Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Travis Dermott has signed a one-year two-way deal with the Arizona Coyotes, according to Cap Friendly. The deal has an NHL salary of $800,000 and an AHL salary of $450,000.
Acquired by the Canucks from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline in exchange for a third round pick, Dermott struggled with concussions this season and just couldn’t stay healthy. This led to the Canucks not extending him a qualifying offer and allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. Ethan Bear was the other defenceman the Canucks did not qualify due to injuries, and he remains without a deal at the time of this writing.
According to Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston, Dermott hoped to stay on with the Canucks, but given their defence-heavy free agent signings, there may not have even been a spot on the roster if he were healthy.
Instead, Dermott has settled for a show-me deal with the Coyotes, as he appeared in just 11 games this past season while dealing with concussion-related symptoms.
Since they acquired him at the 2022 Trade Deadline, Dermott has appeared in just 28 games for the Canucks with one rehab game in AHL Abbotsford. Dermott tallied two goals and one assist in that time. Obviously, everyone is pulling for Dermott to return to form, as he showed himself to be a capable third pairing option with the Toronto Maple Leafs with the upside to potentially turn into a top four option.
Of course, all that has changed, and with the unpredictability of concussions, there’s no way to know what Dermott’s season in the desert will actually look like.
Dermott, 26, was originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round at the 34th overall spot in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
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