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“We know they’re only a call away if we need to make a change or add somebody because of injury.”

Sandin wasn’t crestfallen to learn he would not be promoted to the National Hockey League.

“You want to play up there, but my focus is to play back here with the Marlies and that’s where I am right now,” Sandin said on Tuesday. “I’m not trying to look ahead too much.”

There’s never a guarantee that players loaned to their respective country for the world junior from a professional club will dominate, but that’s what Sandin did in the Czech Republic, leading all defencemen in scoring.

“I think I met my expectations pretty well,” Sandin said. “It was more about the team. We wanted to go in and get the gold medal and we didn’t do that, but individually I think played pretty well.

“It gave me pretty good confidence. I’m ready to get back at it.”

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The Leafs who watched from afar were impressed.

“When you get sent to that tournament and are expected to dominate, and then go do it, when you leave there you know you’re done with that level of hockey,” centre Jason Spezza said. “He established he is one of the best players in his age group and now he has to have that consistency at pro, which from all accounts sounds like he is doing.

“There’s no doubt he’s going to be an NHL player and probably for a long time. He suits how we want to play. It’s just a matter of when and where and how they see him working best.”

Said defenceman Morgan Rielly: “I hope he really benefits from it. He should have all the confidence in the world. It’s huge.”