The Toronto Maple Leafs have been searching for help on defense this season, tenuously linked to players like Erik Gudbranson and Ian Cole in trade rumors. Now, some of that help may come from inside the organization as the team has recalled Travis Dermott from the AHL, while sending Martin Marincin back down. Should he get into the lineup, it would mark the NHL debut for Dermott, a second-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2015.
Playing in all situation for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Dermott has recorded 17 points on the season including six assists in his last two games. He was also just named to the AHL All-Star team, along with teammate Kasperi Kapanen. The defenseman turned 21 years old just before the Christmas break, and had been pushing for a spot in the NHL for some time. A minor injury to Roman Polak last night, and the continued struggles of Marincin and Connor Carrick on the bottom pairing necessitated a change for the Maple Leafs as they continue to deal with the absence of Nikita Zaitsev.
Still, Toronto seems ripe for a defensive addition at some point. Even if Dermott makes an impact right away, the team could use someone to help on the penalty kill and provide some depth for a potential playoff run. Since Marincin once again did not stick with the NHL club, one has to wonder whether he’s destined for non-qualification in the summer.