Here's how the Leafs can maximize Travis Dermott's trade value at the deadline
When Travis Dermott made his Leafs debut in 2018, it seemed as if he was poised to become a top-4 defender for the Leafs. Unfortunately, Dermott never seized the opportunity and has spent the majority of his time as a Leaf as a 3rd pairing defenceman.
This season, with a fully heathy Leafs lineup, Dermott has ended up being a healthy scratch as the Leafs bottom pair has consisted of Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren. This leaves the Leafs and Dermott in a tough spot. On one hand, Dermott is an excellent 7th defenseman. On the other hand, he could use a change of scenery and the Leafs could free up some valuable cap space by replacing Dermott with a league-min option. With that in mind, here's how the Leafs can maximize Dermott's value at or before the trade deadline.
Dermott has some flaws to his game, but what depth player doesn't? With that being said, when he is deployed properly, he provides great value for a bottom pairing defenseman. Dermott's gap control and puck-moving abilities are some of the best on the Leafs' blueline. His main issue is his decision making. He often makes panic moves when the other team applies pressure and that often results in scoring chances for the other team.
This is coachable however, and at 25 years old there are still improvements to his game that can be made. Unfortunately with the role he currently has on the Leafs - due to the emergence of Sandin and Liljegren - these changes will likely come in a new city.
I think that Dermott is a piece that the Leafs could use as a sweetener at the trade deadline, similar to Connor Brown's role in the Nikita Zaitsev trade. In his final years in Toronto, Brown was quickly falling down the lineup as players like Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson became full time Leafs. Brown clearly needed a change of scenery and he's gotten that in Ottawa and he has become a great middle-6 forward for the Sens. The same can be done for Dermott if he's given a fresh start with another organization that may have a spot for him.
I've already mentioned Dermott's gap control and puck-moving as his strengths but another strength to his game is his versatility to play on both the left and right sides. All of these skills along with him being 25-years-old and making just $1.5 million through next season makes Dermott a valuable trade piece for the Leafs.
It is no secret that if the Leafs can move on from Nick Ritchie before the trade deadline, they will. In a trade, Dermott could be the Connor Brown to Ritchie's Zaitsev. Combined, the two players' cap hit is $4 million. Defenders who the Leafs have been linked to, like Josh Manson, Ben Chiarot, Calvin de Haan, and Jakob Chychrun all make roughly four million dollars. Attaching Dermott as a sweetener to Nick Ritchie would make the salary aspect of trades involving these players work. It's then up to Kyle Dubas and the opposing General Manager to figure out the appropriate draft picks and prospects that would be involved in the trade as balancing pieces. In the case of the Arizona Coyotes and Jakob Chychrun, they're primarily looking for futures like first round picks and quality prospects. The Leafs have both.
Dermott would also provide excellent value to a team like the Ducks. With Anaheim still rebuilding and likely wanting to get assets for some of their rentals despite being in a playoff spot, Dermott provides value as he can step into their lineup and has term beyond this season. Dermott gets a fresh start and teams can evaluate if he fits into their organization's long term plans. Everyone wins.
The Newmarket, Ontario native has some fundamental strengths to his game and many of his weaknesses are coachable mistakes. Trading him would be beneficial to both sides as he can get the Leafs assets in return and it would provide him with a change of scenery that is needed.
