Rasmus Sandin Discussion Thread

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Decided to start a new one for Sandman given the last one is over 1000 posts and is off the first page.

He also quite literally saved the game tonight in OT.

Click to read more...

 

[stickty111]

He was fantastic. Best game of his career defensively. It's why you shouldn't worry about him defensively. The mistakes he does make are typical rookie errors which are common. He will be really good.

 

[Anthrax442]

He and Lil will be great for us for many years. Need a couple of years of seasoning

 

[lipstickjunkie]

I've never been as high on Sandin as some, but man, he was really good last night.

 

[zeke]

Top 5 xGF% defense pairings in hockey this year, minimum 100 minutes played:

 

[thusk]

I already said it with everyone looking at chychrun, sandin in 2 season will ms
maybe be at the same level or better.

Hes hockey Qi is phenomenal, if he still continu to transfert this ability on defensive side of the puck, he can become an elite d.

 

[Stephen]

I already said it with everyone looking at chychrun, sandin in 2 season will ms
maybe be at the same level or better.

Hes hockey Qi is phenomenal, if he still continu to transfert this ability on defensive side of the puck, he can become an elite d.

With Sandin vs Chychrun I think you it would be a trade off of high IQ vs high end athletic package and physical skills.

 

[Aashir]

He was fantastic. Best game of his career defensively. It's why you shouldn't worry about him defensively. The mistakes he does make are typical rookie errors which are common. He will be really good.

Definitely agree

I saw some plays that i wouldn’t expect a grizzled vet like muzzin to make. Honestly, I was shocked. I thought his game wouldn’t translate well towards heavy forechecks, but if he can play at even 75% of this game for playoff time hockey, our bottom pairing will be golden.


man oh man was he as poised as ever, this game really gave me confidence in his defensive growth and how much he has left to grow

 

[ULF_55]

Wasn't that impressed.

Kind of meets my expectations.

Can make decision much quicker than some of his veteran teammates.

 

[LeafsGuy13]

Always been concerned with his skating, but man with his hockey sense...that is not an issue at all. In 3-5 years he'll be ranked among the top 15 D's in the league IMO.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I see him as topping out as better then Mo but with less top end speed and a better defensive game.

 

[Ashdown2]

i love sandin and hes a keeper but if we need to criticize something
he has the same major flaw as Morgan, his shot is kind of pathetic.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

Always been concerned with his skating, but man with his hockey sense...that is not an issue at all. In 3-5 years he'll be ranked among the top 15 D's in the league IMO.

I don't see this being true. Not in todays game. If he does become a top 4 guy he'll either be the no.3, or a conditional no.2 with a no.1 RHD.

There's no such thing as a defensive version of Pavelski. Only forwards can get away with that foot speed and still be elite.

 

[meefer]

Sandin is a find. A good defenseman who will get better.

He and Liljegren compliment each other well. Sandin more dynamic today, with Liljegren, imo, offering better long term development growth. Sandin more offensively gifted, Liljegren more defensively strong. I would think it a mistake if Dubas were to move either. They could become a very strong 2nd pairing as they mature.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I don't see this being true. Not in todays game. If he does become a top 4 guy he'll either be the no.3, or a conditional no.2 with a no.1 RHD.

There's no such thing as a defensive version of Pavelski. Only forwards can get away with that foot speed and still be elite.

Enstrom could be the main part of a top pairing before injuries caught up with him. He was the same size and had the same skating as Sandin, it's not impossible.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I see him as topping out as better then Mo but with less top end speed and a better defensive game.

He will never ever be even close to Mo because unfortunately he is slowest dman in NHL / likely / but he is definitely slowest dman on Leafs by a considerable margin .. if he was HUGE and could play a rough and tough defensive game he may have a chance but really his game is ALL brains and hands .. pro hockey gets faster by da day and Sandin's stride is TINY so it would likely take a MIRACLE from GOD to give him even below avg foot speed

 

[ACC1224]

I see him as topping out as better then Mo but with less top end speed and a better defensive game.

He can't skate nearly well enough. He will have to go a very long way to be better that Rielly.

 

[Voodoo Child]

I think Sandin’s offensive tools are ahead of Mo at his age - the first pass, the shot, the vision and the hands, he is very refined offensively.

All this while he’s 10-15 lbs less than where you want him and he isn’t fast. Mo skated better and that’s about it.

He could absolutely end up better than Mo, I don’t think he does but he could.

 

[therealkoho]

years ago when Sandin and Dahlin were both rookies facing each other in an Exie, I had said then that Sandin was the best Rasmus on the ice, they all laughed.

Not so long ago everyone was worried about the Leafs right side defenders, now it seems that the left side is a little worrisome after Brodie, although Liljegren is just about ready to take over the 3 spot maybe 20 more games or so considering the way Muzz was playing before he got hurt.

Brodie - Reilly
Muzzin - Sandin
Liljegren - Holl

If I were Dubious I would actually be exploring the possibility of moving Muzzin and bringing in another lefty veteran who would be willing to play in that 5 spot somebody maybe like William Lagesson, decent skater that can be physical or go for a guy like Chychrun and leave Liljegren in the 3rd pair.

So many ways to go

 

[thusk]

I think sandin with rielly speed could look like a kind of scott niedermayer but unfortunately, he dont have that speed so he will never be as good but he have potential of be a really good player

 

[Leafsfan74]

He is developing nicely and enjoys rubbing out forwards with hard checks which suggests to me he can grow into a game changer one day.

I'm still not high on young D Men in tough playoff games. Nothing he has seen in his career can compare to a rabid visitor fan base in an intense playoff game.

Other teams forwards will focus on matching up against him as I would expect the Leafs to do the same with their matchups.

However, he has played a mean, solid game with Holl. Depending on how the deadline shakes up, he could play a roll in what is hopefully a playoff run.

 

[saltming]

He will never ever be even close to Mo because unfortunately he is slowest dman in NHL / likely / but he is definitely slowest dman on Leafs by a considerable margin .. if he was HUGE and could play a rough and tough defensive game he may have a chance but really his game is ALL brains and hands .. pro hockey gets faster by da day and Sandin's stride is TINY so it would likely take a MIRACLE from GOD to give him even below avg foot speed

While the trend of speed in today's hockey is true, there is nothing to say he cannot become very good to elite one he learns how to slow the game down. Something I've already seen flashes of on his game. His iq should give him a good chance of reaching that potential.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Sandin is coming around nicely. He's smart enough with his reads/positioning to mostly offset his skating while in the d-zone but he's going to get beat more than we like when failing to hold the line at the other end.
His hockey iq and puck skills are obviously his strengths but unlike some players whose strengths are only marginally better than their weaknesses, Sandin's are vastly superior. IMO that raises his floor considerably. As far as better than Mo one day goes, count me out of that camp.

 

[Apotheosis]

If Sandin had elite skating we would be talking about a Makar level player. Regardless, he'll never have that skating but I hope he's able to improve his skating regardless.

 

[93LEAFS]

I think Sandin’s offensive tools are ahead of Mo at his age - the first pass, the shot, the vision and the hands, he is very refined offensively.

All this while he’s 10-15 lbs less than where you want him and he isn’t fast. Mo skated better and that’s about it.

He could absolutely end up better than Mo, I don’t think he does but he could.

The thing is Rielly's skating was so significantly better compared to the gaps elsewhere it is a major difference that made Rielly the better player.