Sandin growing into bigger Leafs role
As the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the halfway point of their season, Rasmus Sandin is hitting his stride.
The 21-year-old defenceman has been given an increased role with veteran Jake Muzzin recovering from a concussion and has demonstrated some poise with the bump in ice time.
Sandin has played more than 20 minutes in each of the past three games, all victories. Just twice in his previous 31 games in 2021-22 did he break the 20-minute barrier.
“It has been a lot of fun,” Sandin said. “I’m learning a lot playing against the top two lines on the other team.
“When you’re playing against the bottom two lines, it’s a different type of game. They know their roles, they get the puck deep and work from there. The top two lines, they want to hold the puck a little bit more, are a little bit more skilled.”
Sandin’s goal against the Red Wings in Detroit on Saturday was the second game-winner of his NHL career, as well as his first goal of the season.
“It’s huge,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Any time these guys get to contribute offensively, it’s good for them.
“Nobody likes to have a zero beside their name, so that’s a good thing to get that out of their head.”
The Leafs will look to cap the first half with a win against the New Jersey Devils on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.
With all-stars Auston Matthews and Jack Campbell leading the way, the Leafs had a .713 points percentage through 40 games, good for fourth in the NHL.
Nick Robertson is done with hitting the reset button.
The Leafs prospect is nearly all the way back after suffering a broken leg three months ago, as he was a full participant in a Toronto Marlies practice for the first time since he suffered the injury on Oct. 17.
“I’m more of an optimistic person and try to be optimistic about the future,” Robertson said Sunday at the Ford Performance Centre. “The whole year of 2021 was pretty much downward and upward, and now that 2022 is here, I try to make this my year and move forward and put the injuries past me and do what I can do. It felt good to be back out there.”
Robertson, the Leafs’ second-round pick in 2019, appeared to be on the cusp of making a full-time step to the NHL club during the summer of 2020. The winger played in four games for the Leafs against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the qualifying round, and showed well.
The 2020-21 season didn’t go as Robertson had hoped — not even close. After suffering a knee injury in his first game with the Leafs in January 2021, Robertson later endured a groin/abdominal issue and a concussion. By the time the season ended, Robertson played in just six games with the Leafs and 21 with the Marlies.
Since his 55-goal season with the Peterborough Petes in 2019-20 before the pandemic, Robertson has played in 29 regular-season games with the Leafs and Marlies.
“I had those injuries last year and it was kind of hard to deal with, given the COVID year and how everything went,” Robertson, 20, said. “I’m just preparing myself mentally and physically and looking forward to hopefully playing soon.”
That could be on Wednesday, when the Marlies play in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“Through the experience of this injury, it has made him even more mentally tough,” Marlies coach Greg Moore said. “A lot of the things that he talks about and what his mindset is coming back, he’s saying a lot of mature things. He’s done a lot of good work on himself.”