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Edmonton Oilers have signed their first inner free agent of the low season, the membership has introduced:

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Derek Ryan signed with the Oilers on the primary day of free company 2 summers in the past, and delivered 2 strong years at a very good worth level of $1.25 million per season.

Now we study he’ll return for two extra years on the even higher worth level of $900,000. That’s simply $125,000 over the brand new league minimal of $775,000, in comparison with the Minimal + $500k that described his prior pact. Simply the newest instance of fine veteran gamers getting squeezed in between (and by) the ever-diminishing margins.

In a earlier submit about Edmonton’s 4 unrestricted free brokers, I had rated Ryan because the likeliest to stay round,

Expectations for 2023-24: The Oilers like this participant lots, and Ryan himself has indicated he wish to stick round. The query turns into can they discover a mutually-agreeable worth level? His $1.25 million AAV the final 2 seasons was each eminently affordable and nonetheless $500k above the league minimal. Any renewal is more likely to embrace a haircut and perhaps even a shave; such is the character of the wage cap world lately. I count on a one-year extension at or beneath $1 million.
Odds of staying: 70/30

Ryan’s acknowledged want to complete his profession right here prompt his possible willingness to simply accept a decrease wage within the safe data that he had an precise contract. Many gamers his age (36) and even youthful get caught up within the recreation of UFA Musical Chairs each summer season, winding up with no contract when the music stops and struggling to discover a Skilled Tryout or perhaps even a job in Europe earlier than camp.

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Derek Ryan doesn’t have to fret about that this summer season, or subsequent summer season both with the 2-year time period. That second 12 months was possible the carrot that acquired the deal performed.

Right here’s Ryan’s Cult of Hockey participant card, up to date with the brand new contract data.

From a staff perspective, it’s a contract which bears little danger. Ought to Ryan’s play out of the blue fall off a cliff, the pact might be waived with your complete quantity buried within the AHL. As an age 35+ deal it should be structured accurately to shelter the second 12 months, however presumably that element has been taken care of whilst not all the small print can be found as but.

No signal of his play dropping off throughout his first 2 years in Edmonton, certainly Ryan seems to be a kind of uncommon gamers who continues to buff and polish his recreation properly into his 30s. He’s an opportunistic scorer who offers up little the opposite means, posting superb defensive metrics within the eyes (or is it the algorithms?) of many analytics sorts akin to Andy & Rono.

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“99% defensive influence” sounds fairly darned good, doesn’t it?

Particularly when one other supply utilizing a distinct method arrives on the similar conclusion, as JFresh did right here:

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Ryan had the most effective 5v5 aim suppression numbers on the Oilers (1.86 GA/60), and whereas the membership’s manufacturing numbers have been additionally considerably muted at 2.40 GF/60, that’s nonetheless half a aim to the nice for each hour of play. That’s a really good consequence for a backside sixer or actually, for anyone. His GF% of 56% was third amongst forwards.

Then there’s this from Evolving Hockey, one other prime analytics website, suggesting the Oilers struck a depraved good cut price with the returning vet:

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As an alternative of giving Ryan a bump in pay of $250,000 as prompt by this mannequin, Ken Holland and firm have as a substitute shaved $350,000 towards the cap in comparison with final 12 months. It’s a tidy bit of labor and the kind of incremental “financial savings” that the GM should obtain to offset a minimum of a portion of wage will increase elsewhere within the group.

Is sensible for Derek Ryan at this level in his profession, and it is sensible for the Edmonton Oilers. Deal performed.

Lately on the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: Prime drawer winger to the Oilers? Hmm

STAPLES: Marchessault spilled the beans on precisely how Vegas knew it might beat Edmonton

McCURDY: So many UFAs on Oiles, so little cap area. What to do?

LEAVINS: Who would possibly Oilers be concentrating on on UFA market? 9 Issues

STAPLES: Analyzing Oilers’ tremendous iffy defensive techniques in Vegas collection

McCURDY: Oilers operating to face nonetheless this low season

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