Veteran defenseman Travis Dermott, who previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, has signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). The announcement was made Saturday by Ryan Martin, the General Manager of the Wolf Pack and Associate General Manager of the New York Rangers, the NHL affiliate of the Wolf Pack.

Dermott, 29, brings a wealth of NHL experience to the Wolf Pack, having played 348 career games in the league. Throughout his NHL career, the Newmarket, Ontario native has tallied 16 goals and 46 assists for a total of 62 points.

Dermott's NHL journey includes stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, and Minnesota Wild. Last season, Dermott split time between the Oilers and the Wild organizations, also appearing in three AHL games with the Bakersfield Condors, where he scored one goal. He played 10 games with the Oilers and 9 games with the Wild.

The Toronto Maple Leafs originally drafted the 6-foot, left-shot defenseman 34th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Dermott's most productive NHL season came in 2018-19 with the Maple Leafs, where he recorded 4 goals and 17 assists while averaging 17:18 of ice time in 64 games. He also distinguished himself as an AHL All-Star in 2018 while playing for the Toronto Marlies. That same year, he contributed to the Marlies' Calder Cup Championship, playing 14 games during their playoff run.

The Wolf Pack's acquisition of Dermott could potentially address the New York Rangers' depth concerns ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Dermott's PTO with Hartford provides him an opportunity to showcase his abilities to the Rangers' management. Dermott is looking to demonstrate that he is healthy and ready to return to the NHL. He underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason to address a lingering issue.

The Hartford Wolf Pack have been a prominent franchise in the American Hockey League since 1997 and serve as the top development affiliate for the New York Rangers.