Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin has been waiting patiently all season for his opportunity and that time is now.
When fellow defenseman Zach Bogosian got injured in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 20th, it opened up a spot on the blueline.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has given Bogosian’s roster spot to Sandin and the young defenseman is proving that the coach’s decision was the right one.
He has played in all four of the team’s games since Bogosian got injured. In those four games, Sandin has recorded two assists, three hits, five blocked shots, and 55% Corsi. ( Stats from Hockey-Reference.com).
Toronto Maple Leafs Giving Sandin a Great Opportunity
On April 29th, the team announced that Zach Bogosian has been placed on LTIR and will miss the rest of the regular and could also miss the first round of the NHL playoffs.
#Leafs placed Zach Bogosian on LTIR today. It's retroactive to April 20, which provides the minimum 10 games need to be placed on LTIR.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) April 30, 2021
Toronto's Salary Pool relief is raised by $1,000,000 to $9,450,000, of which they currently have $217,500 remaining.https://t.co/BPt2vFET34 pic.twitter.com/jGfSWtN1D2
This means that Sandin will likely play in all of Toronto’s remaining six games and get the opportunity to prove himself in the playoffs.
With head coach Sheldon Keefe giving some players rest on Thursday night, Sandin was moved up to the top defense pairing with T.J. Brodie. Sandin finished the game with a total ice time of 21:39 and didn’t look out of place at all during the game.
Sandin has played in a total of 66 games for the Toronto Marlies over parts of three seasons. During that time he has recorded eight goals and 35 assists for 43 points. (Stats from EliteProspects.com).
He has all the tools to be a successful defenseman in the NHL. He showcased some of that last season when he recorded eight points in 28 games. This season, Sandin has played in a total of six games and has recorded three assists. The Toronto Maple Leafs six remaining games and the first round of the NHL playoffs will be a huge test for the young defenseman.
Sandin’s Future With The Toronto Maple Leafs
Next season will be the last year of Sandin’s entry-level contract (ELC) before he becomes a restricted free agent (RFA). He will be looking to have a permanent spot on the team’s blueline next season.
Seeing the way Sandin is playing right now, it would be hard to picture him not in the lineup next season. He is doing everything the team has asked of him and he is finding success.
His career might only be in its’ early stages, but the future looks bright for Sandin.