Toronto Maple Leafs: Sandin Seemingly Headed Down the Nylander Path

The Toronto Maple Leafs know Rasmus Sandin’s agent well; after all he is shared with William Nylander, known for his last-minute contract signing.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs are not quite at the point of Rasmus Sandin sitting out training camp or waiting them out to December, there is certainly risks there.

Such a result would certainly speak volumes to the tactics of player agent Lewis Gross, especially as it’d be the second time the Leafs have experienced such tactics.

Of course, it’s easier said than done to get a deal inked quickly, especially given the number of left-sided defensemen already on the team’s roster.

Can The Toronto Maple Leafs Get A Deal Done?

A report on Wednesday speaks to the immense challenge facing Maple Leafs General Manager, Kyle Dubas:

“Negotiations are going nowhere,” Lewis Gross, Sandin’s agent, told Sportsnet Wednesday during a phone call. (Sportsnet)

The sheer facts of the scenario are that the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have the ideal roster spot for Rasmus Sandin.

They don’t have the finances right now to ink any sort of deal. In fact, inking a new deal will see someone else leave the team, such is the salary cap era.

Ultimately, they also seem to have underestimated just how much money Sandin would be willing to push for. The Leafs might have thought that fellow countryman Timothy Liljegren’s deal would be a copy-paste job for Rasmus Sandin.

Perhaps the only part of these negotiations that has gone in the Leafs favour so far is that no other team has seen fit to tender Rasmus Sandin an offer-sheet.

Thus, at the very least the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t had to over-pay for the sheer sake of preventing the player from leaving for a rival team.

All in all, you have to see certain parallels between William Nylander and Rasmus Sandin; both having delayed signing a contract when they hit restricted free agency, instead waiting out the Leafs to ensure they get what they want.

Truly, the fan base will not have the stomach for another prolonged Nylander scenario. In all fairness, while Sandin does have first-round pedigree, he doesn’t excite quite like Nylander so opinions might sour quicker.

You have to think that Sandin will ultimately see sense and come to the party. The Leafs might well have to pay a little more than they’d like to, but I think there is confidence a deal may be able to be completed below $2 million a season.

Kyle Dubas absolutely wants to keep Rasmus Sandin around, but he must not be drawn into paying him too much, even if his agent wants to play games in negotiating.