Another former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads west on PTO
As news breaks that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson have come to terms on a one-year deal and the club also adding former sniper Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout contract, news also came out about some former members of the organization.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs second round pick Travis Dermott has signed a professional tryout with the Edmonton Oilers.
The 6'0" left shot defenseman was part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization from 2015 to 2022 after being selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2015 draft, 30 selections after the team drafted Mitch Marner.
Unfortunately, Dermott will always be most remembered for this: Being picked one selection ahead of superstar and future hall of famer Sebastian Aho.
Another former member of the Toronto Maple Leafs heads west on PTO
During the 2017-18 season, Dermott would split the season between the Marlies and Maple Leafs playing 37 games in the NHL and 28 games in the AHL. After the Maple Leafs were eliminated in seven games by the Boston Bruins he would be sent back to the Marlies where he would help the club when the Calder Cup dressing in 14 games.
Over the next few seasons he would tease the coaching staff and fans with the potential of becoming a middle pairing defenseman, even averaging 17:18 a night for two seasons. However, defensive miscues would keep him, at best a bottom pairing defender while also being a healthy scratch quite often.
Dermott's time with the club would finally come to an end in March 2022 after nearly eight years in the organization and 251 games with the big club when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a third round pick. Injuries would limit him to just 28 games with the Canucks over two seasons with one additional contest with the baby Canucks in the AHL. Last season Demott would sign on with the Arizona Coyotes and play in 50 games collecting seven points and averaging over 17-minutes a night.
If Dermott can earned a contract in Edmonton, fans can see a slick skating defender who Oilers head coach Kris Knobluach is familiar with as he coached him for three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters. Dermott was also teammates with Connor McDavid for a pair of seasons in Erie, while also playing alongside Connor Brown with the Otters, Marlies and Maple Leafs.
In other news:
37-year old Jordie Benn who played for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23 announced his retirement this past week. The Victoria, British Columbia native played this past season for Brynas IF of the the Swedish Elite League where he helped his club win Le Mat Trophy as league champions.
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The undrafted defenseman finished his career with 607 NHL games played and 137 points.