The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed former Ontario Junior Hockey League defenceman Travis Dermott to a one-year contract extension worth $874,125.

Dermott, 23, recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 56 regular season games in 2019-20 before adding one assist in five games during the Maple Leafs' Qualifying Round series against Columbus.

The Newmarket native who played for his hometown Hurricanes of the OJHL has collected 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) in 157 NHL games over three seasons with Toronto. 

Dermott was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round (34th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Born on Dec. 22, 1996, Dermott began the 2012-13 season with Newmarket (now the Milton Menace) as a 15-year-old rookie. In 53 games in the regular season, he registered 15 points for 0.28 points per game.

The production he showed at the end of the season carried into the postseason. During the Hurricanes’ 24-game playoff run, Dermott posted four goals and 11 assists: matching his regular season total of 15 points in 29 fewer games.

He won the league-wide Scotiabank Fan Favourite award and was named to the OJHL Second Team All-Prospect squad.

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 (with the Erie Otters), and a really good team that was pretty successful.” Travis told the Ontario Hockey Association when asked about his time with the Hurricanes, who lost to St Mike’s in the championship final.

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”.