Rasmus Sandin Discussion Thread

[JT AM da real deal]

Sandin looks exactly like he has in the past. Slow as molasses but good vision and puck skills.
He is what he is. He can be a good complimentary player but i don't see him becoming a critical piece of a strong

After taking a 97-mph shot off the leg, John Tavares needed help leaving the ice on Monday in Vegas.

Sandin shoots at the 97-mph velocity?

What folks don't understand yet about Sandin is da kid is strong as a mule .. his core strength is off da charts good .. only behind Hyman in testing when I saw it .. he has an innate core strength and grip strength .. and his hands and vision are off da charts too .. his issues are twofold speed and size .. when games pick up in pace he can't keep up and his passes get intercepted and guys blow bye him .. folks on here who watched Marlies and Leafs playoff hockey know exactly what I mean .. you take da good with da bad with Sandin .. to me you can't teach ether speed or size so I would unload him and pick up a defensive defenseman with speed and size especially now with Muzzy done like dinner

 

[WTFMAN99]

What folks don't understand yet about Sandin is da kid is strong as a mule .. his core strength is off da charts good .. only behind Hyman in testing when I saw it .. he has an innate core strength and grip strength .. and his hands and vision are off da charts too .. his issues are twofold speed and size .. when games pick up in pace he can't keep up and his passes get intercepted and guys blow bye him .. folks on here who watched Marlies and Leafs playoff hockey know exactly what I mean .. you take da good with da bad with Sandin .. to me you can't teach ether speed or size so I would unload him and pick up a defensive defenseman with speed and size especially now with Muzzy done like dinner

You can overcome problems if you're smart.

Weegar is not a burner at all but smart and only 1 inch taller than Sandin.

 

[mapleleaf979]

You can overcome problems if you're smart.

Weegar is not a burner at all but smart and only 1 inch taller than Sandin.

Sandin cant outsmart big forwards on the forecheck. Sandin can not endure that all game or series long to retrieve pucks with big forwards laying the body in the corner. He is very smart and deceptive but has question marks around his acceleration and just the raw aspect of handing big forwards. Its not hard to imagine a shoulder injury or something. If its playoffs, id be salivating forechecking vs a 5-8 dman, they know they can wear him down or injury him playing clean, heavy hockey. He lacks reach and his speed wont be an asset turning a recovery play where he is chasing to get back.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Sandin cant outsmart big forwards on the forecheck. Sandin can not endure that all game or series long to retrieve pucks with big forwards laying the body in the corner. He is very smart and deceptive but has question marks around his acceleration and just the raw aspect of handing big forwards. Its not hard to imagine a shoulder injury or something. If its playoffs, id be salivating forechecking vs a 5-8 dman, they know they can wear him down or injury him playing clean, heavy hockey. He lacks reach and his speed wont be an asset turning a recovery play where he is chasing to get back.

Something tells me he’ll be fine defending the forecheck.



Also Rasmus is 5’11” and 182 lbs. Not huge by any means but that’s the same height and roughly the same weight (5’11” 187 lbs) as the reigning Conn Smythe and Norris trophy winner.

Few more examples of him defending the forecheck. At the 0:12 mark he knocks down 6'6" Michael Rasmussen.



And here against Nashville.



And against big and tough Jamie Benn a couple of years ago he takes the hit and still keeps control of the puck, skates with it and makes a nice outlet pass.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Sandin cant outsmart big forwards on the forecheck. Sandin can not endure that all game or series long to retrieve pucks with big forwards laying the body in the corner. He is very smart and deceptive but has question marks around his acceleration and just the raw aspect of handing big forwards. Its not hard to imagine a shoulder injury or something. If its playoffs, id be salivating forechecking vs a 5-8 dman, they know they can wear him down or injury him playing clean, heavy hockey. He lacks reach and his speed wont be an asset turning a recovery play where he is chasing to get back.

Something tells me he’ll be fine defending the forecheck.



Also Rasmus is 5’11” and 182 lbs. Not huge by any means but that’s the same height and roughly the same weight (5’11” 187 lbs) as the reigning Conn Smythe and Norris trophy winner.

