The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Travis Dermott to a two-year contract extension. The average annual value of the contract is worth $1.5 million.

Dermott, 24, skated in 51 regular season games with the Maple Leafs during the 2020-21 season, recording six points (two goals, four assists), and appeared in three playoff games for the club. The Newmarket native has registered 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists) in 208 regular season games and five points (two goals, three assists) in 22 playoff games, all with the Maple Leafs.

Dermott was originally selected by Toronto in the second round (34th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

A cynic might note that in order to use the eight skaters Expansion Draft protection format to protect four defenders and four forwards, the Leafs neded a defender under contract for next season who met the exposure rules. They now have that.

A less jaded person might believe the Leafs have locked up a good young depth defender for two more RFA years. He will have one RFA year left at then end of this contract making the salary structure interesting:

Free Agents and Contracts