After most periods, on his walk back to the dressing room, Travis Dermott will glance over to the Maple Leafs public relations staff with a hopeful, grinning eye.



“Do you need me?” he’ll joke in regards to the TV intermission interview.



The answer is almost always no.



One time he actually got the thumbs up. Good one, he laughed. No, this time he was actually needed for a chat with TSN’s Mark Masters. He concluded it by noting how thrilled he was for the opportunity.



Dermott likes to have fun that way. He’s willing to laugh, and he’s clearly enjoying the opportunity to play for his hometown team. The Newmarket, Ont. native recently spoke to The Athletic about a wide range of topics, including the cornrows he sported on summer vacation, 1-on-1 meetings with Mike Babcock and secrets about the Goat.



Let’s start with this: Who’s the best player you’ve played against so far in the...