Why Did the Maple Leafs Give Travis Dermott Such a Big Raise? Seattle?

A Few Possible Reasons

There are a few possible reasons Dermott was re-signed and given a raise. First, there’s a school of thought that the young defenseman might be seen as a potential star-in-the-making (or at least a competent and trustworthy defenseman) who, although his new contract calls for his salary to nearly double to an average $1.5 million, would have received more on the open market.

Second, the Maple Leafs see the youngster as a part of the team’s defensive core of the future and want him to stay. Although Dermott hasn’t yet proved himself on the score sheet, perhaps the Maple Leafs coaching staff have seen enough to be certain they want the young man for a longer time.

A third reason (perhaps unlikely) is a variation of the second, and it the logic goes something like this: the Maple Leafs see Dermott as part of the future but knew they were going to expose him to the Seattle Kraken during the expansion draft on July 21. As a way to make Dermott less attractive to the Kraken, they over paid him hoping Seattle would not pick him up. In other words, the organization was willing to sign him to a contract that was above market value hoping that the Kraken might choose someone else.

A fourth possibility (perhaps more likely) is that the Kraken and the Maple Leafs have already have an agreement. One part of that agreement is that the Kraken already have told the Maple Leafs who they will choose. If that choice is Dermott, the contract was in part negotiated between three parties – Dermott (with or without his team’s knowledge), the Kraken, and the Maple Leafs. However, if the Kraken weren’t going to select Dermott, now he’s signed and ready to take his place on the team’s roster.

There are No Guarantees for Dermott

It might be that the Kraken believe Dermott to be their best choice in the draft. It’s not obvious. However, the one thing that’s obvious is that, although Dermott was re-signed by the Maple Leafs, it’s still possible he’ll be chosen by Seattle during the expansion draft.

How his new two-year, $3 million contract impacts that decision we can’t know – at least not yet. The Maple Leafs might not protect him and will simply wait to see what Seattle decides to do or what’s in the new franchise’s best interest. 

Dermott was philosophical about such a possibility. As he noted earlier this week, “That’s always in the back of your mind, but something I have zero control over. You plan otherwise, but if it happens, it happens. I’m happy to be here (in Toronto), exactly where I want to be, where my family is.”

Things Are Pointing to Alex Kerfoot as the Player the Kraken Might Draft

The smart money is that the Maple Leafs won’t protect Alex Kerfoot in the draft and that he seems like the most likely player for Seattle to choose from Toronto. I know I would consider him. He has a motor that won’t quit and he’s smart on the penalty kill and flexible enough to play a number of positions.

At this point, no one’s certain whether the Maple Leafs will choose to protect (a) seven forwards, three defenseman, and a goalie or (b) eight total skaters and a goalie. Dermott is likely to be exposed. In addition to Dermott, defenseman Justin Holl and (as noted) Kerfoot are likely available to be picked up.

Have Kyle Dubas and Ron Francis Hatched a Plan?

Given the hefty raise Dermott received and the fact that he signed before the expansion draft, it’s possible that Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas and Seattle’s general manager Ron Francis have a deal. The most possible scenario is that Dermott is seen as a desirable player for Toronto who want to hold onto him for several reasons.

Certainly, Dermott’s valuable insurance in case the team won’t be able to or will choose not to re-sign Morgan Rielly, who will become an unrestricted free agent after next season. (from “Maple Leafs re-sign Travis Dermott for two years,” Lance Hornby, The Toronto Sun, 08/07/21).