With the news that both Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott are week-to-week with injuries, it’s time to take stock of the Leafs defensive usage and depth.
Jake Gardiner’s status has not been clarified beyond week-to-week, but Dermott is out for a month, per Leafs PR, which puts his return around the last three or four games of the regular season.
As of now, the NHL-contracted defenders on the Marlies are:
- Calle Rosen (PP 1st unit and PK) - the number one D on the Marlies, out with a foot injury that is said to be not serious
- Andreas Borgman (some PK) - second pair, out with a concussion, return time unknown
- Rasmus Sandin (PP and occasional PK) - back from an elbow injury, plays second/third pair
- Timothy Liljegren (PP) - back from an ankle injury, plays first/second pair
Note: I’m leaving out a couple of players who are clearly not moving up out of the NHL in Vincent LoVerde and Jordan Subban.