Report: Oilers To Sign Travis Dermott Off PTO

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to sign Travis Dermott to a two-way contract this season after he was brought to camp on a PTO and performed well.

The signing is expected to come on October 9, the day of the Oilers' first game of the 2024-25 season, per PuckPedia. Edmonton has to first move around some cap in order to make the signing work. The most notable one being moving Evander Kane to the LTIR and freeing up the cap space.

Dermott is not only expected to be signed by the Oilers, he should start the season in the NHL and not be placed on waivers. The former Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and Arizona Coyotes defender should serve as the seventh defensemen in Edmonton and compete for playing time on the third pairing.

Dermott's play hasn't exactly been great since leaving Toronto in 2022, but a near season-long concussion while with the Canucks in 2022-23 didn't help. Something the impact stays with a player and the 27-year-old is fighting to earn his spot back in the league as an everyday player.

The Oilers need hungry players and options on the back-end that lost three pieces in the offseason. Dermott wrapped up last season with the Coyotes, playing 50 games while recording two goals and seven points. He will block shots and hit, but has never been a defenseman that the team he plays for counts on to eat minutes or play a lot.

Edmonton didn't get what they wanted from Josh Brown, so last year's teammate in Dermott could step in and play in that expected role. Maybe he can turn things around on a good team like the Oilers this season once he gets his contract.