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The Toronto Maple Leafs began to cut down their roster prior to their sixth exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, sending center Semyon Der-Arguchintsev to the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, and defensemen Andrew Nielsen and 2018 first round pick Rasmus Sandin to the Toronto Marlies.
Der-Arguchintsev, 18, was selected 76th overall in the 2018 Draft and signed a three-year entry-level deal with Toronto earlier this month and will look to improve on a 51-point season with the Petes after impressing Leafs management with his skill set in training camp.
Putting pen to paper. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/VzoHSeR3Um
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 22, 2018
Sandin was selected 29th overall in Dallas after an impressive 45-point campaign as a rookie with Sault Ste. Marie. After playing exhibition games in Sweden last month and reports indicating that the 18-year-old would not return with the OHL Greyhounds this season, it appeared likely that the Leafs top pick would play with Rogle BK this season, but GM Kyle Dubas kept his options open based on how the young blueliner played at training camp.
Sandin impressed Leafs head coach Mike Babcock with his composure and abilities to make quick decisions with the puck.
“(Sandin) is a good player. Guys that are smarter than everyone else look like they are fearless, because it is no big deal, it is just hockey for them.… Babcock said. “He knows how to play, he knows what to do, he doesn’t force things (and) plays simple.…
It is possible that the 18-year-old will be following in the footsteps of 2017 top pick Timothy Liljegren, who Toronto preferred to manage his development carefully with their AHL affiliate rather than playing for Rogle to complete the last year contractual commitment.
The early move could simply be to give Sandin a longer look playing with potential AHL teammates for the purposes of determining whether keeping him with the Marlies is the best course of action.
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The Leafs will be playing a group closer to the one that will take to the ice next Wednesday in the regular season opener, as Auston Matthews and John Tavares will be in the same lineup for the first time.
Matthews will play regular preseason linemates Patrick Marleau and Tyler Ennis, as will Nazem Kadri with Josh Leivo and Connor Brown and Par Lindholm with Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen.
Tavares will center Mitch Marner and Trevor Moore. Moore has been singled out for praise by Babcock for his performance in camp and replaces the injured Zach Hyman, who suffered a hip pointer in the 3-2 win over Buffalo on Saturday.
Defensively, the pairings will be Morgan Rielly and Ron Hainsey, Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaitsev, and Calle Rosen with Igor Ozhiganov.
Travis Dermott has been cleared to play after recovering from a shoulder injury and will likely get back into the lineup in one or both of the weekend games against the Detroit Red Wings.
Frederik Andersen will get the start in goal for Toronto and Montreal will start Carey Price.
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