Leafs sign defenseman Rasmus Sandin

This just in, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed RFA defenseman Rasmus Sandin to a two year contract worth $1.4 million per season.

From the Leafs' official press release announcement:

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Rasmus Sandin to a two-year contract. The average annual value of the contract is $1.4 million.

Sandin, 22, recorded 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 51 games with the Maple Leafs during the 2021-22 season. The Uppsala, Sweden native has posted 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) through 88 career regular season games with Toronto while adding one goal in five career playoff appearances. Sandin previously skated in 66 career regular season AHL games with the Toronto Marlies (2018-21) where he recorded 43 points (eight goals, 35 assists) and collected 10 assists in 13 games during the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs. Sandin was named to the North Division roster of the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.

With injuries mounting on the Leafs' blueline fans and analysts expected GM Kyle Dubas to finally crack and get Sandin under contract. But... it actually appears like it was Sandin and his agent who cracked. 

“This morning, Rasmus & (agent) Lewis Gross reached out to us and informed us that after watching our game last night and seeing more injuries accrued by our defence, that they wanted to get this locked in today so Rasmus could get over to Toronto & help his teammates,” Dubas stated to the media this morning.

In other words, Sandin and his agent saw an incredible opportunity for Sandin to vault himself into the Leafs' top four defense corps and couldn't sit back and wait any longer. A gamble for sure, but a pretty calculated one if you ask me. With Jake Muzzin, Timothy Liljegren, Jordie Benn and Carl Dahlstrom all on the shelf with injuries, the Leafs were forced to put veteran forwards Calle Jarnkok and Alex Kerfoot on the blueline for stints. Certainly not ideal...

With Sandin back in the fold though, the Leafs should be able to ice a full six man defensive unit for the rest of the preseason, barring any future injuries.