The Edmonton Oilers have Mike Hoffman and Travis Dermott at training camp on tryout offers, but contracts may be coming.
Oilers insider Jim Matheson has hinted that the team may offer two-way contracts to both Dermott and Hoffman this year. It would allow the Oilers to retain both players for cheap and assign them to the AHL most of the season.
Of course, both veterans would have to agree to a two-way contract and likely playing in the AHL this season. However, if neither player has a better offer elsewhere, staying with the Oilers organization with a chance of a call-up to a contending team may be desirable for Dermott and Hoffman.
However, the Oilers may need to evaluate if they even want to retain either player. The Oilers need depth on defence and Travis Dermott would be a cheap option for his NHL experience of 329 games. The Oilers are lacking goal scoring in their bottom six that Hoffman and his 228 career goals could address, but the Oilers also have a younger player of a similar ilk in Raphael Lavoie. The younger forward Lavoie is now waiver eligible, meaning the Oilers will have to decide to keep him or risk losing him for nothing.
With only three preseason games left until the regular season begins, the Oilers will be imminently making a decision on their two players on tryout contracts. Still at this point, the Oilers could sign them, cut them from the team, or any other team is free to sign them. The next few days should give fans and media more information on Dermott and Hoffman, and whether or not the Oilers plan to get them under contract.
