Maple Leafs promote top prospect Sandin from AHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled defenseman Rasmus Sandin from the AHL, the team announced Monday.

Sandin, the 29th overall pick in the 2018 draft, is widely considered the organization's top prospect. He's produced 15 points in 21 AHL contests with the Toronto Marlies this season and tallied 10 points in seven games with Sweden at the 2020 World Junior Championship, where he was named the tournament's best defenseman.

The 19-year-old made the Maple Leafs out of training camp and skated in six NHL contests to open the campaign. While playing just over 12 minutes per night with the big club, he tallied two assists and produced some dazzling possession stats, including a 57.5 Corsi For percentage and a 52.5 expected goals for percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick.

It's unclear how Toronto plans to use him this time around. If Sandin suits up in four more NHL games this season, his entry-level contract will kick in. That would make him a restricted free agent in 2022 instead of 2023.

Fellow lefty-shooting defenseman Jake Muzzin has missed the Leafs' last seven games with a broken foot and was placed on injured reserve Sunday. Veteran Martin Marincin has filled in for Muzzin of late, yielding mixed results.

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