Travis Dermott did not catch coach Mike Babcock’s post-game media conference after a 1-0 win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Sometimes those can be harsh on players, but in this case a question about Kasperi Kapanen’s progression led to an indirect vote of confidence for Dermott from the coach.
“Him and Dermott are trying to figure it out, trying to figure out when to make a play and take care of the puck and when you can't lose your position,” said Babcock, when asked about Kapanen’s ability to generate offence through his world-class speed. “It's not going to help them to play in the American League anymore, they're going to learn that when guys are – when they're on the wrong side of things.”
Though the plan is the plan until the plan changes, it sounds as though Dermott – and Kapanen – have seen their days in the American Hockey League come to an end.
“It’s an honour for him to say that,” Dermott told Sporting News when informed of his coach’s comments. “You don’t get too much feedback in that regard. It’s more little things in games where the coaches are telling you what to do but not really an overall picture with how happy they are with me so hearing that, it’s obviously a good sign for me.”
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When the Maple Leafs face the New York Islanders on Thursday, it will mark Dermott’s 20th NHL game. He said nothing has been conveyed to him in terms of whether he will be with the NHL team for good, but hearing Babcock’s comments helped to put his mind at ease.
“Just the fact that he said that obviously gives me a little easier mind I guess in terms of the whole anxiety and pressure of being up here and the pressure I put on myself to excel every night,” said Dermott. “Hearing him say that is a pretty good feeling.”
Dermott is keenly aware there are multiple options within the organization that could fill the role he has been entrusted to for the time being. Andreas Borgman performed well in 48 games, putting up 11 points before he was sent down to the Toronto Marlies. Justin Holl was effective in a two-game cameo appearance and Calle Rosen, who was with the Maple Leafs at the start of the season, is also highly thought of.
“With the team we have here, we have a lot of skill on the back end,” said Dermott. “If they were to bring someone else in, there would be a lot of guys in our organization who would do fine.”
That is to say nothing of the potential of help from outside the organization arriving prior to the trade deadline on Monday. The Maple Leafs' goal is to have too many good players and not enough roster spots. It’s safe to say they are not far from that goal, if not there already, so Dermott knows even in spite of his coach’s vote of confidence he has to continue to evolve his game.
“Obviously they’re happy with something I’m doing and hopefully I can keep it going and keep making them happier and even more decisive on that decision (to have me stay),” said Dermott.
In 19 games, Dermott has one goal and seven assists and is a plus-seven, averaging 16:31, predominately at even strength playing on a the third defence pairing with either Connor Carrick or Roman Polak. He has shown an electric ability to carry the puck up the ice under control, a skillset that lends itself toward success the way the style of play in the NHL is trending. His skating is so explosive that he has the ability to recover from a lot of mistakes, but lately he has not been as noticeable carrying the puck nor in his need to recover.
Dermott admitted that after a honeymoon phase for the first ten games after he was called up when he was running on adrenaline, he has shifted his focus toward being more reliable in his own end. It’s good to have the ability to recover from mistakes but it’s better not to have to use it that often.
“You try to keep playing your game, not over thinking it too much but you definitely have stuff to focus on,” said Dermott. “Especially me being a new guy coming in, a young guy, not fully accustomed to the league just yet, but it’s little things in the defensive zone picking up a guy or making sure you’re always between your guy on the net or good stick placement, it’s a whole bunch of little things come together and you really have to focus on those before you do the extra curriculars in the offensive zone.”
Wheeling around the ice is probably more fun but it won’t keep him around if it leads to too many mistakes. Babcock demands reliability first in the defensive zone. His biggest learning experience came on Feb. 14 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he tried to stand up Alexander Wennberg at the defensive blueline where a turnover would have led to a transition rush. But Wennberg side-stepped Dermott, leading to a two-on-one and the tying goal at the time.
“I thought I had a good read on him but obviously not. It’s one of those things you learn from on the guy where most guys, I think I’d have him there but he’s pretty shifty and knowing that now, you have to take a second read on who you’re defending which is my fault,” said Dermott after the game. “You have to take a more defensive approach because I was caught flat footed for sure.”
Much like Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly, who have grown the defensive sides of their games after entering the league as highly-skilled offensive defencemen, Dermott will only get better the more experience he gets under his belt. He knows what he has to do and it’s why Babcock knows his continued development needs to occur now at the NHL level.
“Work on the not so flashy stuff so I can still make my rushes and make plays in the offensive zone, but making sure I get my guy in the defensive zone and the pressure of that, you really have to focus in on that after the honeymoon phase is over,” said Dermott. “You really have to learn to play the defensive game if you want to stay in the NHL.”