The Edmonton Oilers have added a reinforcement from their American Hockey League affiliate. The team announced on Tuesday that they’ve recalled forward Derek Ryan from the Bakersfield Condors.
The 38-year-old pivot cleared through waivers back in January as the Oilers gave rookie Noah Philp a run as their fourth-line centre. A few weeks later, Philp was sent back to the AHL and Edmonton has been using Mattias Janmark and Kasperi Kapanen in the fourth centre spot.
Prior to going on waivers, Ryan had one goal and five points over 33 games with the Oilers. He’s suited up in 13 games with the Condors and has chipped in with three goals and eight points. Bringing Ryan back to Edmonton isn’t about offence, it’s about giving the fourth line and penalty kill somebody who can win a faceoff.
Janmark has a 42.5 percentage on the dot and Kapanen is worse at 39.5 percent. Philp won 40.8 percent of his draws in his first 12 games at the NHL level. Ryan has won 55.2 percent of the faceoffs he’s taken in his NHL career and posted an impressive 60.3 percent in 33 games with the Oilers in 2024-25.
Though he might lose his roster spot when versatile forward Trent Frederic is activated from the Injured Reserve, Ryan has earned another opportunity in the NHL because he took a positive approach to his demotion.
“I tried not to have any of the sour attitude that can come with that from some guys. It is what it is,” Ryan said back in February. “I think I’m going to be up back with the Oilers at some point. I think I can help them. But at the same time, I think I can help the Condors here in Bakersfield, and I have a job to do here, so I’m just making the most of it and can’t focus on what’s too far in front of me, just focusing on what I can do each and every day, there’s a lot of great guys here, a lot of great players.
I’m an older guy, a veteran guy. I can be a leader and show the younger guys what it takes to be a pro. I’ve been a pro for a long time. Nobody wants to be around the guy who’s coming down here and is sour and thinks he’s better than everybody else. I’m just trying to carry myself in the same way I have the last nine years in the NHL and doing what I can to help the team win.”
Ryan has had a very unexpected journey to the NHL. He spent four seasons playing in Europe after finishing his career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears and signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Carolia Hurricanes at the age of 28.
After spending most of the 2015-16 season in the AHL, Ryan established himself as a regular NHLer in 2016-17 with 29 points in 67 games for Carolina. He played with the Hurricanes and Calgary Flames before joining the Oilers in July of 2021 on a two-year contract. Ryan signed another two-year contract with the Oilers in June of 2023 and is set to become a free agent in July.