The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a weird position going into this year’s trade deadline. They haven’t had a fully healthy team for most of the year, which has actually helped them get a good look at guys like Pierre Engvall. If they had a fully healthy lineup, they’d have to be waiving or trading some guys like Dmytro Timashov to fit a roster under the salary cap. Engvall would certainly have to be sent back down despite looking pretty great.

But one guy we haven’t had a real look at in the Chief Keefe era is Rasmus Sandin, defenseman wunderkind. The annoying part is that their blueline has mostly been healthy — Jake Muzzin is injured now but right when Sandin was going to the World Juniors, and while Morgan Rielly looked banged up he never actually went on the IR.

We’ve seen Timothy Liljegren called up twice, but never got into a game. He looks and sounds ready, but their salary cap and roster spots on defense are pretty locked in barring a trade.

For a while we figured that — barring some major deal — the only move the Leafs would make would be to swing a small trade to acquire a backup goalie. Michael Hutchinson having a nice run of late has kind of put that to bed, at least for now.

So now I’m back to pining for Sandin and/or Liljegren, and hoping they find a way to keep Engvall on the roster. Despite Sandin being the hot young thing, him being a lefty when that’s the only good side the Leafs’ defense has kinda makes that difficult.

So what do you think, do the Leafs find a way to get Liljegren onto their roster down the stretch? Or Sandin? Both? Neither?

Who will the Leafs find a way to get on the roster down the stretch?

Rasmus Sandin285
Timothy Liljegren127
Neither309
Both294

An update to the PWHPA skills competition that was to be held this weekend:

Marlies - Stars game cancelled in Texas due to medical emergency | by Katya

Maple Leafs extend Martin Marincin | by Fulemin

Sheldon Keefe: “Now it is time for Travis Dermott to take a step we all feel he is capable of taking” | by MLHS

Mirtle and Siegel: Revisiting 10 bold (and bad) Maple Leafs predictions at midseason | by The Athletic

Found money makes the Leafs an incredibly boring trade deadline team | by TLN

AROUND THE HOCKEY WORLD

Four reasons Montreal Canadiens have fallen out of playoff race | by Sportsnet

Related: Habs’ Gallagher has headaches after return, will see doctors | by TSN

Barstool turning into a gambling hub would be pretty funny, but I’m still hoping they get the Deadspin treatment and just get completely gutted.

Sportsnet also did a pretty interesting feature on CapFriendly:

Matt Murray out there looking like Vesa Toskala...

Have a great Saturday everyone!

From The Branches