Edmonton Oilers
Oilers Waive Extra D-Man After Regula Waiver Pickup
With the decision to claim Alec Regula off of waivers by the Edmonton Oilers, the Oilers waived defenseman Travis Dermott.
** Update: It is being reported that the Edmonton Oilers have waived defenseman Travis Dermott on Thursday. This is the move most expected after the team picked up Alec Regula off of waivers on Wednesday.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#NHL Waivers today:#Oilers placed D Travis Dermott on waivers. #UtahHC claimed D Dakota Mermis on waivers from #Leafs.#nhljets placed F Henri Nikkanen on unconditional waivers for purposes of contract termination.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 12, 2024
The Edmonton Oilers’ decision to claim defenseman Alec Regula off waivers doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve found a solution to their blue-line upgrade question this season. But, what it could indicate is that another roster move is imminent.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic points out that with Regula now on the roster, the Oilers have eight defensemen. This has put them back into long-term injured reserve (LTIR), halting their ability to accrue cap space — a crucial factor for teams planning to make significant moves ahead of the March trade deadline.
Nugent-Bowman noted that the Oilers’ management has consistently emphasized the importance of building cap space. They want to be able to add a bigger piece at the trade deadline, and if they aren’t building cap space, they can’t. ” “Bringing in Regula… means they’re back in LTIR and are no longer accruing cap space. “This could open the door for a subsequent roster move in the near future,” Nugent-Bowman explained.
What Move Might Be Coming for the Oilers?
The Oilers face limited options to address this situation. Currently, Travis Dermott, the team’s seventh defenseman, is the most likely candidate to be placed on waivers and reassigned to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. They could place Regula on waivers, but they would risk losing him and possibly back to the Bruins.
Dermott, who has played just 10 games this season and hasn’t dressed since November 19, could be the odd man out if Edmonton keeps Regula as a depth option.
As Zach Laing of Oilers Nation points out, complicating matters further is the uncertainty surrounding forward Viktor Arvidsson’s return from injury. While Arvidsson skated in practice this week, he remains on injured reserve, not LTIR, meaning his cap hit continues to count against the Oilers’ books. His eventual return could create further roster pressure, potentially bumping players like Kasperi Kapanen down the lineup or out of action.
The Oilers will be juggling cap considerations all season, and the addition of Regula is a solid example of this. Essentially, every move means another move will follow.
Next: Trade Watch: Kadri and 3 Other NHL Forwards to Keep an Eye On
