If Sandin Wins Vs. the Maple Leafs: Will Fans Ever Accept Him?

There’s currently a standoff between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Rasmus Sandin. For some reason, Sandin believes he’s being treated unfairmistreatedy his team. For some reason, the Maple Leafs believe Sandin should accept what they’ve offered (one would think it’s similar money to what Timothy Liljegren signed for, which is $1.4 million for two seasons).

So, it’s clear. I’m on record as saying that I believe Sandin should accept the money and then get on the ice and earn the right to become of a top-pairing defensemen on the team. If he earns it, he will be rewarded. There’s no way the Maple Leafs’ coaching staff would ever play their second-best player over their best player just to prove a point or to be vindictive.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Commentary: Could Sandin Be Getting Bad Advice?

There’s a Negotiated Pay Structure That Works

Unless an NHL player is a bona fide star, which Sandin isn’t yet, there’s a logical pay structure that’s been negotiated and fits most players’ situations. This structure was negotiated by the league and the player’s union to benefit both sides.  

In step one, a player is drafted by an NHL team and becomes that team’s property (in a contractual manner) for a given time.

In step two, the player signs an entry-level contract with the team that drafted him. At this step, he does not have bargaining rights and the amount of money he makes is limited by the NHL’s CBA contract. In step two, a player can be moved up and down between the NHL roster and the minor-league roster without penalty. 

In step three, after a given length of time (usually three years) a player can no longer be moved back and forth between the NHL roster and the minor league roster until waivers are cleared. Waivers help ensure that a player cannot be hidden in the minors earning a minor’s salary for a long period another team to step in and claim a young player for its own team. 

In four, a player gains arbitration rights when he becomes an RFA (restricted free agent). These rights help ensure the player can earn more money. 

In step five, a player can become a UFA (unrestricted free agent) who can sign with and play for the highest salary he’s offered by any team. 

Related: Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Dubas’ Good Contracts & Marleau’s Impact

This Standoff Has Happened Twice Recently, and the Player Has Lost Status with the Fans

Right now, Sandin is in step three. If he signs with the Maple Leafs, the team must keep him on its roster. If he’s moved to the minors, another team could claim him without compensation to the Maple Leafs.

The Same Thing Happened to Nylander

Obviously, Lewis Gross knows the recent history between players who have negotiated with the Maple Leafs. He was the agent for William Nylander, who held out in 2018 well past when the team began its regular season. The rumor is that the team wasn’t going to blink and perhaps would have let Nylander sit the season (or play in Sweden). But Nylander himself blinked and called Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas to see if they could negotiate a salary at the very (literally) last second.

When Nylander returned to the team after the holdout, he had a horrible rest of the season. Although he’s mounted a stunning comeback since, for one reason or another, he’s gained the ire of Maple Leafs’ fans. (And Maple Leafs’ fans can be snarly.)

A large segment of the fanbase would love to see Nylander traded. He’s regularly panned for being lazy, for being cowardly, for not going into corners, and/or for a variety of other issues. While his skill is apparent, for many fans it doesn’t seem to matter. They want him gone.

The Same Thing Happened to Marner

The offseason after, Mitch Marner held out, as well. His agent Darren Ferris threatened and postured. He also took the issue to the media. In the end, Marner gained a very large contract. However, since those negotiations, Marner too has been regularly panned by fans. He’s a selfish player, they say.

And, although Marner has been growing more productive in the regular season, he hasn’t (nor has any other Maple Leafs’ player for that matter) successfully produced in the postseason. He, too, like Nylander before him has become a whipping boy for the fan’s unhappiness.

There’s a Lesson Here for Maple Leafs’ Players Who Hold Out and Win in Negotiations

Sandin’s agent is also Lewis Gross, who was also Nylander’s agent. It might seem that Gross feels that fans’ perception matter not. In his 2018 negotiations, he got what he wanted for his client. He’s now using the same pattern of negotiations that worked before.

But, it’s also clear that holding out has dramatically affected fans’ perceptions of both Nylander and Marner. It’s much less fun for those two to play in a city where, before their negotiations, they were appreciated. The word I have is that many longtime Maple Leafs’ fans saw Marner as the next Dave Keon – until those negotiations.

Now the mood and the perceptions have changed. Today, as waterbuffalo49 noted in my THW post, many fans question whether Marner is a team player or if he’s just another greedy pro athlete who only 22 other players on the team must also earn a living?

Even after a 97-point season last year, a substantial portion of the Maple Leafs’ fan base views Marner as overpaid and underperforming in the playoffs. Marner’s taken a fair amount of heat for his lack of production. Fans expect more for $10.9 per season. Is he really worth this money if he can’t come through to carry the team in the postseason?

Obviously, Sandin Knows this History. And …

In a quote attributed to Albert Einstein. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” You think Gross (or better yet Sandin) has considered Einstein’s insight?

Related: THREE REASONS THE MAPLE LEAFS SHOULD HAVE A GREAT 2022-23 SEASON