After logging one assist in five Swedish Hockey League appearances with Rogle BK, Sandin ventured across the pond in October and immediately jumped into a major all-situations role with one of the best teams in Canadian junior hockey, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
It didn't take long for Sandin to stand out as a complete 200-foot player with professional game and practice experience when taking on junior level opponents. He handled the oncoming rush with ease, confidently angling off the attack and flushing the attack to the boards.
He was quick with his stick in board battles and showed veteran-like poise and simplicity in his execution when seamlessly transitioning the puck out of the defensive zone. Soft hands and command of the puck are noticeable traits with every viewing of Sandin.
As far as his skating in concerned, Sandin is rather strong on his feet with good balance and agility, and while not being a speed burner by today's NHL standards, it's clear that the budding defender has the requisite pace in his play to succeed at the next level as a capable, middle-pair support piece.
Teams looking for a steady, consistent blueline element that can make good decisions on the breakout with enough sense to support the offense, as demonstrated with his 12 goals and 45 points in 51 regular-season contests, will likely consider him in the bottom half of the first round.
It is highly likely that the Sandin we saw in the Ontario Hockey League, where he placed heavy emphasis on his defensive responsibilities while being a very smooth puck mover, will be the version we'll see as he eases his way into the North American pro game.
Upon being drafted and attending his first NHL Development Camp, there is a high probability that Sandin returns to Rogle for continued seasoning at a very high level prior to taking a serious run at a North American career as a competent two-way defender.
<< #28 K'Andre Miller | #26 Serron Noel >>
Click Here For The Full List
For more on all the youngsters in the Sabres pipeline, check out Kris Baker's website, SabresProspects.com. You can also follow him on Twitter (@SabresProspects).
