Dermott's Future With Toronto

[Ziggdiezan]

Dermott is in a pretty bad spot unfortunately for him with the emergence of Sandin and starting the season injuried.

Looking at just this year he is behind Rielly and Muzzin while fighting Sandin for the 3rd pairing spot.

Many are extremely high on Sandin (as I am to a slightly lesser extent) but the same could be said about Dermott at the start of last year and even over the summer with many many people penciling him onto the top pairing with Rielly.

Top 4D looks pretty set for this year to be honest and I would only expect a change because of injury or if Ceci falls off bad. Dermott wont be able to show if he can handle top 4 minutes/competition again this year.

Likely Dermott comes back and they pair him with Sandin on the 3rd pairing. Dermott is likely to be shifted to his right. I think his entire future as a Leaf hinges on his ability to play the right side and if he really struggles this year it will be interesting to see what happens.

Long term many are looking at Rielly and Sandin as the top 4 LDs. Leafs wont be able to run a guy like Dermott on the third pairing as their third pairing will largely be ELCs and league mins for the foreseeable future.

What are everyone's thoughts about Dermott? I think it is a little too early to lock Sandin in ahead of Dermott on the future depth chart but Dermott has a important and difficult season ahead.

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[AllDay28]

what?

Rielly - Barrie
Dermott - Muzzin
Sandin - Liljegren

what are you talking about?

 

[Drew311]

Man you are really overthinking things. Dermott is exactly what they need, and he'll be signed to a very cheap bridge (likely 3 years). Cheap, cost-controlled defenseman who will only get better. No chance this guy gets pushed out.

 

[Havoc]

We might lose anywhere from all 3 to 2 of Ceci Muzzin and Barrie.

Dermott is in no fear of losing a spot long term.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

what?

Rielly - Barrie
Dermott - Muzzin
Sandin - Liljegren

what are you talking about?

I don't think Muzzin will be playing the right side. Looked poor doing so last year and hasnt played the right side much in his career. That is also going to be quite expensive to resign all of Muzzin, Barrie and Dermott.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Man you are really overthinking things. Dermott is exactly what they need, and he'll be signed to a very cheap bridge (likely 3 years). Cheap, cost-controlled defenseman who will only get better. No chance this guy gets pushed out.

I think that is the likely case too and if Sandin passes him Dermott will be moved right before the end of his bridge when Sandin gets his new contract

 

[Ziggdiezan]

We might lose anywhere from all 3 to 2 of Ceci Muzzin and Barrie.

Dermott is in no fear of losing a spot long term.

Really? If Sandin passes Dermott on the depth chart and Dermott cant play right side he is 100% in fear of losing a spot long term as the leafs wont be able to afford him on the third pairing

 

[NoName]

Well with Barrie, Muzzin and Ceci all on expiring contracts odds are (in addition to letting Ceci walk thank god) we are probably also losing Muzzin to be able to resign Barrie. Thus have Rielly, Dermott and Sandin on the left side moving forward and Barrie, Liljegren and ??? on the right.

The question is whether he or Sandin will be the 2 LHD next season.

 

[AllDay28]

I don't think Muzzin will be playing the right side. Looked poor doing so last year and hasnt played the right side much in his career. That is also going to be quite expensive to resign all of Muzzin, Barrie and Dermott.

if they cant resign them then how is Dermotts future in jeopardy?

 

[Havoc]

Really? If Sandin passes Dermott on the depth chart and Dermott cant play right side he is 100% in fear of losing a spot long term as the leafs wont be able to afford him on the third pairing

Does this sound reasonable: Leafs lose majority of their top 4 D. Need to fill 3 spots. Instead of filling these spots, they trade a D they do have because they can't fathom the thought he's on the third pairing instead of the second.


??

 

[JustJokinenAround]

delete this thread. now.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Hmmmm

Reilly Ceci
Muzzin Barrie
Sandin Dermott

Next Year

Reilly UFA
Dermott Barrie
Sandin Liljegren

 

[Fogelhund]

Hmmmm

Reilly Ceci
Muzzin Barrie
Sandin Dermott

Next Year

Reilly UFA
Dermott Barrie
Sandin Liljegren

That is likely how it plays out for the year.

Chances are... Muzzin and either Ceci or Barrie are gone after this year... Maybe all three...

But, as it stands now... It's just Reilly, Sandin and Dermott who are back next year, so there is plenty of room for Dermott..

