Travis Dermott, a defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers, was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild. Dermott had appeared in 10 games for the Oilers, posting no points and a minus-three rating. His departure came after the Oilers claimed defenseman Alec Regula from the Boston Bruins, which led to Dermott’s placement on waivers. The Wild quickly moved to add Dermott to their roster, adding depth to their defense as they faced injuries to key players.
Minnesota’s need for defensemen increased after a series of injuries. Wild defenseman Jake Middleton was injured during a game against the Oilers, leading to his placement on long-term injury reserve. In addition, Jonas Brodin has been sidelined with an upper-body injury. With both defensemen unavailable, Dermott’s arrival is timely, and he could provide much-needed support on the left side of the defense. Wild general manager Bill Guerin mentioned that despite the quick acquisition, Dermott could make his debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Dermott, 27, is in the final year of a one-year, $775,000 contract. The Wild are hoping he can step into the lineup and help fill the gaps left by the injured players. The decision to claim Dermott also reflects the Wild’s ongoing need to bolster their defensive corps, ensuring they have enough healthy bodies to compete effectively. Dermott’s ability to provide depth on defense could be crucial as the team navigates through the injury struggles.
Meanwhile, the New York Islanders placed two players, Pierre Engvall and Oliver Wahlstrom, on waivers. Engvall, 28, has had a mixed season with three goals and six points in 20 games. He started the season in the AHL but was called up due to injury concerns among the Islanders’ forwards. Acquired by the Islanders in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2023, Engvall signed a seven-year, $3 million per year contract with the team last offseason. If unclaimed, he could be reassigned to the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders.
Oliver Wahlstrom, the Islanders’ first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, was also placed on waivers. Wahlstrom, 24, has struggled to make a significant impact in the NHL, with his best season yielding just 24 points. This year, he has posted two goals and two assists in 27 games, but his ice time has dropped to around 10 minutes per game. Wahlstrom signed a one-year, $1 million contract in the offseason. The Islanders’ decision to place both players on waivers is likely a move to free up cap space and roster spots, potentially signaling changes or the opportunity for other players to step up in their absence.
