Sandin had been struggling to establish himself as a regular on the Leafs, playing mostly third pairing minutes and being pushed down the depth chart after the team acquired Jake McCabe from the Chicago Blackhawks. It is believed that Sandin's camp may have quietly asked for a trade in the days following McCabe's acquisition.
During his first practice, he was skating on the top pairing with Trevor Van Riemsdyk, a sign that he may be given more significant minutes than he had with the Leafs. Sandin has shown promise in his time with Toronto, recording 20 points in 52 games. If he can take advantage of this opportunity, Sandin could establish himself as one of the league's rising stars.
