Toronto Maple Leafs: Where should Rasmus Sandin play next season?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Rasmus Sandin to his entry-level contract, but questions remain about where he’ll play his hockey next season.

It is no surprise that Rasmus Sandin has been signed to the maximum three-year entry-level deal, after being selected 29th overall in this year’s NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

However, now the question for the organisation is where is the best place for him to continue his development?

The left-handed Swedish defenceman effectively has two potential destinations, as he will not be suiting up in the NHL come October.

The Maple Leafs will have the final say on where Sandin plays next season, with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League or Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League being his possible teams.

The ideal location for the mobile defenceman would have been the Toronto Marlies, with the NHL club being able to keep a close eye on his development.

But as AHL rules state, he is not eligible to play there; having played in major juniors last season, that is not an option.

Sandin was drafted by the Maple Leafs after having a very strong campaign with Kyle Dubas’ old OHL team, but another season in major juniors might not be the best location for the 18-year-old.

In major junior hockey, he would have another season of playing regularly on Canadian ice – closer to Toronto and with the connection to Dubas still being fairly evident.

But he will still be playing with, and against, players aged between 15 and 20 – something that isn’t necessarily the best for developing a young star.

In Sandin’s solitary season in the OHL, where he was 17 years old for the majority of it, he registered 12 goals and 45 overall points in 51 games, despite being a defenceman.

His other option would be to return to Sweden and compete for ice time on the Rögle team, where he would play with players in their teens right up to players coming to the end of their career.

More from Toronto Maple Leafs

• Maple Leafs Rumours: Half of NHL teams interested in Ilya Mikheyev
• Toronto Maple Leafs: How to address the goaltender position
• Leafs reward Timothy Liljegren with extension after breakout season
• Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell situation becoming increasingly uncertain
• Jason Spezza retires, joins Toronto Maple Leafs front office

Sandin would also be closer to family in Rögle, with his brother Linus a part of the team alongside former Leafs goaltender Justin Pogge.

Playing in Sweden will pose a challenge for Sandin, with the 5-foot-11, 185 pounds defenceman having to earn playing time rather than simply walking into a top-six role, like he would in the OHL.

The physicality of the SHL will be much higher than the OHL, enabling Sandin an opportunity to build up his strength and likely give him a better all-around experience of playing fully grown men’s hockey.

The OHL will boost his stats and might give him an opportunity to focus on small areas of his development with greater freedom, with arguably less pressure for him to make the team.

Sandin would also have another year of solid coaching from one of the best major junior programs in Ontario, helping him continue to grow at such a young age.

However, the benefits of getting involved in men’s hockey can’t be overstated, with many current Maples Leafs and Marlies players going down that route of development with good success.

Next: Is Cody Franson worth a look by the Leafs

Leafs Nation, where do you think Sandin should spend next season? Should he stay close by and return to the OHL before making the step up to the Marlies next year? Or should he gain as much experience in the SHL before returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs?