Future looks bright for Maple Leafs rookie defenceman Travis Dermott
TORONTO — Rookie defenceman Travis Dermott has one thing working against him, and it’s not his youth or inexperience.
The 21-year-old Dermott has played two games for the Toronto Maple Leafs after being summoned from the American Hockey League’s Marlies on Jan. 5. But he would have started the season in the NHL instead of the minors if he wasn’t left-handed.
“In an ideal world he’d be a right-hand shot and he would have been on the team all year,” said Leafs coach Mike Babcock, who has always preferred his defenceman to play on the same side as their shooting hand.
Dermott replaced Connor Carrick on the right side instead of his usual left and played 16:21 Monday night in a 3-2 overtime loss to Columbus. That was the fourth-most even-strength ice time of Toronto’s blue liners and a four-minute increase from his debut two nights earlier against Vancouver.