Quoting: mauston_atthews
Why would we trade a good defenceman on a 925000 contract? If he ends up being good this season, great! We have him on a steal of a contract. If not then he’s a depth player that can be on the Marlies for added depth. Why would we trade away depth? And yes it is a good problem to have because you need depth. We can’t have guys like marincin in the lineup again. Dermott is on a probe it deal to see if he’s gonna be part of this team in the future. Again, why would we trade 1. A young asset 2. Added roster depth. I don’t see the logic here.
My AGM is based on reality, not the fantasy that most Leafs' fans have right now that a bunch of NHL D are going to sit out. That has never happened and it never will. 2 of Holl, Dermott, Lehtonen, Bogo or Sandin will be traded before the season is over. Buffalo did this last year going into the season with Dahlin, Risto, Joki, Montour, Miller, Bogo, Scandella, McCabe and Pilut. All they ended up with, as anyone other some fans living in fantasy land would expect, was a team full of pissed off players and trade demands over lack of playing time. Scandella was traded for much less than he got a couple months later, Bogo was soon gone and Pilut, who they could really use right now, said up yours and went to the KHL.
Dermott signed a prove it deal. You need opportunity to prove yourself. He is not going accept being scratched. Neither is Bogo, Holl or Lehtonen. Sandin will likely be asking for a trade soon based on the way he has been treated and the poor development strategies from the team. Outside of fantasy land, and having assets to trade, this (believing that you can keep young NHL D with no spot for them) is not a good problem to have, and two of D will not be on the Leafs' by the end of the season.