Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports
The Edmonton Oilers have had a very busy day via trades and free agency and it continues as they add Derek Ryan into the fold on a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.25 million.
Ryan joins the likes of Cam Talbot and Milan Lucic as a few players who can say they’ve been able to experience both sides of the Battle of Alberta with today’s signing.
In four seasons with the Calgary Flames, Ryan was a defense-first player but before the 2020-21 campaign provided the Flames with no less than 29 points in a year. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, Ryan had back-to-back seasons of 38 points.
Ryan is also a rare American to sign with the Oilers but in its own way, it’s a bit of a homecoming for the native of Spokane, Washington. Ryan’s hockey journey before the NHL saw him play college hockey not in the NCAA but in the U Sports (then known as CIS) system.
From 2007 to 2011, Ryan was a member of the legendary University of Alberta Golden Bears. In 2008 Ryan would win a U Sports title with the Golden Bears.
Ryan joins Warren Foegele as the latest depth addition coming to the Oilers, as upfront the roster for 2021-22 continues to take shape.
The Oilers also made a smart play in terms of not locking up Ryan for too long or offering too much for a player that will primarily be on the third line of Dave Tipppet’s squad.
