Maple Leafs loan Rasmus Sandin to Sweden for World Juniors

Rasmus Sandin will be heading across the Atlantic Ocean for the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they loaned the 19-year-old to Team Sweden for the duration of the tournament on Sunday.

Toronto’s first-round pick — 29th overall — in the 2018 NHL draft, Sandin began the season with the Maple Leafs before being sent down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies after six games. He collected two assists during his brief NHL stint and has since scored two goals and put up 12 points in 18 games with the Marlies.

“It’s always exciting to see old friends and make new ones, and at the same time representing your country is a real honour,” said Sandin about the opportunity, according to Jeff Veillette.

While it had been rumoured for some time that Sandin would be loaned to Sweden, some doubt crept in Saturday night when Maple Leafs defenceman Tyson Barrie went down with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in Toronto’s game against the Edmonton Oilers. According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the Maple Leafs were considering recalling Sandin instead of releasing him for the World Juniors.

The offensive defenceman scored two goals and picked up a couple of helpers in five games during the 2019 World Juniors in British Columbia.

He will look to help his country to a better finish in 2020 after Sweden was eliminated last year following a 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Switzerland.

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