Toronto Maple Leafs sign Rasmus Sandin to two-year, $2.8M contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Thursday that they have signed restricted free agent defenseman Rasmus Sandin to a two-year, $2.8 million contract.
🖊 We’ve signed defenceman Rasmus Sandin to a two-year contract#LeafsForever
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 29, 2022According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the Maple Leafs made it clear they were not going to go above Timothy Liljegren’s average annual value. The two sides ultimately had to make a compromise. The full deal comes in at two years with $1.4 million AAV and a second-year salary of $1.6 million for qualifying offer purposes.
In last days, #Leafs made it clear to Rasmus Sandin’s camp that they were not going above the AAV paid to Timothy Liljegren at $1.4m.
After Durzi contract, Sandin ask was $1.6m. They compromise in the end, with 2-year deal: $1.4m AAV and second year at $1.6m for QO purposes.
The Leafs selected Sandin 29th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old has spent most of his early career with the Maple Leafs AHL farm team, the Toronto Marlies. In 66 career AHL games, he recorded 43 points and collected 10 assists in 13 games during the Marlies’ 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs run. Additionally, Sandin was named to the North Division roster for the 2020 AHL All-Star Game.
Last season he registered five goals and 11 assists in 51 games with the Maple Leafs. Over 88 career regular season games at the NHL level, Sandin has posted 28 points and has added one goal in five playoff games.
The deal comes at a perfect time, the Maple Leafs are struggling in the defensive category due to a number of preseason injuries already. This opens the door for Sandin to start off the season in a more secure role and further prove his worth.