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Does this sound reasonable: Leafs lose majority of their top 4 D. Need to fill 3 spots. Instead of filling these spots, they trade a D they do have because they can't fathom the thought he's on the third pairing instead of the second.


??

I think Barrie will get resigned and that is a bunch of cap as he only counted like 2.75 million against the cap. Muzzin may walk but they may also want to keep the only physical defensive defender on the team. Ceci is still up in the air as well.

It has nothing to do with not being able to fathom the thought it has to do with not being able to afford 2-3 million dollar defenders (like Dermott likely will be) on the third pairing.

 

[Mess]

Dermott has a bright future with the Leafs ... We do not know what will happen with pending UFAs Muzzin and Barrie after this year so Dermott should be penciled in as regular in the years to come.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

if they cant resign them then how is Dermotts future in jeopardy?

Well that is my exact question, who are the leafs going to resign and with the emergence and cheapness of Sandin will it put Dermott long term future at jeopardy. He will be getting a few million dollar raise this summer and we cant afford that on the third pairing likely.

 

[Canada4Gold]

People care too much about handiness. Run your best 6 D. Dermott right now is probably our 4th. Next ye@ he’s our 2nd pending free agency. Maybe Sandin will surpass him but we’ll cross that bridge when it gets here and when it does we still really could use Dermott too.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Dermott is awesome. I think he'll get Muzzin's spot next year

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Hmmmm

Reilly Ceci
Muzzin Barrie
Sandin Dermott

Next Year

Reilly UFA
Dermott Barrie
Sandin Liljegren

This season I agree and stated as much though I doubt the majority of people read the entire wall of text lol.

Doubt the leafs can resign Barrie, Dermott and a top pairing defender to play with Rielly and fit under the cap/prepare for future big contracts like Rielly and Andy in like 1 and 2 years from then.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

People care too much about handiness. Run your best 6 D. Dermott right now is probably our 4th. Next ye@ he’s our 2nd pending free agency. Maybe Sandin will surpass him but we’ll cross that bridge when it gets here and when it does we still really could use Dermott too.

I would agree but if Dermott struggles on the right side, like he has in the past, his path into the top 4 could become rather tricky. The main concern being the leafs likely cant afford Dermott on the 3rd pairing after his couple million dollar raise this upcoming summer

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Dermott is awesome. I think he'll get Muzzin's spot next year

This would be ideal and I think the most likely outcome. However I doubt he gets a chance to play top 4 minutes this year so banking on Dermott thriving in a top 4 role for the first time has some risk

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

This would be ideal and I think the most likely outcome. However I doubt he gets a chance to play top 4 minutes this year so banking on Dermott thriving in a top 4 role for the first time has some risk

I think one of Dermott or Sandin will replace Ceci this year but yeah. Still a bit of a risk for our defense

 

[Ziggdiezan]

I think one of Dermott or Sandin will replace Ceci this year but yeah. Still a bit of a risk for our defense

If Babcock is still the coach I wouldnt count on that happening. He finally got 2 right handed defenders who have a ton of NHL games under their belt. I doubt he replaces one with left handed Dermott who hasnt even played much on the right side.

I really think the top 4d is likely set for the season regardless of how Sandin or Dermott perform. Just a hunch, not that I agree with it at all but ya Babcock going to do what he does.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would agree but if Dermott struggles on the right side, like he has in the past, his path into the top 4 could become rather tricky. The main concern being the leafs likely cant afford Dermott on the 3rd pairing after his couple million dollar raise this upcoming summer

If Dermott struggles on the right side, but is good on the left side... and Sandin passes him by... so be it. You still sign Dermott and have a cheap second pairing D in Sandin... then you worry about it from there... if Dermott needs to be traded, to fill in holes in other places, that's fine.

 

[leafsfuture]

I would agree but if Dermott struggles on the right side, like he has in the past, his path into the top 4 could become rather tricky. The main concern being the leafs likely cant afford Dermott on the 3rd pairing after his couple million dollar raise this upcoming summer

I disagree about your concern. Lets say hypothetically he struggles on the right side and we bring back Muzzin - he still likely becomes our PP Qb for unit 2 and he also does PK. Combine lots of special teams time with occasional moving up in the lineup than its fine if he starts on the 3rd pairing.

But lets give him a chance.

Also, if you get a chance to play with Rielly, I feel like Morgan's movement means you will be less fixed to your side.