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Toronto Maple Leafs: Thoughts on Sandin, Dermott, and Matthews

By Jordan Maresky

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 27: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game tying goal against the Edmonton Oilers with teammates John Tavares #91 and Justin Holl #3 during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 27: William Nylander #88 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his game tying goal against the Edmonton Oilers with teammates John Tavares #91 and Justin Holl #3 during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 27, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Oilers 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Travis Dermott #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 15: Travis Dermott #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Thought #5: Travis Dermott and the Leafs Depth Chart

A revelation over the past 10 days has been the impressive development from the electric Swede, Rasmus Sandin.

Participating in only his second game of the season, more than two months following his season debut, the 21-year-old looked anything but out of place, partnering up with third-pairing mainstay, Zach Bogosian, and quarterbacking the Leafs second powerplay (with a little taste of PP1 in recent days).

His confidence with the puck and skill in transition has already forced some of Leafsnation into anointing him the Leafs #1 defensemen come 2021-22 – which is a whole other story, but the reasoning behind the crowning remains quite significant for one teammate in particular – Travis Dermott.

Based on reports, Bogosian should be back come middle of round one (or beginning of round two as a worst case), and the declaration of Sandin as a playoff lock has put the Leafs’ 34th overall pick from 2015 in a peculiar place.

A fully healthy Toronto Maple Leafs d-core does not have Dermott in it and that sentiment was made even stronger by the combination of defensemen Sheldon Keefe put together on Thursday vs the Canucks.

Before puck drop, it was announced the team’s top two lefties, Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin, would be taking a maintenance day, and so most assumed it would be Sandin and Dermott being pushed into the top four.

But that ended up being partially correct. Sandin settled onto the Leafs top pair with TJ Brodie, but it was deadline acquisition Ben Hutton assuming the role alongside Justin Holl on the team’s second pair.

Dermott was left to patrol the bottom-pair with Timothy Liljegren, who was making his season debut.

Most likely, Keefe was just putting Hutton into an easier role with an established NHL defensemen, where the staff would get a good look at the new d-man, but the question must be asked if we are entering Dermott’s final few games wearing the Blue and White.

Next. Leafs Playoffs Opening Night Roster. dark

Step one is done. The playoffs are clinched. Step two is in sight. Following the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night, Toronto’s magic number to secure their first division title in 21 years is down to three.

Buckle up.

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