Toronto Maple Leafs Bid “Farewell” to Travis Dermott

The Toronto Maple Leafs have parted ways with long time defenseman, Travis Dermott.

Dermott was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2nd round (34th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

After playing five seasons with the  Leafs, Dermott was traded on Sunday to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.  The pick was originally owned by the Winnipeg Jets and was traded to Vancouver this passed July by Winnipeg in exchange for defenseman, Nate Schmidt.

The trade is mutually beneficial for both the Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Vancouver had traded defenseman, Travis Hamonic, to the Ottawa Senators for a third round pick earlier on Sunday.  In swapping Hamonic for Dermott, Vancouver gets a defenseman who is six years younger and half the cap hit.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs also acquiring defenseman, Mark Giordano, from the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, Travis Dermott would’ve been the 9th defenseman on Toronto’s depth charts.  Getting a 3rd round pick for a former 2nd round pick after seven years of service with the club isn’t bad at all.

Toronto Maple Leafs Bid “Farewell” to Travis Dermott

Though I like the moves made by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, it’s always a little sad to see players go.  Travis Dermott didn’t drop off Toronto’s roster because of poor play, he was simply outshined by young up-and-coming defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren.

Sheldon Keefe did right by Travis Dermott in allowing him to play one last game for his hometown, Toronto Maple Leafs, on Saturday against the Nashville Predators despite Dermott missing the Leafs previous three games as a healthy scratch.  Dermott was born in Newmarket, Ontario and grew up a Maple Leafs fan.

During Saturday’s post-game interview, Travis Dermott had this to say about his time playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs: “It’s a dream. I keep pinching myself even to this day. Like, there’s no way. I’m still dreaming from draft day. They didn’t actually call my name. This is just a five-year-long dream. You try to take it for all it is and really appreciate it.”

Travis Dermott had his ups and downs as a Toronto Maple Leafs, but at 25 years old, he’s still relatively young for an NHL defenseman, and I’m sure he’ll continue to grow and get more opportunity to play with the Vancouver Canucks.