Travis Dermott

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Dermott 46th amongst North American skaters, a boost from his midterm ranking of 47.

Travis Dermott (born December 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Dermott was born on December 22, 1996, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada to parents Jim and Paula Dermott.

He also grew up with an older sister.

His mother, who is a retired figure skater, first encouraged him to begin skating before the age of four and eventually signed him up for Timbits hockey.

He eventually graduated to the Super 7 Tyke Team in Newmarket by the age of seven with his father as his coach.

Growing up, Dermott's favourite team was the Chicago Blackhawks and his favourite player was Duncan Keith.

Besides hockey, he also played lacrosse with future Erie Otters teammate Connor McDavid.

Dermott began his youth hockey career with the Minor Midget “AAA” York Simcoe Express.

During the 2010–11 season, he broke his collarbone twice causing him to only play in 19 games.

During his tenure with the Express, Dermott helped the team win five OMHA championships and an OHF peewee title.

Scouts witnessed Dermott's success and he was offered a try out with an East Coast select spring hockey team and signed with the Newmarket Hurricanes in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).

In junior, Dermott was drafted by the Erie Otters in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Draft.

He was later drafted by the Erie Otters in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Draft but continued to play with the Newmarket Hurricanes.

After being named to the OJHL's 2nd Team All-Stars and Fan Favourite, he committed to play for the Erie Otters on May 4, 2013.

Following a strong first year performance with the Erie Otters in which he scored 28 points in 67 games, Dermott was rewarded when he was named to the 2013–14 OHL First All-Rookie Team.

During following season, Dermott scored 45 points in 61 games, including a franchise record seven-game assist streak which was the longest such stretch by a defenceman.

He also led all Erie defencemen in playoff scoring with 17 points earning him a jump in ratings and a projection as a possible first round pick.

Dermott attested his scoring prowess as the result of filling in for a suspended Kurtis MacDermid and practicing with former NHL defenceman Jay McKee.

His tenure with the team stretched over three seasons and he was named to the 2014 First All-Rookie Team.

During his tenure with the Otters, Dermott attended McDowell High School and was named Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for January 2014.

Dermott was rated as a top prospect projected as a possible first round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft but was ultimately selected in the second round, 34th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He has previously played for the Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks.

Dermott was eventually drafted 34th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with them on July 22, 2015.

Prior to his draft, Dermott began training with Dave Harris at Iperformance.

He returned to the Otters for his final year of major junior hockey after attending the Leafs training camp.

On December 1, 2015, Dermott and teammate Dylan Strome were selected to compete with Team Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Upon returning from Finland empty handed, Dermott was ejected from a game against the Mississauga Steelheads for a hit to the head on Owen Tippett.

After the game concluded, he was assessed a five-game suspension following a hearing.

He has also competed with Canada men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2016 IIHF World U20 Championship.

After making his professional career debut in 2016 with the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, Dermott was utilized on the team's penalty-kill and moved to the right hand side as a left-handed shot.

Although the Otters qualified for the 2016 OHL Playoffs, they were swept in the OHLs Western Conference final by the London Knights.

After the Otters were swept in the Western Conference final, Dermott joined the Toronto Marlies for the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs.

He made his professional post-season debut with the Marlies during the third round of the playoffs as a replacement for Stuart Percy before they were ultimately eliminated by the Hershey Bears.

On August 26, 2016, Dermott was selected to compete at the Maple Leafs 2016 Rookie Tournament and their 2016 training camp.

After participating in both, he was returned to the Toronto Marlies for their 2016–17 season.

Dermott made his AHL debut on October 16, 2016, where he recorded his first career AHL goal and assist in a win against the Utica Comets.

He concluded his rookie season with the Marlies having recorded 24 points in 59 games, earning him a second-place finish amongst Marlies defensemen in scoring.

The following year, Dermott was again selected to participate in the Leafs Rookie Tournament, but was reassigned to the Marlies to begin the season.

He made his NHL debut in 2018 and, after losing to the Boston Bruins in the first round, went on to help the Marlies win their first Calder Cup in franchise history.