Plan is for Rasmus Sandin to get it right as he returns to Maple Leafs for first practice after signing

Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe wants Rasmus Sandin to get it right. 

In his first practice with the Leafs after signing a two-year contract last week, Sandin on Sunday played his off side on the blue line, skating on the right in a pairing with veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin.

“I think that’s something we want to look at, for sure,” Keefe said. “I spoke with him about that and we will get him those reps. 

“He has done that before at different times. We’ll see how it all shakes out.

“His skill set, his awareness, his intelligence, his instincts (make Sandin suitable to play the right side).”

Neither Sandin nor Muzzin, who continues to work his way back from discomfort in his back, will play when the Leafs head to Montreal to face the Canadiens in a pre-season game on Monday night. 

Matt Murray will get the start in goal, while the top line of Auston Matthews between Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting is slated to make the trip.

It was a refreshed Sandin who was among the first players to hit the ice at the Ford Performance Centre. The 22-year-old on Friday travelled from his off-season home in Stockholm to Toronto, got a day to regroup and was thrilled to be back with his teammates on Sunday.

“It went better (physically) than I thought,” Sandin said. “It was really fun to get here, see all the guys.

“I have some time to get going (before the regular-season opener on Oct. 12). It’s a little bit easier when you skate with the team. It was a warm welcome from everyone.”

Sandin wound up signing a similar two-year contract to what Timothy Liljegren signed in June, as both have an annual average salary of $1.4-million US.

Sandin could have signed months ago the contract that he finally did sign. In the process, Sandin missed crucial days in training camp and the pre-season.

But Sandin wouldn’t say whether he had any regrets about the way negotiations, or lack thereof, dragged on through the summer and to the end of September.

“Every negotiation is different,” Sandin said. “Both parties want to reach a point where both are happy. The sun is shining right now, so I can’t complain.

“It was definitely stressful. From the beginning of the summer, I thought it was going to be done every single day and every single week, but now I’m here and that’s the most important thing.”

When defenceman Jordie Benn and Carl Dahlstrom were hurt in a pre-season game against Montreal last Wednesday, Sandin didn’t want to wait any longer. 

“I saw (forwards) Calle (Jarnkrok) and (Alex) Kerfoot on D (for the remainder of that game), so I needed to get here ASAP,” Sandin said jokingly. “I want to be here. I love being here. Two years we felt was best for both parties, and I’m happy.”

Sandin bulked up during the summer, saying he weighs 194 pounds, up from 178 that is his present listing on the Leafs’ web site. That said, he does not expect to simply shove his way into a job. 

“I don’t expect to be in a bigger role, because we have such good D, so it’s something I have to prove,” Sandin said. “I need to play really good every day to get a good role.

“I feel comfortable on the right side. I felt pretty good out there (Sunday). But I need to show them that I had a good summer and be ready for when the season starts.”

Keefe wasn’t ready to start the evaluation process with Sandin quite yet. The plan is get Sandin in a pre-season game at the end of the week to help have him prepared for the regular season.

“There’s a lot happening on the ice, a lot of guys, so I wasn’t able to zero in on him all that much, nor did I want to,” Keefe said. “It’s going to take him some time to get to the point where it would be fair to evaluate him. 

“We want to try to get him up to speed with the different things that have been going on in the meetings that he’s missed, and any of the things we’re doing differently. There will be a lot happening for him over the next few days.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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