The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to deal with an incredibly thin blue line for most of the remainder of the season. The team announced today that Travis Dermott will be out for four weeks following the shoulder injury he sustained last night. Dermott was hit into the boards by Brad Malone of the Edmonton Oilers and immediately left the game in obvious pain.
Dermott will join Jake Gardiner on the shelf tonight as the Maple Leafs try to find a way around their defensive issues. Martin Marincin has been recalled to take his place while Justin Holl is expected to enter the lineup on the right side. The team is set to take on the New York Islanders in an important Eastern Conference matchup, and one that will see John Tavares make his return to Nassau Coliseum.
Originally selected 34th overall in 2015, Dermott has been quite the find for Toronto the past two seasons. Stepping into the lineup last year the mobile defender has proven he belongs at the NHL level and was given more responsibility this season. While he has still not completely earned the trust of head coach Mike Babcock, the 22-year old defenseman was already averaging more than 17 minutes a night on a team that has other experienced options on the left side. His future in Toronto looks bright, especially given Gardiner’s impending unrestricted free agency.
For now though Dermott will be out for almost the entire rest of the season. Four weeks from today would leave just five games left in the Maple Leafs’ season, meaning the young defenseman will need to get up to speed quickly if he is to play a role in the playoffs.
I am getting pretty f-ing sick and tired of other teams clowns taking runs and dishing out late, dirty hits on my players and completely getting away with it!!!! Who the hell is this Malone stooge? He goes to the box. Knows he was wrong. Knows it was a dirty from behind hit on Dermott. No penalty. Then he goes to the dressing room thinking it was a game misconduct. But they call him back!! Dermott now is our 4 weeks maybe more. And nothing to Malone??!! Why this blatant disregard bullshit against Toronto is this NHL? Shameful. Not to mention Brayden McNabbs dirty knee to knee hit on Johnsson in Vegas cost the winger luckily just two games out. Nothing to McNabb either, not even a goddamn penalty call!! Kadri has been out a while also with a concussion!!! No perpetrator in that case either!! Enough if this bullshit NHL!!! Wheres the goddamn accountability!!!!!!?????
Doesnt matter. Leafs will lose to the Bruins in the 1st round like always.
That’s what I call a “zing”!
I already know that!!! Lol. But seriously. I’m sick of this shit. There’s no accountability when my teams players get hurt. Ever!
Toronto isn’t tough enough to win this year. I hope dubas didn’t decide to get better stronger defenseman because he knew this team can’t win with a pairing of Nikita Zaitsev and Jake gardiner together. Awful. By far the weakest pairing amongst all playoff bound clubs.
I’d hope to see them try and sign Tyler Myers in the off-season. Maybe Adam Mcquiad as a fall back option. Both guys are right handed shots which the Leafs desperately need. If not by trade though but that would cost a nylander, Kapanen or maybe Johnsson for sure. I’d be ok trading away a guy like Connor brown. But he’s a better cost/cap friendly keeper than the above 3. Might come down to having to decide between nylander and Kapanen. Who would you trade for a serious but all the more necessary defensive upgrade/replacement?
my teams players lol
btw hit wasnt late. from behind yes but not late
Missed calls and poor judgement by the DoS. McDavid got 2 games for what probably should have been 1 for a first time offender, and look at how many non calls have happened against him as well. Leafs receive the most media attention of any team being in the top Canadian market. I’m sure the NHL isnt ignoring them. It’s impossible to. If it was a blatent call the NHL would have at least called Malone up for a hearing. They obviously felt it wasnt as bad as you did. Try looking at the situation without home team blinders on. Sometimes you’ll see things completely differently.
The Leafs suck
It wasn’t a dirty hit. Typical leaf fans who think they are above it all
It wasn’t a dirty hit