The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the defenceman Rasmus Sandin will miss time due to a foot injury. The 20-year-old was skating with the team’s AHL affiliate and blocked a shot in the Marlies’ AHL opener. Sportsnet announced the update late Wednesday afternoon.
Rasmus Sandin is likely to be sidelined several weeks with a foot injury after blocking a shot during the Marlies‘ season opener.https://t.co/fgSSocc4Hg
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 17, 2021
Maple Leafs Rasmus Sandin Out With Foot Injury
Sandin hasn’t had a chance to see much action in 2020-21. He has appeared in just one game at the NHL level with one assist and three hits. The AHL game where he was injured is the only other game in which Sandin has skated since this year began. It’s a tough situation for a player who scored a promising one goal and eight points in 28 games with Toronto in 2019-20. He also posted two goals and 15 points in 21 games at the AHL level.
The Leafs originally drafted Sandin in the first round of the 2018 Draft and have watched him develop into a solid top-four defender. Last season was very solid, but the 5’11” Swede has been a quality producer on the international stage as well. He has been one of his country’s best players at several recent World Junior tournaments and has a good mix of skills as a top prospect in the organization.
What This Means For The Future
This doesn’t mean much of anything for this year. Toronto has a solid blueline with enough veteran talent that it would have taken a handful of injuries to push Sanding into a regular role. He is a very promising skater, but the Leafs have several young defenders vying for playing time like Timothy Liljegren.
However, this could impact Sandin going into 2021-22. The team does have two potential openings on defence if Zach Bogosian and Mikko Lehtonen are granted unrestricted free agency. Sandin would have battled for a spot if both depart. Losing playing time this year could set back his development enough that he doesn’t make the opening roster next season.
Main Photo:
