The Edmonton Oilers signed unrestricted free-agent forward Derek Ryan to a two-year deal that carries an average annual value of $1.25 million, the team announced Wednesday.
Ryan spent the last three seasons with the Calgary Flames and will find himself on the other side of the Battle of Alberta next season. He put up 13 points in 43 games during the 2020-21 campaign.
Derek Ryan, signed 2x$1.25M by EDM, is a strong defence-first two-way bottom-six forward who played very well in third line minutes before getting his minutes cut last season. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/WDG7xlRwoL
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 28, 2021
The defensive-minded 34-year-old has proved himself as a solid bottom-six option; the Flames controlled 60% of the shot attempts and 67% of the high-danger chances with Ryan on the ice at five-on-five last season.
After going undrafted, Ryan signed with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015. He made his NHL debut the following year.
