted a 52% puck possession rating, and the Leafs got 54% of the scoring chances when he was on the ice.

The fact is, an absolutely brutal (and unlucky) 88.59% on-ice save percentage made Sandin look far worse than he actually was.  For whatever reason (and players contribute very, very little to their on-ice save percentage) the goalies just did horribly whenever Sandin was on the ice.

Sandin is smart, steady, and intelligent. He might never score enough to win a Norris, but he’s going to be a very good top-of-the lineup NHL defenseman, possibly as soon as this season.