Edmonton Oilers Coach Benching Veteran Player: NHL Career May Soon Be Over After Roster Move

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
November 23, 2024 (6:27 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Oilers veteran Derek Ryan began his NHL career uncharacteristically late at 30 years old, and after an awesome 7 years run, Coach Knoblauch's recently reduced usage of him suggests his NHL career may soon be over.

According to a recent report from Alan Mitchell of the Athletic, Oilers prospect Noah Philp is continuing to impress in the AHL, and will soon be called up for good this season.

»Management didn't plan on Noah Philp having a strong impact during training camp and preseason An NHL recall has already happened, and another one appears imminent. There's a chance Philp won't see Bakersfield again the next time he flies to Edmonton.»
- Alan Mitchell

If the Oilers are going to be calling up Philp for the remainder of the season in the very near future, it stands to reason that fourth line center Derek Ryan will be the player coming out.

Edmonton was betting that the veteran could be relied on to deliver one more season as a fourth liner, and while he's undoubtedly giving it his all, Ryan's lost a step and Philp is simply a better option now.

Ryan's best asset last year was his reliability as a penalty killer, but this season, he's not even among the top 5 penalty killing forwards in ice time. Oilers insider Jason Gregor believes that may be a sign that Knoblauch and the team believes Ryan is at the end of the line.

»Now that he's not on the penalty kill, it makes it harder to justify his spot I do have to wonder if maybe we're seeing that run into an end, which is always hard for any player.»
- Jason Gregor

Not only is Ryan not on the penalty kill anymore, he's not doing much else to really keep his spot over Noah Philp.

In 19 games, Ryan has only 2 points. He's not billed as a scorer and neither is Philp, but Ryan needs to make more of an impact than that - Ryan's only on pace for 8 points after scoring a career low of 12 last year.

It's certainly difficult to see a player slow down near the end of their playing days, knowing that they know a younger replacement is waiting in the wings - but Father Time is undefeated.

A call up for Noah Philp should be coming at any time now, and Oilers fans should get excited for this kid. Like Ryan making the NHL at 30, Philp has an incredible story of perseverance to make the NHL after briefly retiring from hockey at the age of 25. .

Hopefully Ryan can still take on a leadership role around the Oilers locker room for the rest of this season, like Sam Gagner did last year - and potentially get a Stanley Cup at the end.