Oilers re-sign veteran forward Derek Ryan to two-year deal

Ryan was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer upon the conclusion of the two-year, $1.25M AAV deal he originally signed with the Oilers back in 2021.

After going undrafted during his tenure with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, Ryan joined the University of Alberta’s men’s ice hockey program in 2007. He spent four years with the Golden Bears before embarking upon a professional career in Austria in 2011.

Ryan finally signed his first NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, appearing in six games with the club at the end of the 2015–16 season. The 5-foot-10 center emerged as a full-time NHLer with the team the following year.

After two full seasons with the Hurricanes, Ryan signed a three-year, $3.125M AAV deal with the Calgary Flames as an unrestricted free agent in 2018. He enjoyed three successful seasons in Calgary before signing with the Oilers — and, in the process, returning to his old university stomping grounds.

Through exactly 500 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons with the Hurricanes, Flames, and Oilers, Ryan has collected 76 goals and 191 points. He’s added three goals and nine points in 41 Stanley Cup Playoff games.