LD Travis Dermott - Erie Otters, OHL (2015, 34th, TOR)

[7even]

Not really. A Leaf's prospect can never be the most underrated in the league. That's not a knock on the team / fan base, or even a bad thing, just that the Leafs have such a big fan base and so much more media coverage, that Leaf's prospects will never go under the radar. For sure there are some "Leaf's haters" that counteract that to some extent, but not enough to make a guy like Dermott underrated. Put him on Arizona, Carolina, Florida, Dallas, etc.. and this thread would be a most 3 pages and very few people would even know who he is.

I've been excited to see this guy play in the NHL since pre-season so hopefully he gets a chance soon.

Dermott gets comparatively little attention even in Leafs circles. He may legitimately be the best defender in the AHL this year, yet post that opinion on the main board and see how many laughs you get due to plain ignorance.

But talking about perceptions around players is just boring, so with regards to Dermott himself, he just does everything, and does it really well. Became the Marlies #1D last year as a 20 year old, has improved solidly on that year this year in all regards. He’s sneaky strong, something like 6’0 210lbs, similar build to Morgan Rielly, so he holds his own in the corners and front of the net. Excellent skater, strong positional defense and gap control, smart active stick. The Marlies threw him on the right side this year just to push him and he’s been just as good. His defense is even better this year and offensively he’s carrying the puck more and getting more creative with it. Shooting more as well despite heavy defensive zone starts. Racking up points and doing it all at evens.

I don’t expect him to be a star but more and more he’s looking like a safe bet to be a solid top 4 guy.

 

[Raging Bull]

First NHL game tonight @ home vs Canucks on HNIC. Good luck Travis.

 

[firstemperor]

Not really. A Leaf's prospect can never be the most underrated in the league. That's not a knock on the team / fan base, or even a bad thing, just that the Leafs have such a big fan base and so much more media coverage, that Leaf's prospects will never go under the radar.

Agreed with your point but just providing some context:

Dermott is our 2nd best prospect (maybe our 1st if you discount Liljegren's ceiling) due to many reasons (positional value as a commodity, growth, etc.) by my book. Kapanen is at #3 for me only because of absolute ceiling and his value as a commodity. But he's also the least polarizing with a lower, comparative ceiling than other prospects.

I don't know if he's underrated in the grand scheme but even Leaf fans underrated him since his draft year. Speaking as a long-term leaf fan, one of the biggest travesties on our team board were when people voted Bracco ahead of him (few days after the draft) in the prospect rankings. Anyone who caught Bracco and Dermott in Erie that year would have known it was never remotely close and the gap has only widened. Again, even a very sizeable portion of Leaf fans underrated him, unfairly, since the day he was drafted. It didn't help that we just came off guys like Finn, Percy, Blacker, etc (none of which I was high on- Dermott, I am high on- but I don't think his absolute ceiling is that high).

Also, I don't know if hardcore fans really underrate any prospect these days, regardless of their affiliation. For example, speaking for myself, no one has overlooked Mattheos since his draft year in Carolina. I guess it depends which level of competency your speaking about- but you are right in the casual realm.

 

[Mitchy]

Great debut for him.

 

[Knies iT]

Picks up his first NHL point and looked rock solid. Spent some time beside Rielly on the right side of the top pairing, which led to Bozak's tying goal. Laid a huge hit too.

He's too good not to be playing the rest of the season in the NHL.

 

[Brobust]

Dermott-Zaitsev pairing is going to be a thing after the bye week and they'll perform really well. Mark my words.

 

[LeafChief]

Dermott-Zaitsev pairing is going to be a thing after the bye week and they'll perform really well. Mark my words.

He looked really good tonight.

Rielly - Hainsey
Gardiner - Borgman?
Dermott - Zaitsev
Carrick/Polak?

 

[Brobust]

He looked really good tonight.

Rielly - Hainsey
Gardiner - Borgman?
Dermott - Zaitsev
Carrick/Polak?

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Carrick/Polak, sheltered like they were last season.

I think it'll take around a month or so, but this what it'll eventually look like.

 

[BM14]

Perfect debut.

Good on the kid.

 

[Morbo]

solid debut for the kid.

There obviously isn't a trade out there for the Leafs or they would have made it already. They'll have to hope kids like Dermott and Liljegren can make the jump.

 

[LeafChief]

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Carrick/Polak, sheltered like they were last season.

I think it'll take around a month or so, but this what it'll eventually look like.

No Borgman?

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Carrick/Polak, sheltered like they were last season.

I think it'll take around a month or so, but this what it'll eventually look like.

Borgman definitely deserves to be on our roster over Carrick and Polak.

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaistev
Gardiner-Borgman

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

Borgman definitely deserves to be on our roster over Carrick and Polak.

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaistev
Gardiner-Borgman

he does but it won't happen. One of Carrick/Polak will be in the lineup no matter what.

 

[93LEAFS]

he does but it won't happen. One of Carrick/Polak will be in the lineup no matter what.

Polak will stay because he kills penalties. I doubt Carrick is viewed as a lock, he doesn't play on special teams.

 

[Rob Brown]

No Borgman?

