Leafs D-man prospect Dermott seeking a role

While many Toronto Maple Leafs took it easy this last weekend before training camp and the long NHL season, Travis Dermott had an eventful few days.

The club’s top homegrown blue-line prospect took ill after Thursday’s practice, held before the Leafs’ rookie tournament. He missed a game against the Montreal Canadiens and only felt well enough to suit up Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.

The 20-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., was used in a variety of roles, including special teams, and came through a wrestling match in an eventual 4-3 shootout loss at Ricoh Coliseum, the home of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

But there was little time to dwell on blowing a three-goal lead with the parent club’s medicals on Thursday and a long list of candidates trying to keep Dermott off the NHL roster.

“To say his game has evolved is one thing, but he was really good in November before getting injured,” said Sheldon Keefe, who coaches the Marlies and ran the prospects bench this weekend.

“He’s learned to use the skill sets that he has. He’s really strong and because of that, he’s able to play really tight and not allow that much space for the other team to get going. He kills a lot of plays early.

“When he’s in the lineup, with his experience and his abilities, he makes the whole group feel a little better. He didn’t skate all weekend, then comes in and plays today. It was nice to have him back.”

Among those Dermott must get by at camp to get the sixth spot on defence or a depth role as the seventh or eighth man would be this year’s No. 1 pick Timothy Liljegren, Marlies teammate and close pal Andrew Nielsen (who were both in this tournament) and Swedish rookie free agents Andreas Borgman and Calle Rosen.

“I just wanted to get the first game out of the way,” said Dermott, a second-rounder in 2015. “I knew I was going to make some mistakes and I did (he was caught by a hit behind the play that led to Ottawa’s second goal). But I thought I made some good plays too. I thought I had some decent passes. Stepping up, interrupting their rush a couple times — that was good for me.

“I think it’s just confidence, getting that AHL year under my belt and knowing what I can do instead of being the shy little rookie. I think any player here is going to say they want to make the Leafs — that’s everyone’s goal — but nothing is for sure in this organization or the whole league, so we’ll see what happens.”

GAME ON

After his defence and goaltending were run ragged by the Canadiens on Friday in a 5-2 loss, Keefe was expecting better against the Sens.

Martins Dzierkals’s second goal of the tournament, off a nice rush by herculean defenceman Fedor Gordeev, started the Leafs off on the right skate just 1:30 into the night. A minute later, Ryan McGregor struck, and then Trevor Moore, a Marlie who sat against Montreal.

But the Sens poured it on with three third-period goals. Andreas Englund, Matteo Gennaro and with 1:13 to play, Filip Chlapik, all scored on the seasoned Kasimir Kaskisuo. It was a wake-up call for those headed to main camp.

“I liked our start,” Keefe said. “We played with a lot more speed, the defence played with a lot more purpose, and that helped us. We had a little more skill in the lineup today and that helped us move the puck a little better. That earned us the lead, but we didn’t carry the play and when you don’t, it’s a matter of time before they come at you.”

Marlies forward Dmytro Timashov was robbed by a Marcus Hogberg third-period glove that stopped a goal that would’ve likely clinched the game. Toronto misfired on the power play much of the game, including an overtime chance that would’ve prevented the sixround shootout loss.

SWEDE MEMORIES

The army of Toronto management and scouts in the stands had to like Carl Grundstrom’s second straight strong game in the tourney. The winger hasn’t played a bad one in his eight starts as a Marlie in playoffs and now as a Leaf. But it’s make it in Toronto or go home for Grundstrom, who has no AHL option.

Liljegren, meanwhile, once more showed plenty of dazzle with the puck and had an assist on the third Toronto goal.