NEWS

OHA GRAD PROFILE: TRAVIS DERMOTT
FORMER HURRICANE MAKING HIS MARK IN THE NHL

By: Colton Phibbs, OHA Media
Photo: Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images
(Originally published in the 2017-18 OHA Annual Report)

Following his season with the York Simcoe Express in Minor Midget “AAA”, Travis Dermott was selected in the 9th round of the 2012 OHL draft by the Eerie Otters, 164th overall. For a player who is currently in the NHL, you might think that’s awfully late to have found someone with so much potential. But Dermott actually broke his collarbone twice during his season in minor midget and was only able to play 19 games. In those 19 games, Dermott scored two goals and added seven assists for nine points: a glimpse of what he was capable of. Travis was not signed for the next OHL campaign, so he made the jump from minor hockey to Jr. A with the OJHL’s Newmarket Hurricanes for the 2012-13 season.

Born on December 22, 1996, Dermott began the 2012-13 season with the Hurricanes as a 15-year-old rookie, an impressive accomplishment before he even hit the ice. In 53 games in the regular season, he registered 15 points for 0.28 points per game. Looking into his stats, it’s clear that Dermott took a little time to find his footing, but towards the end of the season he became more and more consistent in putting up points. In the fist 37 games of the season, Travis had one goal and seven assists. In the final 16 games of the regular season, he posted seven assists. His points per game in the first 37 games was 0.22, and in the last 16 games it was 0.44. The production he showed at the end of the season carried into the playoffs too, and in the Hurricanes’ 24 game playoff run, Dermott posted four goals and eleven assists: matching his regular season total of 15 points in 29 fewer games. Not bad at all for a rookie coming off breaking his collarbone in two different places.

“It was awesome… I had some great teammates, some great coaches that set me up to move forward to the OHL, and a really good team that was pretty successful.” Travis said when asked about his time with the Hurricanes. Specifically, he mentioned how it was his first time in a league with older players: “it was something I had to adjust to, but it was good for me. Especially moving forward… going into the OHL it was going to be the same age group so it was good to get used to”.

When asked about a memory from his season in Newmarket, Travis talked about the Hurricanes’ series against the Kingston Voyageurs that “topped my [Dermott’s] experience there”, in which he scored the double-overtime goal in game seven. “It was a one-timer along the ice from the furthest point on the blueline, and it just squeaked through – didn’t touch a thing – and it some how went in. I just remember looking up and putting my arms in the air… I was in complete shock and the whole team completely tackled me.” 

One thing Dermott brought up multiple times was maturity, both on the ice and off of it. “The maturity level goes up a lot. You don’t change who you are, but you get a feel for how to be close with everyone”. Clearly, Dermott took his own advice and didn’t change who he was, especially on the ice. After his season with the Hurricanes, Dermott was signed by the Erie Otters for the 2013-14 season; and contributed 33 points in 81 games over the course of the season and the playoffs. He was also named to the OHL’s first all-rookie team for that season.

Travis credited both his father and a former teammate when talking about the growth of his game while he was in Newmarket, and his transition into the OHL: “Away from the rink, my dad was the big go-to guy for me. I knew he’d have some pointers for me after every game. I also had my d-partner, Kyler Nixon, come down from the OHL, and he was great for me. He played where I wanted to play and he showed me what a player there [the OHL] does day-in day-out… he set me up better than anyone [to move forward].”

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In his sophomore season in the OHL, Dermott’s game took off. In 81 games across the regular season and playoffs, he had 62 points – with 17 of them coming in 20 playoff games. His production at the major junior level saw his NHL pre-draft ranking projected in the second round, where he was ultimately drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs at 34th overall. “I’ve seen him play in the playoffs where there’s even more intensity to the games and he seemed to thrive in those situations.” said Mark Hunter, after the draft. 

That summer, the Maple Leafs signed Dermott to a 3-year entry level contract before he was returned to the Otters for the 2015-16 season, and he picked up right where he left off. In just 51 regular season games, he posted 43 points, and his second straight season with 37 assists. In the playoffs, Travis continued to roll. He was over a point per game pace, picking up 14 points in 13 games. Incredible numbers for a defenseman; and enough to earn him a spot on the OHL second all-star team. He was also named to Team Canada for the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland.

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For the 2016-17 season, the Maple Leafs placed Dermott on the Toronto Marlies’ roster in the AHL. “From junior to pros, the guys are as big as they’re going to get. But everyone is obviously more skilled and faster. The biggest jump is just how good everyone is and you can’t take it easy on anyone.” Dermott said about the transition to professional hockey. In his first season with the Marlies, Travis had 24 points in 59 games and was second on the team’s defense core in scoring. The only d-man to top his point total was Andrew Nielsen, who played in 15 more games than Dermott that season. 

At the start of the 2017-18 season, many people believed that Dermott could crack the opening night roster for the Maple Leafs following an impressive pre-season showing. However, he was sent back to start the season with the Marlies. In 26 games there, Dermott scored two goals and added 15 assists for 17 points, and on January 5, 2018, was called up by the Maple Leafs to make his NHL debut the following night against the Vancouver Canucks. Besides a short demotion for the Leafs’ bye-week, Dermott remained with the team for the rest of the season and their first-round playoff matchup with the Boston Bruins. He picked up a goal and 12 assists in 37 regular season games and added another goal in the seventh game against Boston. His first NHL goal was one we all dream of scoring too: at home, for your hometown team, and in front of family, as Dermott’s parents were both in attendance that night. After the game he said “you can’t write it up any more perfect.”

A promising start in the NHL looks to have Travis set to start next season with the big club, and although he was returned to the Marlies for their Calder Cup playoffs run (which resulted in a Calder Cup Championship for the Marlies), you can bet it will continue to grow Travis’ game, and his maturity, for the seasons ahead with in the NHL.

BIO: TRAVIS DERMOTT
Birthday: Dec. 22, 1996
Hometown: Newmarket, ON
Position: Defense
Height: 6’0    Weight: 205 pounds
NHL Draft: Toronto Maple Leafs (round 2 #34 overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft)

Click here to view Travis Dermott’s profile on EliteProspects.com