NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs Defenseman Finished in Toronto

The writing is on the wall for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott, his tenure is likely over. There's been multiple reports of the Maple Leafs shopping Dermott for trade and trying to find him a new home. The 25-year-old is signed through next season at $1.5 million an affordable number for a lot of teams, meanwhile Toronto is looking to shed as much salary as possible.

With deadline looming, Travis Dermott faces an uncertain future

"It was surreal being drafted by the Leafs, but you know how many guys play their entire career on the same team. It's always a possibility to get moved. You wish everything works out as well as it could ..."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 20, 2022

Strong expectation that the #leafs will move Travis Dermott before Monday's trade deadline. He made some heartfelt comments to reporters in Nashville tonight, saying that he's been living the dream since getting drafted by his hometown team.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 20, 2022

Dermott on competition for playing time: "That's what good teams are built on. They're built on competition ... You work hard every day. You expect a lot of things when you do put in the hours, but nothing's promised ... you focus on the process ... some days are hard"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 20, 2022

So far in 43 games this season, Dermott's recorded five points. He's a great skater who can make the first pass but unfortunately has been inconsistent offensively, and isn't overly physical to play a shut-down role. He's fallen out of favor in Toronto and has find himself in a suit watching more games than not.

As for teams interested the New York Islanders have been linked to Dermott for months and continue to be a fit, meanwhile the Leafs have also heard from the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes regarding the defenseman's services. Expect a trade before Monday's deadline as Dermott will either be included in a huge package in a blockbuster deal or moved solely for a late-round pick.

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