The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten two pieces of business out of the way, even though the NHL offseason is just beginning.
While the playoffs were still ongoing, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Mark Giordano to a very team-friendly $800 K contract, making him, essentially the “new Spezza.”
Then yesterday they announced that they had signed Timothy Liljegren to two-year extension with a cap hit of $1.4 million.
Whether or not the two defensemen play together again next year is unknown at this point, but if they do, the Leafs will have a very effective pairing for just $2.2 million dollars.
However, while Mark Giordano is not really going to be counted on as anything more than a 3rd pairing player, the expectation for Liljegren is to climb higher in the lineup.
There will be more clarity once it’s announced what the Leafs intend to do with Jake Muzzin, TJ Brodie and Justin Holl.
But one thing that needs to happen regardless is the signing of Rasmus Sandin.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Rasmus Sandin
Though the Leafs already have three solid left-side defenders, there is no way they are letting Sandin go after developing him for four years and seeing him blossom into a solid NHL player with a massive upside.
This past season, before a knee injury took him out, Sandin was being paired with Liljegren and they were posting unreal numbers. Sandin’s potential is that of a top-pairing defenseman, and the Leafs aren’t going to let him get away just because there is no immediately obvious spot to play him.
Rielly’s extension hasn’t kicked in yet, and Gio just signed three weeks ago. That means that even though they are probably loathe to do it, the Leafs are going to have to try to weasel out of Jake Muzzin’s no trade clause.
There is just no way you can lose a 23 year old potential star at the expense of the feelings of a 33 year old, recently twice concussed, former star. Unless the Leafs are going to make a massive mistake, Jake Muzzin is done with this team.
I would very much expect that Sandin signs a deal very similar to what Liljegren just signed. I would expect it to happen pretty soon, although I would not be concerned, in any way, shape, or form, about a potential offersheet.
With Sandin and Liljegren signed, the Leafs will be set for years on the blueline. Both players have absolutely massive potential, it just remains to be seen how much of that they will eventually realize.