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It is three weeks until the Toronto Maple leafs open training camp for the 2018-19 season in Niagara Falls, ON and among the many questions to be answered between now and then will be the disposition of 2018 first round pick Rasmus Sandin.
Sandin was selected 29th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas after an impressive 45-point campaign as a rookie with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, but according to Sporting News-Canada’s Murray Pam , the 18-year-old defenseman will not return to the OHL club this season.
The Leafs signed the young blueliner to a three-year entry-level contract in July, but are keeping an open mind on whether he will return to the SHL next season or stay in North America.
“That’s a September decision. There’s a comfort (level) with his junior team and he’s developed very well there through the year.… GM Kyle Dubas said in Dallas. “We’ll see where he is at (after the rookie tournament and training camp) and decide that then.…
Sandin skated earlier this month with Rogle BK (the same Swedish club that Leafs 2017 pick Timothy Liljegren played for) during a pre-season tournament in Germany.
After being loaned to the Soo last year, the 18-year-old still has one year remaining on his SHL contractual commitment, but if Toronto management believes that a year in the American Hockey League will be the best thing for his development (as they did with Liljegren), it is possible that Sandin will play for the Marlies.
What may be more of a determining factor than Sandin’s readiness to play against experienced veterans in the AHL is will he get enough ice time.
The Leafs are likely to carry eight defensemen on their NHL roster and if for example Calle Rosen or Igor Ozhiganov make the club, there will be at least eight blueliners on the AHL roster, including prospects Liljegren, Jesper Lindgren, Andreas Borgman and Andrew Nielsen, who need to play regularly.
Returning to the SHL for 2018-19 would allow Sandin to play a primary role for Rogle on the same club as his older brother, may possibly improve his chances to make Team Sweden for the upcoming 2019 World Junior and leaves options open to bring him over to North America during the year (as the Leafs did with William Nylander in January 2015) or after the SHL season is complete (as they did with Carl Grundstrom the last two years).
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Always did love a maple leaf on my chest! Big honour to work for @MapleLeafs ! pic.twitter.com/Nlm5thAEQR
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) August 23, 2018
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