"His ceiling wasn't stratospheric, but the hope was that he could morph into a solid NHL blueliner. The Leafs gave him as many opportunities as they could. He even logged some top-pairing minutes for a short while. But he just didn't live up to expectations. At times, defensive gaffes turned into goals. Other times, he just wasn't the sort of high-end defenseman the Maple Leafs needed to contend for a Stanley Cup."
"Since then, Dermott has unfortunately become a journeyman. He's spent time with the Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, and most recently, the Minnesota Wild. However, shoulder issues derailed his once promising career. But that seems to be in the past. As insider Elliotte Friedman reported on November 25, Dermott is back on the ice after offseason surgery. He's healthy and looking for another shot at the NHL."
Travis Dermott was a second-round pick in 2015 who showed flashes but ultimately failed to become a top-four NHL defenseman. The Maple Leafs gave him ample NHL opportunities, including brief top-pairing minutes, but defensive errors and limited physicality hindered his upside. Toronto traded Dermott at the 2022 deadline and he has since skated for Vancouver, Edmonton, Arizona, and Minnesota as a journeyman depth defender. Recurring shoulder problems led to surgery on July 23; he now reports as healthy and is training and skating in Mississauga. Healthy Dermott offers a low-risk option as a puck-moving third-pairing defenseman who could be an upgrade over Philippe Myers or Dakota Mermis. He lacks Simon Benoit's physicality but could provide more consistent puck transition and defensive mobility. The Maple Leafs lose little by re-signing him given current depth needs.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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