Defenseman Rasmus Sandin has been loaned to Team Sweden to compete in the 2020 World Juniors Championship, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced Sunday.
The rookie blueliner has appeared in six games for the Leafs this season, tallying just two assists. His last game at the NHL level was a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 12, where he recorded a single assist on 15 shifts.
Going 29th overall in the 2018 draft, Sandin played his first season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, scoring six goals and 22 assists in 44 games. The 19-year-old got his first chance to play on NHL ice this season, notching an assist in his debut.
World Juniors team information: Canada | United States
And so it begins!
— NHL (@NHL) October 2, 2019
Welcome to the League, Rasmus Sandin. (@Rasmussandin) 🤜🤛 #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/YzorqTwjmw
Sandin joins several countrymates and fellow prospects, including Winnipeg Jets prospect David Gustafsson (center) and New York Rangers prospects Nils Lundkvist (defenseman) and Karl Henriksson (center).
Playing in the tournament will give the young defenseman more time to develop against solid competition.
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Sweden will square off against Finland at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 26 at Werk Arena in Třinec, Czech Republic during the second set of games on the first day of competition. At the same time, Canada and the United States will square off at Ostravar Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The tournament will run through Sunday, Jan. 5, with the group stage ending on New Year's Eve.