Add in the fact that Dermott can play both the left and right side of defence while providing a playing style that heavily emphasizes speed and mobility, it's clear why Dermott was identified as a deadline target.
Allvin cited that both Vancouver's "pro scouting and analytics departments were excited about Dermott
When the 25-year-old defender's game is on, he is using his feet to gain an advantage over his competition.
"Whether that means breaking the puck out quickly or getting up in the rush and joining when that's open," said Dermott in his introductory press conference, "moving my feet is a big part of my game. And on the contrary when I'm not having my best game, sometimes you tighten up and in turn, sometimes that means I stop moving my feet and start overthinking things."
Dermott doesn't just possess the linear speed that helps him join the rush or get back to make a defensive play but he also has above average lateral mobility. His shifty edgework makes him an omnidirectional skating threat that aids him in all three zones of the ice.
His fleet-footedness gives him the confidence to stay calm under pressure from a forecheck, hold on to the puck, and manipulate oncoming attackers while disguising his intentions in order to instigate a breakout. According to data tracked by the
All Three Zones project
, he is one of the most efficient defencemen this season at retrieving pucks in the defensive zone and turning them into controlled breakouts.
In the neutral zone, Dermott's footwork enables him to play an aggressive style of rush defence. By playing tight gaps and stepping up at the red and blue lines to meet puck carriers early in the neutral zone, he closes down the time and space of oncoming attackers, forcing them to dump the puck in or risk being stripped of the puck.
According to the All Three Zones project, Dermott was among the league leaders in denying controlled zone entries between 2017-2021 but has taken a step back this year, likely in an effort to mitigate some of the risk in his game.
Dermott's agility also elevates his ability in the offensive zone by leveraging heel turns to make him shifty along the boards in order to protect the puck, feign intentions, and accelerate down the walls. It also allows him to traverse the blue line while keeping his body square to the net so that he has a full view of the ice in front of him and maintains his threat to shoot and pass.
In Dermott, the Canucks acquired a highly capable NHL defenceman with strong underlying defensive numbers relative to his usage, a skillset that gives their blue line another mobile puck moving defender, and a player young enough that the Canucks can help grow while being able to shed some salary.
Note: all stats referenced within this article are based off publicly available data.
