The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed defenceman Travis Dermott. The extension for one year with a cap hit of $874,125. The team announced the agreement Friday afternoon.
🖋 Putting pen to paper
Travis Dermott has signed a one-year contract extension! #LeafsForever
Details: https://t.co/II8XdVKlPb pic.twitter.com/Mee7gwNCu1
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 23, 2020
Maple Leafs Re-Sign Travis Dermott
Dermott was often a spare defender for the Leafs in 2019-20. The 23-year-old played in 56 games with four goals and 11 points while averaging 17:19 of ice time per night. He also contributed 76 hits and 58 blocks. Dermott’s underlying stats are interesting. He had a good Corsi For of 52.7 percent and started in the offensive zone 52.7 percent of the time. However, almost all of his playing time was at even-strength or on the penalty-kill. It’s almost as if the team didn’t know exactly how to deploy the young skater; it seems like his numbers point to someone who should have skated slightly more.
The Leafs drafted Dermott in the second round of the 2015 Draft, but his debut came in 2017-18. That is the year where he scored one goal and 13 points in 37 games. Overall, he has just 157 games with nine goals and 41 points. That translates to a respectable .26 points per game for someone who seems buried on Toronto’s blue line at times. He has also seven goals and 42 points in 87 games with the team’s AHL affiliate.
What This Means for the Future
Dermott will have to battle for a regular role in 2020-21. Toronto signed two defenders in the offseason in the form of TJ Brodie and Zach Bogosian. They will clog up a blue line and create more competition for the younger defenders. The logjam is even more considerable when you remember that Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren and Calle Rosen are all competing for regular spots as well. Dermott will need a strong training camp to secure a spot for opening night.
The Maple Leafs are roughly $1 million over the salary cap ceiling after this deal, but there is plenty of time to get under that bar. A player or two will move to the AHL and drop to the lower salary structure. Toronto has been active this offseason but a few small moves may remain before the next season begins.
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