Report: Leafs' Dubas shopping two defenseman on the trade market

According to a report from Sportsnet NHL insider Nick Kypreos (...yes, he's back at Sportsnet), Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas is shopping defencemen Travis Dermott and Justin Holl on the trade market.

Check it out:

It's not exactly clear what Dubas is looking for in return for Dermott and/or Holl, but chances are he's looking for some depth scoring. Maybe someone like... oh... y'know... someone like Jared McCann, Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson... 

In all seriousness, I'm not sure that either Dermott or Holl is bound to generate much interest around the league. Perhaps they might be picked up on waivers from a team looking for a 6th or 7th defenceman, but I don't see teams lining up to give up assets for either player. But then again, maybe I'm being too critical?

Dermott has one point in nine games to start the season, while Holl has gone pointless in seven games. Both players have effectively had their jobs taken by youngsters Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren. Up front, it's clear that the Leafs need an injection of skill. Nick Robertson is still likely out of the lineup for another month while he recovers from a broken leg and while Michael Bunting has looked decent in the top six forward group, he's not really a long-term solution in that position.  

For better or worse I think the Leafs are either going to have to pony up some decent draft picks to acquire top six talent or, more likely, they'll just have to make do with what they have currently on their roster. Robertson, as I said, can step up once he's back in the lineup and players like Bunting, Ondrej Kase, Nick Ritchie and Jason Spezza have all shown flashes of offensive ability in recent games. Again, for better or worse I think that this team's lineup is pretty solidified and they'll have to make do with what they have, but that's the position the Leafs have put themselves in. When all of your money is tied up in just a few players, it's tough to find scoring from the depth players in your lineup.