Perry Nelson-Imagn images
The Edmonton Oilers lost defenseman Travis Dermott to the Minnesota Wild on NHL waivers. The New York Islanders also placed Pierre Engvall and Oliver Wahlstrom on the wire, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The other 31 NHL teams can claim Engvall and Wahlstrom in the next 24 hours. If no one claims them, the Islanders could assign them to AHL Bridgeport on Saturday.
The Wild added a healthy body to their blueline by claiming Dermott, who waived after the Oilers claimed defenseman Alec Regula from the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Wild defenseman Jake Middleton was injured while blocking an Evan Bouchard shot during Thursday’s game against the Oilers. As a result, the Wild placed the left-shot D-man on long-term injury reserve.
Defenseman Jonas Brodin was also absent in Minnesota due to an upper-body injury. That means Dermott could fill Minnesota’s hole on the left side of their defense.
Wild GM Bill Guerin told reporters that despite the short notice, Dermott could debut for Minnesota on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dermott, 27, played 10 games for the Oilers and had no points and a minus-three rating. He has a one-year contract and makes $775,000.
Engvall, meanwhile, has three goals and six points in 20 games for the Islanders. The 28-year-old left winger started the season in the AHL, but was called up due to injuries in the attack. The Islanders acquired him in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2023. Last season, GM Lou Lamoriello signed the Swede to a seven-year contract worth $3 million per year.
Wahlstrom was the Islanders’ first-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft. However, the 24-year-old has never recorded more than 24 points in a season. This campaign, the 24-year-old right winger has two goals and two assists in 27 games and a minus-six rating. His average ice time is about 10 minutes.
Wahlstrom signed a one-year, $1 million contract this offseason.
Get the latest news and trending stories straight to your inbox by subscribing to the Hockey News newsletter here. And share your opinion by commenting below the article on THN.com or via a visit to our forum.
Related: NHL Power Rankings: Key Positions Every Team Must Address Now
