Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Babcock keeping Travis Dermott on short leash

Despite many viewing Travis Dermott as a lock for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, it appears that he might have a shorter leash than expected.

Last season saw Travis Dermott play a 37-game spell with the Toronto Maple Leafs before he was eventually sent back down to the Toronto Marlies – helping lead them to the first Calder Cup in franchise history.

After showing plenty of promise that gives fans hope of him one day becoming a top-four defenceman in the NHL, it comes as no surprise that Dermott is expected to earn a permanent job this season.

But while this should not come as a surprise, the fact that Mike Babcock himself isn’t 100 percent convinced by the Leafs’ 2015 second round pick yet should.

Sportnet’s Chris Johnston wrote an interesting piece about Babcock not quite seeing what he expected out of Dermott suggests he may not be the strong lock for the team as initially expected.

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In last season’s spell, he scored a goal and had 12 assists while averaging 16 minutes on the ice, having a solid impact from the get-go.

He sported a 55 percent Corsi rating while starting in the offensive zone 51.7 percent of the time, having a slightly sheltered role on the third pairing – often alongside former Babcock favourite Roman Polak.

His 3.1 points share last season ranked higher than Polak, Connor Carrick, Andreas Borgman, Connor Brown and Kasperi Kapanen – to name just a few.

He also blocked 36 shots, threw 48 hits and had nine takeaways in his 37-game cameo, and left a lasting impression on fans of the organisation.

On most predicted line-ups that can be seen online, Dermott is pencilled in often as the Leafs’ third pairing left-hander, with some line-ups even pushing him up to the second pairing if Jake Gardiner is bumped up to partner Morgan Rielly.

It is difficult to imagine a Leafs line-up without the 21-year-old, with him being another great example of the team’s ability to develop its own young prospects in recent years.

He won the Calder Cup last season and looks certain to be an NHL player for the remainder of his career, but he will first need to show Babcock that he is the right player for this team – making the veteran coach have no choice but to keep the fan favourite around.

With Dermott still not needing to clear waivers, he could yet be sent back to the AHL, along with Borgman and Calle Rosen – his closest competition for the team’s bottom pairing.

The leash might be short for Dermott, but his play should ensure that he remains on the team from day one of the 2018-19 season.

What do you think Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Will Dermott solidify his role with the team? Is Babcock just trying to motivate his players? Or will the 21-year-old be sent back to the AHL at some point this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.