Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin has been sent down to the AHL Toronto Marlies on Monday. The Leafs called up Kevin Gravel to fill his roster spot. News from multiple sources say that Sandin likely won’t be recalled to the Leafs.
The Maple Leafs have recalled defenceman Kevin Gravel from the @TorontoMarlies (AHL).
Defenceman Rasmus Sandin has been loaned to the Marlies.
Details >> https://t.co/glCcwGTUx3 pic.twitter.com/QOEiBfi57R
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 14, 2019
Rasmus Sandin Sent to the Marlies
Sandin has two assists in six games so far this season along with two penalty minutes. It was the 19-year-old’s first season with the Leafs after spending the 2018-19 season with the Marlies. He had six goals and 22 assists for 28 points in 44 games in the AHL last campaign. The Uppsala, Sweden native set a franchise record for longest point streak by a defenceman last season.
The Maple Leafs originally drafted him in the first round, 29th overall of the 2018 NHL Draft. Sandin had a standout 2017-18 season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound with 12 goals and 33 assists. He added a goal and 12 assists in the OHL Playoffs.
Gravel will be making his debut with the Leafs when he’s selected for the lineup. He has a goal and 12 assists in 106 career games. The 27-year-old has played for the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers in his four-year NHL career. Los Angeles originally drafted him in the fifth round, 148th overall of the 2010 NHL Draft.
What it Means
It looks like Sandin is going to be sent down to be given more playing time with the Marlies. He was only getting around 12 minutes of playing time on the backend for the Leafs.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock told the media of Sandin “He can’t get on the power play in front of the guys we’ve got, he can’t get on the penalty kill in front of the guys we’ve got.”
Gravel is a veteran and more of last pair defender. Sending Sandin down will hopefully get him some confidence and an opportunity to shine for more time in the AHL.
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 25: Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin (38) skates with the puck during the NHL Preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 25, 2019, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
