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Toronto Maple Leafs: Regular Season Defensive Pairing Predictions

By Carter Loewen

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends his net with the help of his teammates Justin Holl #3 and Rasmus Sandin #38 against Corey Perry #94 and Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs defends his net with the help of his teammates Justin Holl #3 and Rasmus Sandin #38 against Corey Perry #94 and Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 11: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs Defensive Pairing #3: Sandin-Dermott*

This pairing is the one that is getting a little bit juicier with changes. While neither are really veterans – a combining measly 245 games between the two of them – both certainly fall under the tier of an NHL-caliber defenseman.

Last season Dermott appeared in a total of 51 games with a total of 6 points, with his role being limited to just above 13 minutes a night; over 4 minutes less per night than that of previous years (all stats hockeyreference.com).

Dermott, now 24, is entering his 5th full-time NHL season with the Leafs, and it would be nice to see the Newmarket native take a jump in his play on the ice. Whether that means being better on the defensive side of things by picking up a couple of things from T.J. Brodie or stepping more into the offensive fold of things by not being afraid to jump into the rush, much like Rielly does.

Sandin on, the other hand – well he’s a little different. Not even two years ago Sandin was named the WJC Best Defenseman of the tournament, and now at the young age 21, he has only 37 NHL games under his belt, with a scarce 9 last season due to injury.

It’s obvious throughout his career that with only 14 minutes of ice time a night, Keefe wants to protect Sandin and develop him right. However, from some glimpses we saw last year, it is very possible that Sandin can soon become a legitimate household NHL name.

From last season you can easily tell that the offensive game is there for Sandin – remember the howitzer goal in the playoffs last year? – he just needs a little work on the defensive side of his game. Sometimes a little too hesitant with the puck, he will give it up while holding the line or when trying to break it out of his own corner; again though, just the small things to fix.

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1396265459184459776

Although these two are a legitimate option for the bottom pairing, there are other options among the system in guys like Alex Biega, Timothy Liljegren, and Brendan Menell who can always step in in case of injuries and fill that role.

* Note that recent practices have seen Liljegren ahead of Dermott. That is a little unexpected, and may only be because the Leafs already know what they have in Dermott.  It will definitely be interesting to see what they do come Wednesday.

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