Sandin emerges as taller defender from Stockholm woods – TSN.ca

The Maple Leafs practiced in two groups at the Ford Performance Center on Sunday.

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At home in Stockholm, waiting for a stalled contract negotiation, Rasmus Sandin did something else.

“I actually went for a walk in the woods a few times and I’ve never done that before,” revealed the 22-year-old. “I was looking for chanterelles [mushrooms] in the forest. I didn’t look at my phone. I was just concentrating on finding some chanterelles out there. I [used them] in some cooking this was a great help. I didn’t have to buy them in the store.”

Sandin, who was a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, finally signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract with the Leafs on Thursday. Do you regret how things turned out?

“Every negotiation is different,” he said. “I’m super excited to be back and the sun is out right now so I can’t complain.”

Still battling jet lag, Sandin returned to training on Sunday.

“Better than I thought,” he said of the session. “It was really fun to see all the guys.”

“He didn’t look like he was out of step at all,” said Mitch Marner. “He looked like he was fresh.”

Enter Sandman

Newly signed Rasmus Sandin ready for his first practice session at Leafs Camp pic.twitter.com/bMpMNbNOeh

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 2, 2022

Still going through the team’s fitness logs, Sandin needs to familiarize himself with the systematic changes implemented during the first week of camp.

“It’s going to take him some time to really get to the point where it would be fair to rate him,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s running pretty fast on the treadmill here at the moment. In that sense, he needs to settle in, so he won’t be playing tomorrow. The intention will be to get him by the end of the week.”

The Leafs will play in Montreal on Monday before completing their exhibition schedule with games against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday and Saturday.

Sandin’s summer may have lasted longer than expected but the 1.67m defender made good use of the time. He’s gone from 178 pounds to 194 pounds.

“Much bigger,” he said with a smile. “I feel stronger. I feel better overall in my body. I feel healthy. I just feel really good. I’m looking forward to being back and hopefully that will show.”

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Sandin, a left-hander, ran on the right flank in Sunday practice.

“I’m comfortable on the right,” he said. “I felt pretty good out there today… I have to prove myself. I have to show them I’ve had a good summer and be ready when the season starts.”

With right Timothy Liljegren Following hernia surgery, the Leafs will need to switch one of their left-handers to start the season. Sandin is a front runner.

“We definitely want to look at that,” confirmed Keefe. “I spoke to him about it and we’re going to get him those reruns. I know he’s done this before at different times. We will see how everything develops.”

Keefe also coached Sandin while he was with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

“I’ve seen him over there before, so I’m confident he can make that switch when it’s needed and requested,” Keefe said.

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New goalkeeping coach Curtis Sanford has Toronto’s goalies wear special goggles during training sessions.

“They’re like blinkers,” he said Matt Murray. “You basically take away your peripheral vision. It’s just a tracking aid. It forces you to use the middle of your eyes and the widest part of your eyes.”

According to manufacturer Swivel Vision, the goggles limit what an athlete sees in order to use their optimal field of vision to be able to concentrate better and react faster.

“It’s a bit challenging,” said third-row goalkeeper Erik Kallgren. “Obviously that makes it harder to track the puck. It’s a good tool before practice.”

How does it feel?

“It’s like tunnel vision,” Kallgren said. “That limits you [vision] on the side so you have to track the puck even more precisely.”

Other teams also use these devices, which look like sunglasses.

“It’s something that’s getting a little more traction in the goalkeeping community, Curtis told me,” Keefe said. “I think you’ll see more of that in the league.”

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Pierre Engvall took part in his first training session at the training camp on Sunday.

“He’s actually done a little bit more on the ice than was expected of him, which to me is a sign that he’s feeling good out there,” Keefe noted.

Engvall is out with an off-season injury.

“I twisted my foot on the ice this summer,” said the winger. “I’m doing rehab and it’s getting better and better.”

Will he be able to come in a pre-season game?

“I don’t know yet. I felt good today so that was definitely progress.”

Engvall scored a career-high 15 goals in 78 games last season.

“I just want to continue what I did last year,” he said, “but I think I have more in me and I can play better. I want to get better defensively, but also putt better [up] a bit more offensive.”

Pierre Engvall (Foot/Ankle) Participated in first practice at Leafs training camp @TSN_Edge pic.twitter.com/ZZ2VL4W1FP

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 2, 2022

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With John Tavares (oblique strain) paused at the start of the season, Michael Bunt will move into the net front role alongside Marner in the top power play unit, Austin Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly. Bunting plays with Matthews and Marner with equal strength.

“Of course, with the familiarity with Matthews and Marner, it fits,” Keefe said, “but he’s also very good on the net, so I think the skills are similar in that sense.” The biggest difference Bunts doesn’t bring is the faceoff presence in both John’s ability to win the tie and, if John wins the tie, allows Austin to be in a better shooting position.

Tavares won the fourth-most power play bulloffs in the league last season (164-105), behind only Boston Patrice Bergeron (170-92), Vancouvers Bo Horvat (173-89) and Edmontons Leon Draisaitl (184-130).

Matthews won 21 of his 38 power play draws last season. Jason Spezzawho resigned in the summer, won a second-place power-play draw with the Leafs (43-35).

Toronto had the best power play percentage (27.3) in the National Hockey League last season.

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After a three-point performance on Friday, Nick Robertson found himself on the second line alongside Nylander and Alex Kerfoot in Sunday’s practice session.

“The last two preseason games have been the best I’ve seen Nick in a Leafs jersey,” Keefe said.

Does he look different from teammates?

“Just hungry,” Marner remarked. “He wants to make this team pretty bad and you can see that in his games and in training.”

Keefe sees a player learning to influence the game at a higher level.

“You have to find out what works for you and how you can cause offense,” said the coach. “What you’ve done up to now works for some guys straight away and for others they need to make adjustments. I would put Nick in the adjustment category. I think that takes time and he’s still a young guy (21). He seems to me that these adjustments are being made and we can see the resulting posts.”

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Calle Jarnkrok (illness) missed training.

Lines during practice on Sunday:

Group 1

Ammer-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Kerfoot-Nylander
Aston Reese – Holmberg – Aube Kubel
Gogolev-Gaudette-Malgin
Rielly- Brodie
Giordano Holl
Kral – Mete
Muzzin Sandin

murray
Samsonov

PP units

QB: Rielly
Center/Crosses: Marner, Matthews, Nylander
Mesh Front: Bunting
QB: Giordano
Middle: Gaudette
Flanks: Malgin, Robertson
Mesh front: Kerfoot

group 2

Engvall – Fight – Anderson
McMann-Der-Arguchintsev-Steeves
Clifford-Shaw-Simmonds
Abruzzo – Douglas – Ellis

Slaggert, Blandisi
Kokkonen-Hollowell
Rifai-Villeneuve
Pietroniro-Hofenmayer
Hellickson-Miller

Kalgren
Ferguson