He doesn't require waivers to go down, so if Dermott stays then someone has to go once Zaitsev is back.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Have Leafs and fans been unhappy with Borgman? Is having Dermott up just a thing to get him some games in or is there potential for him to stick now all year if he continues to impress? Unsure Leafs dmen situation but am curious about Dermott

 

[Pyromaniac]

Have Leafs and fans been unhappy with Borgman? Is having Dermott up just a thing to get him some games in or is there potential for him to stick now all year if he continues to impress? Unsure Leafs dmen situation but am curious about Dermott

No, definitely not unhappy with Borgman. He has been decent in his time so far but he is simply not as talented as Dermott and IMO will lose out against him if they are made to compete for the same spot.

I do believe that if Dermott plays like he did in his debut it will be very difficult to take him out.

Ideally once Zaitsev comes back Polak and Carrick will go to the press box, but I doubt that Babcock is going to play two rookies on the same pairing with one of them playing RD. It's more likely Borgman goes down if Dermott stays up which would be a shame as I don't believe his performance warrants a demotion.

 

[Fogelhund]

Agree with Petyr above. Dermott long term is a 3/4 guy likely.. Borgman a bottom pairing. Ideally Dermott replaces Gardiner in time, and Borgman is the 5/6 guy... or Dermott plays the Right side, which he's show he can.

 

[ponder]

Picks up his first NHL point and looked rock solid. Spent some time beside Rielly on the right side of the top pairing, which led to Bozak's tying goal. Laid a huge hit too.

He's too good not to be playing the rest of the season in the NHL.

I thought it was a strong debut, but I don’t really agree that he was rock solid - he had a number of sketchy, nervous moments that turned out fine, but easily could have been significant mistakes. Still a good first game - rushed the puck really well and made some nice plays defensively, but the “rookie moments” were very much there.

As he settles in at the NHL level, I expect he’ll become more and more “rock solid” - he certainly plays a very low mistake game at the AHL level. I think I t will take some time for him to get there at the NHL level, though.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Agree with Petyr above. Dermott long term is a 3/4 guy likely.. Borgman a bottom pairing. Ideally Dermott replaces Gardiner in time, and Borgman is the 5/6 guy... or Dermott plays the Right side, which he's show he can.

I think left side long term is Rielly-Dermott, maybe Borgman on the 3rd pairing or as a 7.

Right side, Zaitsev is likely 2nd pairing. Liljegren will be interesting. Likely too good for the 3rd pairing, he might make Zaitsev expendable. Unless Liljegren just becomes a top pairing guy which of course would be awesome.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

I thought it was a strong debut, but I don’t really agree that he was rock solid - he had a number of sketchy, nervous moments that turned out fine, but easily could have been significant mistakes. Still a good first game - rushed the puck really well and made some nice plays defensively, but the “rookie moments” were very much there.

As he settles in at the NHL level, I expect he’ll become more and more “rock solid” - he certainly plays a very low mistake game at the AHL level. I think I t will take some time for him to get there at the NHL level, though.

Not sure why mistakes that lead to converted HDSCs are treated as more serious than ones where the opposition doesn’t convert. Exactly the reason drill-down stats such as fenwick, Corsi, scoring chances, etc... are so important.

 

[LeafChief]

I'm picturing TWS watching the game last night and banging his head against a wall.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

I think left side long term is Rielly-Dermott, maybe Borgman on the 3rd pairing or as a 7.

Right side, Zaitsev is likely 2nd pairing. Liljegren will be interesting. Likely too good for the 3rd pairing, he might make Zaitsev expendable. Unless Liljegren just becomes a top pairing guy which of course would be awesome.

How can you say Zaitsev would be expendable? You still need six good defencemen. After seeing how Leaf fans are so obsessed with obtaining RHD. do you really think having one, Liljeren. is enough. C'mon.

 

[WTFMAN99]

How can you say Zaitsev would be expendable? You still need six good defencemen. After seeing how Leaf fans are so obsessed with obtaining RHD. do you really think having one, Liljeren. is enough. C'mon.

It is about slotting guys correctly and keeping costs manageable. Zaitsev isn't a top pairing guy and if Liljegren only tops out at 2nd pairing...one is playing on 3rd pairing but Zaitsev is making decent money already. Liljegren will be paid and we'll need a top pairing guy still.

Now if Liljegren pans out? Perfect. Liljegren-Zaitsev-3rd RHD. Maybe Rasanen.

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

It is about slotting guys correctly and keeping costs manageable. Zaitsev isn't a top pairing guy and if Liljegren only tops out at 2nd pairing...one is playing on 3rd pairing but Zaitsev is making decent money already. Liljegren will be paid and we'll need a top pairing guy still.

Now if Liljegren pans out? Perfect. Liljegren-Zaitsev-3rd RHD. Maybe Rasanen.

Oh no, don't tell me you're a guy that believe is this silly rating system. Fact is, you need all your defensemen need to be NHL good. Even the so called third pairing play 15 minutes a game. Now I agree cap management is important. But if Dermot.Borgman and Liljgren are NHL good, along with Zaitsev and Reilly, that's a pretty good base and quite affordable. And seeing so many posts about Doughty coming to the Leafs for 11m, gee Zaitsev at 4.5m is certainly affordable.