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2020 NHL Season: Grading the Toronto Maple Leafs’ left defense at season pause

By Simon Vacca

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 16, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 11: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a puck up ice against the Arizona Coyotes during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 11: Rasmus Sandin #38 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fires a puck up ice against the Arizona Coyotes during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Rasmus Sandin

Games Played: 28
Goals: 1
Assists: 7
Points: 8

Perhaps the most exciting young force within the Maple Leafs organization, Rasmus Sandin has already started to make a favorable impression with the Toronto faithful.

In just 28 games played at hockey’s highest level, Sandin has notched an impressive one goal and seven assists for eight points. To the delight of fans, the Swedish defenseman repeatedly boasts a capacity to marry offensive smarts with a relatively responsible defensive presence. He has a proven ability to usher forth high-end plays with slick vision of the elite variety. Add the fact that Sandin’s mistakes have often been healthy in nature — reflecting growth through working alongside significantly older players — and you have yourself a window into the future of the club’s blue line.

For a team with ample defensive issues — the likes of which risk continuing to loom over the course of the next while — Sandin serves as a promising light at the end of the tunnel. The 20-year-old has made decent progress throughout his first block of play at the NHL level, with the hope that he evolves into a source of stability for the campaigns ahead.

Grade: B+

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