Edmonton Oilers Considering Placing Veteran Forward on Waivers

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Liam McCormick
October 5, 2024 (4:48 PM)

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The Oilers had a number of young standout players in training camp, and it may result in one veteran forward leaving the team.

Bob Stauffer and Frank Seravalli recently discussed the battle for the fourth line center job on OilersNow. Noah Philp has won the roster spot with his incredible training camp, and he may take the spot of Derek Ryan. The Oilers want to accrue as much cap space as possible through the year, so they could place Derek Ryan on waivers for some savings.

»Derek Ryan's injury, and I really don't know exactly what the severity of that is, that could throw a wrench into that. Maybe there's a possibility that Derek Ryan can be waived. Maybe you could see Derek Ryan on waivers.»
- Frank Seravalli

Derek Ryan sustained an injury in his last preseason game, which currently has him sidelined and listed as day to day. With Ryan injured, Noah Philp pushing for the fourth line job, and the Oilers trying accrue cap space - waiving Derek Ryan is a probably outcome.

The Oilers surely don't want to lose the veteran centerman, and they might not have to. Jason Spezza was waived by the Maple Leafs years ago for cap reasons, and he declared that if he was claimed he would retire. Derek Ryan probably doesn't want to move teams at 37 years old, and could likely make the same claim.

The Oilers would then gain the needed cap space, and still have Ryan around for depth or as a locker room presence. Ryan is a fantastic teammate and a responsible bottom six forward, and still has a place on the Oilers even if he's waived now.

Philp has completely earned the fourth line job with his incredible training camp, and the injury to Ryan makes the decision easier to award the fourth line center role on opening night to Philp. There could be more «finagling» coming as Seravalli suggested, but this seems to be the most likely outcome for opening night.