Sandin leans on Salming to brace for life as a Leaf

At a memorable lunch this summer, Borje Salming assured young Rasmus Sandin he would love life as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sandin will find out for himself this weekend what the pioneering Swede, almost a half-century his senior, meant. The club’s No. 1 pick (29th overall) in June will play his first games at a rookie showcase tournament in Laval, Que., against Canadiens and Senators prospects.

“Borje said go there and enjoy everything, just don’t rush it,” said the offensively inclined blue-liner, who dined with the 67-year-old Salming at the invite of a mutual family friend. “He’s a very easygoing guy, very open. I’ve heard a lot of stories about him and seen a lot highlight clips, though the (1970s) quality isn’t the best. It was huge for me. I was very star-struck.” Unlike Salming, Sandin has had the benefit of navigating North American ice early in his career, spending last season with Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas’s former OHL team, the Soo Greyhounds. Much of his 2018-19 season, spent with either the Soo or his Swedish club team Rogle, will be judged by his play at the world junior championship. This weekend, he’ll likely get in two games in Laval.

“I’m looking forward to get that Toronto jersey on for the first time,” Sandin said. “In Sweden, I got recognized by Leaf fans and down in Florida three days after (the draft and development camp). The first thing when I came to the airport, a couple of guys wanted to take pictures. “I’ll just be here to take it in from all the coaches and the players.”

The five-foot-11 Sandin thinks he’s stronger than when he was tested at June’s NHL combine. “I’ve been better at that during the summer, being quicker, but that’s something I still need to improve on.”

Toronto Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff will run the expanded roster of 17 forwards, 11 defencemen and two goalies in Laval. Two days of practice before the first game will be just as valuable, touching on areas first explored at the June development camp.

“It’s a mixed bag of circumstances,” Keefe said. “Some guys have played pro (Carl Grundstrom, Mason Marchment and Andrew Nielsen were on the Marlies’ American Hockey League championship team) and you have guys recently drafted. You put on the NHL jerseys, NHL equipment at the NHL facility and it’s exciting. It’s a prestigious event.”

Sandin isn’t the only firstround Swedish defenceman here. The Leafs’ top pick of 2017, Timothy Liljegren, stuck with the Marlies all year as one of the AHL’s youngest players. “I’m looking for those two to be what they are,” Keefe said of keeping outside expectations realistic. “I’m excited to look at them and the new crop of players.”

Liljegren has been working with skating coach Barb Underhill to build more speed with his first few steps.