Yea...he's young but he will get better. I remember even a big boy like Pietrangelo the first couple of post seasons teams just pounded the crap out of him on the forecheck to wear him down. You get better as you get older as a defenseman.

Sandin has been dishing hits etc quite regularly this year too.

 

[Knies iT]

My problem with him is his risk mitigation in the neutral zone. He's overly aggressive and targets the lowest priority threat.

It exposes his skating even more because the opposition either chips it off the boards and around him, or they make a short pass through Sandin for an odd man rush the other way.

If you're not fleet of foot, you need to play more conservatively in the neutral. Wide gap, then close it at the blueline. His skating wouldn't look as bad if his positional play was safer in transition.

 

[TMLAM34]

If you trade Sandin, who do you replace him with? With Liljegren returning soon, the need for a top four RHD isn’t as big. Liljegren, Brodie and Holl is a solid right side. If you move Sandin, you have Rielly and Giordano assuming Muzzin is finished. We have no one in our system that’s better than Sandin.

Is Chychrun someone you replace Sandin with? What other names would be an upgrade over Sandin that could potentially be available by the deadline? Provorov? Pelech (maybe he waives since he’s a Toronto boy)?

 

[Fogelhund]

Sandin has been on ice for ONE 5v5 GA, in seven games. He's got three points. He is tied with the team lead in hits.

He's been good...

 

[TMLAM34]

Sandin has been on ice for ONE 5v5 GA, in seven games. He's got three points. He is tied with the team lead in hits.

He's been good...

He’s been good ever since moving back onto his natural side. With Muzzin out, this is a huge opportunity for him to really show what he’s got and to develop.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

Yea...he's young but he will get better. I remember even a big boy like Pietrangelo the first couple of post seasons teams just pounded the crap out of him on the forecheck to wear him down. You get better as you get older as a defenseman.

Sandin has been dishing hits etc quite regularly this year too.

Very clean too

 

[Menzinger]

Sandin has been on ice for ONE 5v5 GA, in seven games. He's got three points. He is tied with the team lead in hits.

He's been good...

I definitely haven't understood much of the criticisms here either.

He's had a couple brain fart plays, but there's not a single player on the team who hasn't had those either

 

[WTFMAN99]

I definitely haven't understood much of the criticisms here either.

He's had a couple brain fart plays, but there's not a single player on the team who hasn't had those either

Defense is a position you almost need to get beaten at to learn.

"Alright, I got tricked on this before, I gotta do this to cover against X now"

Smart ones can get around it...some never do. I love Rielly but just hasn't figure out certain things in the NHL.

 

[Twowingcantfly]

If you trade Sandin, who do you replace him with? With Liljegren returning soon, the need for a top four RHD isn’t as big. Liljegren, Brodie and Holl is a solid right side. If you move Sandin, you have Rielly and Giordano assuming Muzzin is finished. We have no one in our system that’s better than Sandin.

Is Chychrun someone you replace Sandin with? What other names would be an upgrade over Sandin that could potentially be available by the deadline? Provorov? Pelech (maybe he waives since he’s a Toronto boy)?

this team's hands are tied by the cap. There is no grit, no D to move the puck to the forwards, no #2 center to take pressure off Matthews. NO PLAYOFFS IN 2023

 

[Stephen]

You can overcome problems if you're smart.

Weegar is not a burner at all but smart and only 1 inch taller than Sandin.

Think Weegar has a bit more flow to his skating stride than you'd give him credit for. Adam Fox is probably a similar build to Sandin who has less than ideal mobility. He looks like he's playing slow but not on purpose... but is. So it can be done, but it's up to Rasmus to figure it out.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Think Weegar has a bit more flow to his skating stride than you'd give him credit for. Adam Fox is probably a similar build to Sandin who has less than ideal mobility. He looks like he's playing slow but not on purpose... but is. So it can be done, but it's up to Rasmus to figure it out.

Going fast allll the time isn't even that great either. Jeff O'Neil was talking about how he was told to stop going 100% speed on zone entries all the time, sometimes a change up is good and can throw other teams off.

