Jim Matheson: Oilers deal for Ryan a win for all

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With the signing of all-purpose position participant Derek Ryan, that’s one in every of Edmonton Oiler GM Ken Holland’s containers checked off as we speak as he navigates his squeezed wage cap.

Holland checked out Ryan’s physique of labor this previous regular-season when he had 13 objectives and in addition his exemplary work within the playoffs, and signed the 36-year-old UFA ahead to a two-year take care of a mean cap hit of $900,000.

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That’s a win for each events with Ryan appearing as his personal agent.

With each penny counting, the Oilers get the staff’s Masterton trophy nominee for lots cheaper now than his $1.25 million cap hit final season. And Ryan, who performed right-wing and centre, killed penalties and was additionally one of many staff’s two right-handed face-off guys together with commerce deadline pick-up Nick Bjugstad, will get a two-year contract at his age.

If the second NHL yr doesn’t work out for the Oilers and Ryan, they’ll bury the $900,000 in Bakersfield and it doesn’t depend towards their NHL cap.

“It’s good to be right here on this subsequent two-year window which is a fairly thrilling time to be an Oiler,” mentioned Ryan, who was one of the constant position gamers from final October on, averaging 11 minutes an evening.

“I assumed I used to be in a position to do quite a lot of issues … offering quite a lot of parts to the staff,” mentioned Ryan, who soldiered by means of time in Europe and didn’t get to the NHL till he was 29 however hit the 500-game mark this previous season.

“I’m comfy with my position in Edmonton beneath Jay (coach Woodcroft). I produced offensively. I scored 13 objectives, which is lots, and if I’d had just a little extra luck I may need had extra assists. It’s arduous to attain five-on-five however to attain 13 instances even-strength that’s a plus.”

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Ryan had 20 factors, 17 ES and three short-handed. He had two short-handed objectives, and received 50 p.c of his 434 face-offs. He’s scored no less than 10 objectives in six of his seven NHL seasons. He thinks the sport effectively—thinks it like a coach, really if he’s pondering post-playing profession—and may be very robust defensively. He’s the right position participant. He performed extra wing than centre this previous season however as a result of he began within the center can fill in there higher than most wingers.

“I’ve made the transition to the wing, which is ok. We’re fairly robust down the center,” he mentioned. Beginning with 97 and 29, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ryan McLeod additionally there.

Ryan turns 37 in December however he doesn’t have quite a lot of NHL miles on his odometer. “Knock on wooden I haven’t had any traumatic accidents. The one one the place I missed a major period of time was a damaged finger after a blocked shot. No main again or knee or shoulder points,” he mentioned.

“I don’t assume I’ve slowed down, or I’m lacking a step. I don’t assume I’m being handed by gamers. I’m within the health club each day, working arduous, and I’m motivated as a result of I need to win. It’s not concerning the cash, it’s about successful, and the household being glad. These containers are checked in Edmonton.”

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Sure, he pays consideration to cap points and who has to signal.

“After all I have a look at that after I’m within the midst of negotiating a contract extension. You’re fearful about getting all of the items again (on final yr’s roster) to take a run at it.

Particularly as an older man who desires to win. That’s in all probability why I took a few hundred thousand {dollars} lower than I may have squeezed out of the Oilers if I wished to.

I believe Ken can use that different locations to assist us get higher,” he mentioned.

Holland, who is probably going attempting to commerce Kailer Yamamoto and his $3.1 million hit for cap causes, has two different UFA’s he’s trying to re-sign—Bjugstad, who could have priced himself out of the cheaper Oiler image after 17 league objectives and three extra within the playoffs, and Mattias Janmark, who made $1.25 million final yr. If he can get Janmark on the similar $900,000 he in all probability brings him again, too.

He additionally has to signal restricted free-agent backside six forwards McLeod and Klim Kostin, each beneath $800,000 this season, however each with arbitration rights and anticipating good-looking raises.

And, in fact, there’s that upcoming bridge contract for break-out RFA defenceman Evan Bouchard, who had 18 playoff factors and solely made $863,000 wage this previous season. Even when they get him on a one-year deal, it’ll be no less than a $3 million cap hit

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STAYING OR GOING FOR STAIOS?
If you wish to join the dots, it actually seems that new Ottawa Senators’ purchaser Michael Andlauer and Edmonton Oilers advisor Steve Staios is perhaps a front-office match due to their lengthy tie-in with the junior Hamilton Bulldogs the place Andlauer was the proprietor and Staios the president and GM.

The ex-Oiler defenceman Staios, who was introduced on board by Holland final fall, is perhaps getting an overture from Andlauer, though the Sens’ buy may not shut till September, so any modifications within the Sens’ hockey ops may not come till then.

No one’s laid out a succession plan right here with Staios or anyone else with Holland on the final yr of his five-year deal right here however Holland mentioned in Might that Staios may very well be taking up expanded Oiler duties this season, befitting an assistant GM.

The Oilers have three assistant GMs (Invoice Scott, who’s their wage cap knowledgeable, Keith Gretzky, who takes care of the farm staff in Bakersfield, and Brad Holland, who takes care of the professional scouting). Staios is presently in Oiler scouting conferences.

“Assistant managers go to professional video games, NHL video games, American League video games, and he’s the right-hand man within the decision-making course of or one of many right-hand males,” Holland mentioned after the Oiler season ended.

Andlauer and his companions paid near $1 billion for the Senators Tuesday. Possibly Andlauer would relatively have Staios as his NHL GM relatively than the long-standing Pierre Dorion however that may can be kicked far down the street.

Normally NHL GM’s should apprentice as an assistant GM first, popping out of junior like Kelly McCrimmon in Vegas for 3 years with George McPhee. And Joe Sakic, with no NHL GM expertise, was first senior advisor to GM Greg Sherman, then VP of hockey operations, earlier than changing into Avalanche GM.

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