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Toronto Maple Leafs Who Could Have Breakout Seasons in 2021-22

By Jeremy Ridgewell

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
Feb 18, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin  Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Rasmus Sandin

Drafted 29th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Rasmus Sandin has been considered a steal since about five minutes after the Leafs picked him.

In the years since he’s been drafted he has become one of the best defenseman in the AHL, and  was named best defenseman of the 2020 World Junior Tournament, and likely would have won MVP had Sweden won the Gold.

Rasmus Sandin only played nine games last season and finished with four assists. He has shown glimpses of high level talent, but hasn’t played enough for it to really get anything going.

He did score a goal in the playoffs last year, where he suited up for five games and saw time on the power-play.

If he can stay healthy and be a regular on the blueline this season, Sandin has the chance to show us what he can really do. From watching him while he was playing with the Toronto Marlies, it will be nice to see him get plenty of playing time at the NHL level.

He could very well become a quarterback for one of the team’s powerplay units and become a offensive threat from the point. Something Toronto hasn’t really had in recent years.

This season Sandin entered training camp with the best odds of winning a job on the Toronto Maple Leafs third pairing, but has faced tough competition from Timothy Liljegren.  No matter who wins in the short term, both players could end up being big contributors in 2021-22.

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