Toronto Maple Leafs: Rasmus Sandin Is Over-Valuing Himself

The Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to agree a new deal for their 2018 first-round pick and restricted free agent Rasmus Sandin.

Perhaps though, it’s because the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t willing to see the same value as the player himself, with reports suggesting Rasmus Sandin wants more money than the Leafs would like to pay.

Having signed his Swedish defensive counterpart and fellow first-round pick Timothy Liljegren for $1.4 million this summer, the  Leafs would’ve hoped to secure a similar deal.

Unfortunately that isn’t proving to be the case, with issues on his valuation of himself as well as concerns about where he actually fits with a bit of a log-jam on the Leafs right-side.

How Much Will Rasmus Sandin Cost the Toronto Maple Leafs?

The reports from Elliotte Friedman, who is normally decent at knowing the facts around these sorts of things, is that Rasmus Sandin wants similar value from the Toronto Maple Leafs as Boqvist got from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

That deal sees Adam Boqvist earning $2.6 million per season over a three-year term. Certainly, it isn’t a hugely pricey contract, but is that fair value for Sandin at this point?

Comparing the two players’ points totals, Boqvist managed 22 points (11 goals and 11 assists) in 52 games with the Blue Jackets last season. Rasmus Sandin, despite injury concerns, grabbed 16 points (5 goals and 11 assists) in 51 games.

The Leafs though, thankfully, have a decent argument not to match Boqvist’s price. Namely, that the former Blackhawks draft first-round pick has a career 51 points in 128 NHL games. Rasmus Sandin only has 28 points in 88 career NHL games.

Boqvist has a better points-per-game total in the NHL, albeit on teams that he saw a more elevated role than Sandin has seen as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Despite stepping in as the quarterback (at times) on the Leafs’ second powerplay unit, Sandin still routinely found himself used on Toronto’s third pairing, suggesting they’re not quite willing to commit to him as a full-time roster piece.

All in all, it’s a really tough spot to be in. The Toronto Maple Leafs will absolutely want to retain a player they saw enough potential in to pick in the first round. However, they absolutely can’t afford to ink a deal on his terms.

To meet the price he’s asking for, it may very well require Rasmus Sandin to sign an offer-sheet, which at least will get some value back for the Maple Leafs.

If the two can find a middle ground, anything between $1.8 million and $2 million feels comfortable, though even at that price, the Maple Leafs will need to move on from other players.

While he may feel like he has the upper-hand in any salary negotiations, thankfully the Maple Leafs are the ones that hold all of the cards here. Time will tell whether they can strike a true value deal.