The native of Newmarket, Ontario is at Oilers training camp on a professional tryout, and his performance appears to have impressed enough to warrant a contract. As reported by the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast, discussions about a deal have advanced this morning.
#LetsGoOilers are in talks about signing a deal as of this morning. Let’s follow this situation.
– 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast
A 27-year-old left-shot defenseman and former second-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has played 329 NHL games with the Leafs, Canucks, and Coyotes, showing solid analytics throughout his career. He also has 22 games of playoff experience, surpassing both Josh Brown and Troy Stecher.
Currently, the Oilers are competing for two defensive positions: a spot on the second pair and the right side of the third pairing. In last night’s preseason game, Dermott played alongside Darnell Nurse on the second pair, delivering a strong performance that included a goal from a forward position. While Dermott is a left-shot defenseman, he has experience playing on the right side during his career.
Another advantage for Dermott is his connection with several key players on the Oilers. He was coached by Kris Knoblauch at the Erie Otters and is also a longtime friend of Connor McDavid.
The Oilers have the cap space to sign Dermott for $838K without exceeding the salary cap. This is a reasonable investment for a solid depth defenseman, ensuring he remains with the team.
With only six days left until the Oilers’ home opener against the Winnipeg Jets, it will be interesting to see if they can keep Dermott and how it might affect their defensive lineup for the game.
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