Kyle Dubas reveals that Sandin and Liljegren control their own fate
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas had a lot to say in his media availability on Sunday, and of course one of the hottest topics was the upcoming trade deadline. The Leafs' biggest area of need currently is their defense. Fortunately, the Leafs have two young defensemen that are expected to get an extended look in order to see where they fit in the Leafs' master plans.
"We probably don't have a whole lot of bullets in the chamber here. We're gonna have to pick and choose as we set our sights," said Dubas on Sunday. He also said that he intends to watch Sandin and Liljegren closely over the next few weeks to determine if they're properly equipped to handle the rigors of the postseason.
Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljregren have spent large portions of their career playing with each other in the American Hockey League. The two were a pairing together with the Toronto Marlies while they were developing and they have also spend a great deal of time together for the Leafs this season. Now, the two are going to have the opportunity to show their value to Sheldon Keefe.
It has already been established that the Leafs prefer someone with term, but also that Dubas wants to see what a fully healthy Toronto Maple Leafs team can do. While Dubas is evaluating his options, Sandin and Liljegren are going to be under a microscope. The two are young defensemen on entry-level contracts and have the potential to develop into top-4 NHL defenders.
In the next few weeks we are going to learn a lot about these two players. If the pair of young Swedes want to be a part of the Leafs' 2022 playoff run, they need to grab the opportunity and run with it over the next few weeks. These upcoming games are arguably the most important ones of their NHL careers to date.