I think Sandin is absolutely smart enough to do it.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

You can overcome problems if you're smart.

Weegar is not a burner at all but smart and only 1 inch taller than Sandin.

Did you watch the 2 slowest guys in NHL last night get humbled badly by Karlson?????????? what a joke..... if Sandin wants to play wing then great but he will never be a defense even a 3rd pair with PP duties .. pinching for a goal in OT when you know you are on ice with JT .. f*cken stupid decision as stupid comes for a D .. so many people pass da blame it is ridiculous ,. trade him as fast as F*ckin possible .. as a defender myself that could not be more selfish a decision to make for your team .. he is not a team guy at all .. again trade him ASAP

 

[WTFMAN99]

Did you watch the 2 slowest guys in NHL last night get humbled badly by Karlson?????????? what a joke..... if Sandin wants to play wing then great but he will never be a defense even a 3rd pair with PP duties .. pinching for a goal in OT when you know you are on ice with JT .. f*cken stupid decision as stupid comes for a D .. so many people pass da blame it is ridiculous ,. trade him as fast as F*ckin possible .. as a defender myself that could not be more selfish a decision to make for your team .. he is not a team guy at all .. again trade him ASAP

Karlsson straight speed is still fine, agility / turns since that ankle surgery is bad. Karlsson has been burned bad by chip/chase this year because he can't turn.

Seems like a bad coaching decision to put 2 very average skaters out in overtime though.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Such a slow skater holy

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Karlsson straight speed is still fine, agility / turns since that ankle surgery is bad. Karlsson has been burned bad by chip/chase this year because he can't turn.

Seems like a bad coaching decision to put 2 very average skaters out in overtime though.

Stick with facts my friend Karlsson has slightly below average NHL speed TODAY (yes he used to have good speed and mobility but those days are long gone) .. and he BLOWS BY both JT and Sandin without any effort .. stop propagating myths and come down with me to a game at Scotia (I have 4 tickets in 2nd row blues now as my dads are now mine) and you can see for yourself JT and Sandin are slowest guys on team and likely slowest in entire NHL .. our major problem to start 2022 season is Matty who is getting caved by other teams #1 C's every game .. ice is tilting and we are getting caved down middle of ice because both our C's can't keep up

 

[WTFMAN99]

Stick with facts my friend Karlsson has slightly below average NHL speed TODAY (yes he used to have good speed and mobility but those days are long gone) .. and he BLOWS BY both JT and Sandin without any effort .. stop propagating myths and come down with me to a game at Scotia (I have 4 tickets in 2nd row blues now as my dads are now mine) and you can see for yourself JT and Sandin are slowest guys on team and likely slowest in entire NHL .. our major problem to start 2022 season is Matty who is getting caved by other teams #1 C's every game .. ice is tilting and we are getting caved down middle of ice because both our C's can't keep up

Is the offer genuine?

 

[saffronleaf]

you look even more stupid for sitting out over more money now

 

[Stephen]

Going fast allll the time isn't even that great either. Jeff O'Neil was talking about how he was told to stop going 100% speed on zone entries all the time, sometimes a change up is good and can throw other teams off.

I think Sandin is absolutely smart enough to do it.

I don't need fast all the time. Just that it's possible.

 

[Tak7]

Held out for guarantee of more responsibility.
Has now been given that responsibility, and he's wilting under it.
He'll be better, but very frustrating watching him right now

 

[Stephen]

Held out for guarantee of more responsibility.
Has now been given that responsibility, and he's wilting under it.
He'll be better, but very frustrating watching him right now

He's an odd duck. Smart, big shot, can distribute the puck cripsy, likes to make big hits but is physically outmatched everywhere in the defensive zone and is extremely slow. And that's before the contract stuff.

 

[stickty111]

Held out for guarantee of more responsibility.
Has now been given that responsibility, and he's wilting under it.
He'll be better, but very frustrating watching him right now

Overall he's been good, but he makes the same mistakes that Liljegren was called for having bad IQ on. It's wierd how these two are portrayed in the media.