Toronto Maple Leafs: Rasmus Sandin not expected to return to OHL

Toronto Maple Leafs 2018 first round draft pick Rasmus Sandin could make the jump to professional hockey rather than return to the OHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are no strangers to the benefits of drafting a European player in the first round, and it looks like they’ll see that once again with 2018 first round pick Rasmus Sandin.

Unlike a player drafted out of the CHL, a player from Europe can go back to their club team, play in the NHL or that team’s AHL affiliate, or with the CHL team that owns their rights. Since Rogle SK (Sandin’s SHL team) loaned him to the OHL, he can go back to Sweden.

This is a similar position the Leafs were in with William Nylander and Timothy Liljegren. There was a raging debate on whether they should make the jump to professional hockey in North America or go back and play in Sweden.

Nylander was sent back to play with Modo but  joined the Toronto Marlies midseason and eventually made it up to the Leafs. Liljegren was a different case in that the team decided to have him play with the Marlies right out of the gate.

Now with Sandin, there was the potential of him returning to the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, but it looks like that option might be off the table according to recent reports.

In this situation, the Leafs have the final say on where the 18-year-old will play much like they did with Liljegren and Nylander, because they’ve signed him to his entry-level contract.

If the team wants a more hands-on approach to his development, then it would make sense to have him play with the Marlies.

One thing to consider is whether there’s enough ice-time for Sandin in the AHL, especially with a loaded depth chart.

Sending him back to Sweden might be the best option if there’s a logjam with the Marlies, rather than keeping him and having him play in the ECHL.

Now that all depends on the situation Rogle is in and whether they have a spot for Sandin to get enough playing time.

Sandin was originally loaned to the OHL from Rogle because he did not get enough playing time and opportunity in Sweden, which was important in his draft year.

"“We would rather have seen Rasmus playing with us, of course, but we can not guarantee him the playing time he wants,” Rogle’s manager, Anders Carlsson, told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre. “The player has had a wish to play for Soo Greyhounds and we lend Rasmus to the Soo for the 2017-2018 season.”"

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

Now Carlsson is no longer the GM of Rogle, after Chris Abbott took over with his brother Cam Abbott behind the bench. If the Leafs are confident that Rogle can give him a competitive environment with ample playing time, then it makes the decision to send him to Sweden easier.

There’s no denying the offensive skills Sandin brings, after scoring 45 points in 51 games as a rookie with the Greyhounds. As he looks to improve other areas of his game it appears he wanted the chance to return to do that in his native country, before making the jump to the NHL.

"“I have made these choices because I think it will help me going forward. I do not think it has affected me negatively, but it worked really well for me.” Sandin said. ” Now I’m in Rogle and hopefully I’ll stay here for a good while anyway.”"

According to Sandin’s agent Micke Rosell, he’s already getting some work in with Rogle and his brother Linus Sandin.

https://twitter.com/Agentrosell/status/1030223263752957952

The Leafs have not released their training camp roster, but Sandin was at the team’s development camp back in June after the draft. Whether he’s on the team’s training camp roster remains to be seen and his future will likely be determined at that time.

He’s not expected to be a possibility for the Leafs for a couple of seasons like Lijegren, so there’s no harm in him getting a taste of professional hockey in one of the top leagues in Europe.

What do you think about the idea of Sandin returning to Europe? Should the Toronto Maple Leafs look at the other options available to him? Let us know in the comments below.