Ex-Oilers & Leafs D-Man Travis Dermott Claimed Off Waivers By One of NHL's Top Teams

Opportunity has come knocking once again for defenseman Travis Dermott this season. After a strong training camp with the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers and a ten-game cup of coffee with the team, he was waived, only to find himself now with another Western power, the Minnesota Wild.

The #mnwild have claimed D Travis Dermott off waivers from the #LetsGoOilers
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) December 13, 2024

The Wild claimed Dermott off waivers from Edmonton, and the hope is that he'll be able to make his debut with the team Saturday night. The move comes as top pairing Wild defender Jake Middleton has been placed on LTIR with a broken finger in his right hand, and will miss significant time.

Dermott, a 27-year-old left-shot D-man, has collected 62 points with 316 blocked shots, 391 hits and a plus-12 rating in 339 career games over eight seasons. He's suited up with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, and the Oilers (for 10 games this season). He's a strong skater and puck-mover.

Losing Middleton, however, is a big blow to the Wild's blueline.

“He brings a lot to the table," said head coach John Hynes. "Anytime you get injuries, you’re going to lose what the player brings. But it’s also an opportunity. You don’t replace the player when he’s out, but other guys do get opportunities and then sometimes depending on the situation people share those roles.

“Maybe someone steps into the role. That’s all you can do in these situations is try to help and figure out the best way to get around what we’re missing with Middsy.”