Rasmus Sandin 2023 Report Card

Next up on our Washington Capitals end of season player report cards we look at new trade deadline acquisition Rasmus Sandin who the Caps got from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Erik Gustafsson trade.

In 19 games with the Capitals to close out the season, Sandin had three goals and 12 assists for 15 points including a goal in the season finale. He averaged 22:59 minutes of ice time. He also had 28 blocks and 23 hits.

Since the season ended he’s been in Toronto at Maple Leafs practices and games supporting his old teammates. Soon he will be in the IIHF World Championships with Team Sweden in Finland and Latvia.

Sandin did not have a big role with the Maple Leafs and was buried down their roster. With the Caps, thanks to both injuries and management believing in him, he found time on the top pair and the first power play unit.

Sandin found a home right away which helped him earn that and more minutes by recording eight points in his first four games with the Caps with a goal and seven assists. That was the most of any NHL defenseman during that stretch. He was also the first Caps player ever to have three multi point outings over that same four game stretch.

When John Carlson returned from his lengthy injury, Sandin got bumped down to the second pair. But he still learned a lot from Carlson telling NBC Sports Washington:

“It’s been amazing [learning from Carlson]. Obviously, he’s won. He’s just an amazing player and an even better person. For me, just to sit beside him like this, you learn a lot. For me being a young guy and the new guy coming into a team, it’s very easy to learn. I appreciate him being the guy he is and taking care of me as a young guy.”

Grade A-: Sandin was a heck of an addition and we haven’t even seen his ceiling yet. I’m excited to see what he can do this upcoming season.